Share a piece of music that you think is perfect – why is it perfect to you?

Raffaele perfect! Can I ask - do you have a favourite performance or recording, or it's something you like to play?

Raffaele I commend your great taste in Bach recordings on the bass! This particular Bach 2nd suite really blew my mind the first time I heard it - I hope you enjoy it as well if you have some time to give it a listen: Xavier Foley Bach Cello Suite No. 2 D minor on double bass - YouTube

Raffaele it's a very interesting discussion topic! I personally find Bach resonates best on the bass when it's not played at-pitch (same octave as the cello). It depends on the suite, but for example the 1st and 3rd suites I play down a 4th (1st suite in D starting with open D string; 3rd suite in G starting at the G-octave harmonic). I know many folks play the 1st suite "at pitch" (though like Xavier Foley, actually use solo strings so it's "fingered" at-pitch but actually sounds a tone higher than the cello!).

Interesting to note in this Bach 2 recording of Xavier's, I believe he's using solo strings, but the first note is most definitely an E-flat (so maybe solo strings tuned down a semi-tone; or perhaps tuned normally but to something like A=415 instead of a typical A=440-443). 

I know Joel Quarrington experimented doing the cello suites on his 5ths-tuned bass down an octave like you suggest so that it would lie in a similar place to the cello in terms of where the hands go; but found it a bit too muddy and not as attractive a register as the keys he ended up with. In 4ths, it makes less sense as we don't have the same open strings of a cello anyways.

So... lots of ideas about this, but I don't think it's a terrible mistake as long as you can make it sound good and find enjoyment in playing it! Most people have no idea what key or octave they're hearing anyways - so the focus then should be on phrasing, music, intonation, and does it sound good? 

Hope this helps! Happy to hear your (and other's) opinions on this as well!