Instrumentation: 2 Double Basses and String Orchestra
Product Code:
RMD1594
Publishers Number:
RMD1594
Published date::
Jan-25
Language:
English
Condition:
New
Giovanni Bottesini was an Italian Romantic composer, conductor, and a double bass virtuoso born on December 22, 1821, in Crema, Lombardy1. He is often referred to as “the Paganini of the double bass” due to his extraordinary skill with the instrument.
Bottesini’s early musical education was provided by his father, an accomplished clarinetist and composer. He began playing timpani with the Teatro Sociale in Crema before the age of eleven and later studied violin with Carlo Cogliati1. His father sought a place for him at the Milan Conservatory in 1835, and Bottesini prepared a successful audition for the double bass scholarship in a matter of weeks.
After leaving the conservatory in 1839, Bottesini embarked on a globe-trotting career as a double bass virtuoso. He made his first appearance in England in 1849 and enjoyed great popularity for many years due to his extraordinary skill as a performer1. Bottesini was also known throughout Europe as a conductor and directed the first performance of Verdi’s Aida at Cairo in 1871.
Bottesini’s contributions to music include numerous operas, sacred works, orchestral pieces, and works for the double bass. His fantasies on Lucia di Lammermoor, I puritani, Beatrice di Tenda, and especially La sonnambula are virtuosic tours de force that are still popular with those who are highly accomplished on the instrument.
He passed away on July 7, 1889, in Parma.
Moving On Again! was written in 2007 and the suite of three engaging and vibrant pieces use a range of jazz and popular styles to create …new and exciting music for the progressing bassist who is confident in thumb position. The pieces are typical of the player-friendly music of Tony Osborne and they have been a great success in performance. Music to get the toes tapping!
Blues with a Swing is lively and rhythmic with effective syncopations to move the music swiftly along. The piece begins and ends with a jazz pizzicato figure, contrasting a ‘swinging’ middle section, played arco, which employs a range of unison melodies with an independent and incisive piano accompaniment.
Cool Jazz, the shortest of the three movements, has a dance-like feel, a jig almost, but with a number of popular music influences. Much of the melodic material is given to the double bass and a strong rhythmic drive and momentum push the piece to a strong and successful conclusion.
Wild Ceilidh is full of rhythmic energy and drive, with an alternating 2/4 and 6/8 format throughout. A more relaxed and cantabile middle section is framed by music of great rhythmic momentum for both players. This is high octane music which offers effective musical and technical challenges and would suit anyone who has enjoyed Junior Jazz Book 1 and 2. [Programme note by Tony Osborne]
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