Bassist Francois Rabbath loves to share the "beautiful sound"

For some, summer camp means canoeing, swimming, hiking. But for 65 bass players of all ages and abilities, Twin Cities Bass Camp means bowing, plucking, slapping, learning and bonding with their instruments and connecting with one another.

This week in St. Paul, Minn., Twin Cities Bass Camp is happening at McNally Smith College of Music. Among the many participating teachers is the esteemed bassist, composer and teacher, François Rabbath.

Born in Syria in 1931, Rabbath was introduced to the double bass by his older brother, Eli, a musician. Wisely, the elder Rabbath made it feel like a discovery for the 9-year-old François. "He said to me, 'Go and get me a handkerchief in my room.' So I go to his room," François Rabbath recalls. "When I saw this big violin I was surprised. I run. I say, 'Eli! For who is this double bass?' He said, "Whoever would like to play it, I will give it to him.' He was choosing the bass for me. He let me come. I say, 'I can have it?'. He says, 'Yes'."

Eventually, Rabbath would go on to study and to live in Paris. In 1963, Rabbath recorded the first-ever bass solo album, The Sound of a Bass (Philips). "I was not afraid to play in the back of the orchestra, au contraire. But the sound of the bass is so beautiful … I wanted people to hear how beautiful this instrument is," he says.

Among the people with whom Rabbath likes to share the beautiful sound of the bass are those who are learning to play the instrument. Doan Brian Roessler of Minneapolis began studying with Rabbath in 2002. "I spoke with François on the phone and he encouraged me to come to Paris to work with him," Roessler recalls. "So I got off the phone with him and I called my wife. And I said, 'I just got off the phone with François Rabbath and he said I should come to Paris.' She said, 'Okay.' So we sold our house. We packed up our two-year-old-child and our two dogs. And we moved to Paris. That's how I met François. I didn't know him. It's the best decision I made in my entire life."

Now, Rabbath and Roessler are both among the faculty at this year's Twin Cities Bass Camp, founded by Roessler. On Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m., at the History Theatre in St. Paul, François Rabbath will present a public concert accompanied by his son, Sylvain, on piano. Through the playing of his instrument, there is a very simple message Rabbath will communicate to the audience. "I like to go to the public and say 'I love you'," he says. "I want to share that."

Information about the concert, including ticket details, can be found on the Twin Cities Bass Camp website.

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