The main role of the double bass in the orchestra is to sustain the lowest music,
the bass part, either on its own or playing with the cellos, bassoons and tuba. As
with so many instruments it was Beethoven who began to make more interesting
use of the double bass. Before Beethoven the double bass had been invaluable
in providing a solid bass line, but was rarely given music of any individuality. In
his Symphony No 5 Beethoven makes the double bass sound quite humorous in
the scherzo movement, and in the Symphony No 9 the section sounds notably
eloquent. When used imaginatively the double bass section can sound mysterious
and even menacing. Composers such as Tchaikovsky, Dvorak and Sibelius made
particularly original use of the double bass section.