Description

TWO for THREE features two works which began life in other incarnations. Pastyme
is originally for Double Bass, Quartet, based on a part-song by …King Henry VIII, and
Ragtime was partnered with Blues-Style, but now played an octave higher and both
pieces are aimed at the intermediate bass trio. Pastyme with Good Companye is based on the part song by King Henry VIII, the
use of open fifths and repetitive rhythms evoke the world of Tudor England, with its
raw energy and brash sounds. Effective with massed basses and a firm favourite at
many double bass workshops around the world. It was first published in 1997 which
celebrated Tony Osborne’s 50th birthday and commemorated the 450th anniversary
of the death of King Henry VIII. ‘Pastyme with Good Companye. The Kynges balade’, originally for 3 voices, one of
the most popular tunes of the period, was composed in the early 1500s. Henry was
trained in music from an early age and 34 of his original compositions survive, both
vocal and instrumental. He ascended the throne in 1509 and was monarch until his
death in 1547. This edition for Double Bass, Trio was arranged by David Heyes from
Tony Osborne’s bass quartet version. “This simple but powerful arrangement is successful in recreating the pungent
sounds of renaissance instruments such as shawms, sackbuts, and the delightfully
obnoxious racket.” (ISB) Composed in 1981 for his own double bass students, Ragtime has been a very
popular bass trio. Originally composed for progressing bassists, this new version in a
higher key enables more advanced bassists to play music which is fun, attractive
and engaging. This is Tony Osborne at his lively, rhythmic and jazzy best with great
tunes and effective part writing which is ideal for bass trio or larger forces. [See video link at 1’21’00 to hear Tony Osborne’s Ragtime for massed basses, also
an octave higher performed by Gary Karr and the bassists at his KarrKamp in August
2015] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGtMqwP9hlk Born in 1947 into a musical family, Tony Osborne studied at the Royal Academy of
Music (London) with John Walton (double bass) and Richard Stoker (composition),
and divided a busy career between composing, teaching, and performing. A prolific
composer and arranger, Tony’s original compositions include works in almost every
genre, notably Chaconne Syncopations and Wainwright’s Ways for brass quintet, Celebration Fanfare for brass ensemble, the musical A Fine Time for Wine, a
beautiful and dramatic Requiem, and many works for string orchestra. Tony’s music
for young bassists is very much at the heart of the teaching, Repertoire, particularly
his jazzy and enjoyable bass trios and quartets, and he had the rare ability to create
wonderful music which is always player and audience-friendly. In 2001 Tony Osborne was elected an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of
Music) for his pioneering and important work for double bass and was a featured
com- poser at Bass-Fest for over ten years. He was a very successful BIBF
Composer-in-residence in 2002-3, was a judge for the British Composer Awards and
a judge for the BIBF Composition Competition from 1999 until 2015. Tony Osborne died on 30 March 2019 at the age of 71.