Description

Birthday Waltz à la Dragonetti is a fun and entertaining work for double bass quartet or larger forces which would be an ideal and effective encore. …Influenced by the music of Dragonetti and with an opportunity for the bassists to demonstrate their vocal prowess, it employs the entire range of the instrument in music which never fails to entertain. A must for every bass concert! Birthday Waltz à la Dragonetti was premiered by Teppo’s Bass Band, conducted by David Heyes, on Sunday 15 May 2016 at Wells & Mendip Museum (Somerset, UK). It was the final work at Teppo-Fest 2016, a four-day festival to celebrate the 75th birthday of Finnish bassist-composer Teppo-Hauta-aho. “This is one of my early compositions which I wrote in October 2016 for Teppo Hauta-aho’s birthday. It’s a merry waltz for double bass quartet or its multiples, echoing the music of Domenico Dragonetti who has often been my inspiration. Despite being short and simple in structure, it makes use of various bass playing techniques spicing up the overall experience of both the performers and the birthday person. It may be a joy sparking addition to a birthday party featuring a bass quartet.” [Michal Bylina]