I'm playing double bass for Britten's Simple Symphony as part of a string orchestra and the conductor score for movement 3 (Sentimental Saraband) has bass 'ad libitum' written at the first bar of the score. The instruction is not on the bass score and recordings seem to have the part played as written.
Although I will likely just play the part as written for the concert I was curious if there is anyone here who knows how this instruction was intended to be interpreted. Obviously it's not an all out 'go wild, do what you want' instruction, but what have been common interpretations, if there are any. Do any Britten scholars know the story and intention?
