> anyway, try the puncinella suite by stravinsky, its really nice to
> play and it'll let you play around with the thumbs position, which
> is always a good thing seeing as its all about showmanship these
> days :).


Showmanship is no bad thing. I play in an orchestra, and had the
advice to play my Bass in concerts more angled out... a little like
a 'cello. The resultant sound is no different, nor the feel of the
Bass, but the effect is to show more of the instrument to the
audience.

The music remains at the core of what we do, but in a concert
situation, these people are paying good money to LOOK at us as well;
it's just a fact.

As for the rest, well, look at an old picture of Dragonetti, and
you'll see what REAL visual showmanship was all about! ;o)

Andy