Founded in 2004, Bach With Verse (BWV), a non-profit organization, brings hope, inspiration and laughter to underserved and
disadvantaged communities by presenting live musical performances. In fulfillment of this mission, BWV presents concerts,
masterclasses and workshops to children and adults throughout the world in schools, prisons, orphanages, refugee camps,
rehabilitation centers, hospitals, youth facilities and music schools. Performances are crafted with a unique blend of classical
music and humorous stories in order to be easily accessible to diverse audiences. BWV utilizes the unique talents and
performance experience of Richard “Dobbs” Hartshorne, a renowned double bass virtuoso, composer and storyteller.
It is the mission of Bach With Verse to give this experience to as many people as possible,
but particularly to those who would not be able to have it without support from generous donors.
disadvantaged communities by presenting live musical performances. In fulfillment of this mission, BWV presents concerts,
masterclasses and workshops to children and adults throughout the world in schools, prisons, orphanages, refugee camps,
rehabilitation centers, hospitals, youth facilities and music schools. Performances are crafted with a unique blend of classical
music and humorous stories in order to be easily accessible to diverse audiences. BWV utilizes the unique talents and
performance experience of Richard “Dobbs” Hartshorne, a renowned double bass virtuoso, composer and storyteller.
It is the mission of Bach With Verse to give this experience to as many people as possible,
but particularly to those who would not be able to have it without support from generous donors.
Proud member of the NH State Council on the Arts
Click on the link below for funding assistance.
Link to NH State council on the Arts
Click on the link below for funding assistance.
Link to NH State council on the Arts
New England non-profit organizations outside of New
Hampshire, click on link below for funding assistance.
New England Foundation for the Arts
Hampshire, click on link below for funding assistance.
New England Foundation for the Arts
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| Bringing hope, inspiration and laughter through music and stories to underserved audiences. |
Richard “Dobbs”Hartshorne
Dobbs studied at Oberlin Conservatory, at the University of Aarhus in Demark with Bent Grosen, and at
The Julliard School with Stuart Sankey. Spending six years in Latin America, Dobbs played principal bass in
several orchestras and developed a free youth music program. He was a member of the Apple Hill Center
for Chamber Players for 30 years and released his premiere recording on Centaur Records of J.S. Bach’s
Six Solo Cello Suites in 1997.
Dobbs studied at Oberlin Conservatory, at the University of Aarhus in Demark with Bent Grosen, and at
The Julliard School with Stuart Sankey. Spending six years in Latin America, Dobbs played principal bass in
several orchestras and developed a free youth music program. He was a member of the Apple Hill Center
for Chamber Players for 30 years and released his premiere recording on Centaur Records of J.S. Bach’s
Six Solo Cello Suites in 1997.
Bach Suites & Comedic Musical Stories
The music of Bach has a universal appeal with its own story that is intimate and
approachable. Dobbs began his lifelong journey of transcribing the beloved Six Solo
Cellos Suites by J.S. Bach on the much larger double bass in 1967. Extensive
experimentation with scordatura (non-standard) tunings of the bass allowed him to
achieve the ringing, free (open-string) chords not possible on the standard bass. In
2002, Dobbs’ debut performance in Dublin, Ireland of all Six Cello Suites inspired the
Irish poet Macdara Woods to write The Cello Suites, a series of six poems to
accompany each Suite.
In 1984, Dobbs began composing works for solo bass/narrator which are sometimes
embellished with props, sound effects and slides. These One Man Show works
combine Dobbs’ virtuosity on the double bass with his gift for storytelling, fashioning
hilarious and touching musical tales. As a part of the Playing For Peace tours, which
began in 1992, Dobbs translated his musical stories into numerous languages to be
accessible to audiences around the world. New comedic stories continue to be
written, inspired by tales from around the world.
One Man Show Outreach
Combining his passions, Dobbs developed his One Man Show program to incorporate
one of Bach's Solo Cello Suites and two to three comedic musical stories, which are
easily accessible to a wide-range of audiences. A series of dances, the pace of Bach’s
Solo Cello Suites allows listeners time to reflect and enjoy the magnificent power and
resonance of the double bass. For people who may not have heard classical music in
their life, the calming effect is dramatic, and being followed by laughter warms and
inspires the spirit in unexpected ways.
The One Man Show is an excellent access point to introduce classical music to first-
time listeners that also fills audiences with joy and introspection where social plights
have left communities empty. At these moments, we are reminded that the musical
experience is not a luxury, but an essential part of our humanity that has the unique
ability to transcend all boundaries. BWV aims to bring this show to the greatest
number of audiences around the world where the live musical experience can have a
profound impact.
The music of Bach has a universal appeal with its own story that is intimate and
approachable. Dobbs began his lifelong journey of transcribing the beloved Six Solo
Cellos Suites by J.S. Bach on the much larger double bass in 1967. Extensive
experimentation with scordatura (non-standard) tunings of the bass allowed him to
achieve the ringing, free (open-string) chords not possible on the standard bass. In
2002, Dobbs’ debut performance in Dublin, Ireland of all Six Cello Suites inspired the
Irish poet Macdara Woods to write The Cello Suites, a series of six poems to
accompany each Suite.
In 1984, Dobbs began composing works for solo bass/narrator which are sometimes
embellished with props, sound effects and slides. These One Man Show works
combine Dobbs’ virtuosity on the double bass with his gift for storytelling, fashioning
hilarious and touching musical tales. As a part of the Playing For Peace tours, which
began in 1992, Dobbs translated his musical stories into numerous languages to be
accessible to audiences around the world. New comedic stories continue to be
written, inspired by tales from around the world.
One Man Show Outreach
Combining his passions, Dobbs developed his One Man Show program to incorporate
one of Bach's Solo Cello Suites and two to three comedic musical stories, which are
easily accessible to a wide-range of audiences. A series of dances, the pace of Bach’s
Solo Cello Suites allows listeners time to reflect and enjoy the magnificent power and
resonance of the double bass. For people who may not have heard classical music in
their life, the calming effect is dramatic, and being followed by laughter warms and
inspires the spirit in unexpected ways.
The One Man Show is an excellent access point to introduce classical music to first-
time listeners that also fills audiences with joy and introspection where social plights
have left communities empty. At these moments, we are reminded that the musical
experience is not a luxury, but an essential part of our humanity that has the unique
ability to transcend all boundaries. BWV aims to bring this show to the greatest
number of audiences around the world where the live musical experience can have a
profound impact.
School & Prison Concerts
In 2004, BWV began presenting Dobbs’ One Man Show in schools throughout New England, in New Hampshire state prisons as
well as the Long Creek Youth Development Center in Maine. Dobbs performances at the youth center inspired a group of local
residents to start a program bringing music to the facility monthly. A member of the Portland Conservatory now regularly
teaches guitar and keyboard lessons. In 2005, BWV’s prison program expanded to Connecticut as well as San Quentin State
Prison in California. Having now reached a third of California’s numerous facilities, BWV continues to expand its reach to
additional prisons through their Arts-in-Corrections program. BWV has as board members a New Hampshire State warden and
an ex-inmate who was inspired first-hand by Dobbs’ performance.
Palestine Concert Tours
BWV first presented Dobbs on tour in Palestine in 2005. Hosted by the Al Kamandjati Center, which provides music lessons as
an alternative to violence in Palestine, Dobbs performs for schools and refugee camps inspiring children. In a place where people
are afraid to gather for fear of death threats, Dobbs’ public concerts have inspired hundreds to gather in Palestine to hear the Al
Kamandjati musicians perform. Dobbs’ performances have also touched the participants of the Circus Behind the Wall, the
Freedom Theater and the Computer Clubhouse.
Afghanistan Concert Tours
In 2006, Dobbs was invited by the Foundation for Culture and a Civil Society (FCCS) to participate in the New Year’s Music
Festival held in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. The FCCS started the tradition of the New Year’s Music Festival in 2003 after the
fall of the Taliban, which had prohibited music of any kind. The festival is now the biggest musical event in Afghanistan with
musicians from Pakistan, Iran, India, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, to name a few. In 2007, WADAN, a grass-roots non-
governmental organization, hosted Dobbs’ performance in non-formal schools, orphanages, rehabilitation centers and
government training workshops, all supporting the rebuilding effort in Afghanistan. BWV began a “Music for Afghanistan”
campaign collecting instruments and sheet music to donate to the Vocational Music School, the only school of its kind in
Afghanistan.
Hope Through Music Performance Lecture Series
During the 2008-09 season, BWV will begin presenting a three-part series discussing the transformative power of music and the
arts in developing communities as witnessed through Dobbs’ outreach tours to Palestine, Afghanistan and the prison systems of
the US. Each performance lecture showcases the music Dobbs presents to these communities, a short film presentation of his
tours, and concludes with a question and answer session.