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Certificate of Merit in the 2023 Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) Award for Excellence in Historical Recorded Sound Research is awarded to 75 Years on 4 Strings: The Life and Music of François Rabbath. The goal of the ARSC Awards Program is to recognize and draw attention to the finest work now being published in the field of recorded sound research. Strings Magazine, July/August 2023 75 Years on 4 Strings is an authorized biography of the Syrian-born bassist and pedagogue François Rabbath... Sturm's greatest achievement in writing this book is its almost unbelievable thoroughness: he conducted extensive interviews with Rabbath himself as well as Rabbath's family, friends, and colleagues, including cameos by Paco Ibáñez, Philippe Petit, Frank Proto, Paul Ellison, GP Cremonini, Thierry Barbé, and many others... Rabbath's legacies as a composer and performer, too, receive the same thorough documentation by Sturm. A complete list of compositions includes brief but invaluable program notes for each work. Enthusiasts of historical and modern recordings will appreciate the complete discography, as well as the long and intriguing story of Rabbath's recording of Bach's Cello Suites. The chronological list of live performances spans 60 years and ends, poignantly, with a pandemic-era celebration of Rabbath's 90th birthday... At nearly 300 pages, 75 Years on 4 Strings is not a short book, but Sturm's vivid style makes it an engaging read... Bassists everywhere will treasure this invaluable resource about one of the most revolutionary figures in the world of double bass technique and performance. Miranda Wilson Bass World, July, 2023 The book is a must-read for all bassists and musicians. Rabbath will be remembered not only for the transformation and elevation of bass technique that he leaves for future generations, but as a unique human being who inspired countless musicians and audiences with his spirit, charm, discipline, dedication, precocious personality, and love of life... François' career (touring with popular singers Charles Aznavour, Edith Piaf) cemented his worldwide status as a French virtuoso double bassist, performing his original Middle Eastern influenced music. He wrote movie scores, performed television concerts, and collaborated with Pablo Picasso, Ornette Coleman, and countless popular musicians. Sturm's comprehensive book illuminates new insights, stories and anecdotes. Barry Green The Strad, September, 2022 François Rabbath, virtuoso double bass player, musician, composer and teacher, needs no introduction to the bass playing world but there are many others who will enjoy reading this celebration of his '75 years on 4 strings'. His uniqueness as both man and musician shine out from the pages describing his extraordinary life from autodidact to elder statesman among both players and teachers. We learn how difficult it was at first for classically trained players to understand the relevance of Rabbath's way of playing to their traditional methodology and repertoire, and how he won over their hearts and minds. We are given a wonderfully honest description of Rabbath's recording of all the Bach Cello Suites in Venice at the very beginning of the 21st century. It brings to light just how hard it was to marry the strictures of the recording studio and Rabbath's way of being with music. I cannot recommend highly enough this lovingly written story of the most exciting and revolutionary bass player of our times. Cathy Elliott

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