Tony Osborne’s Intrada, Romanza & Scherzo is a colourful, vibrant and engaging suite of pieces for 2 double basses. Playable singly or as a suite, there are musical and technical challenges for each player, in a range of accessible and fun styles which are both player and audience friendly. They demonstrate not only the expressive range of the double bass but also how two basses can effectively share the roles of soloist and accompanist and interact contrapuntally.

These three impressive and evocative pieces successfully display Tony Osborne’s credentials as both a jazz and classical composer. Intrada is like a jazzy saxophone duet full of rhythmic energy and momentum; Romanza has a sultry, siesta-like Mediterranean character contrasted by a fast and furious Scherzo in the style of a lively tarantella.

Intrada has a strong bebop/swing influence with cool jazz phrasing, creating colour and atmosphere, and could have been written for two baritone saxophones.

Romanza is haunting, flowing and tender with a pronounced Spanish flavour. The sustained Lydian/Ionian ‘vocal’ melody, and calm pizzicato guitar-like accompaniment are shared equally between players, creating a feeling like daydreaming on a beautiful, secluded Mediterranean beach. The second theme, a little more extrovert in thirds.

Scherzo is, by contrast, fiery, tarantella-like, full of rhythmic intensity, chromaticism and contrapuntal twists and turns. The first of its three thematic ideas is sinister, bold and forceful, while the second is a brief, happier and luxurious interlude that breaks up the intensity into a more relaxed atmosphere, although the rhythmic drive remains strong. The third is fragmented and curious and leads back into the spirit of the first idea, working its way to a rousing finale.

[Programme note by Tony Osborne]

Composed for David Heyes and Martin Gregg for a ten-concert tour of Mallorca in May 1997, they received their UK premiere with the same players on 31 August at Bass-Fest 1997 (Leighton Park School, Reading, Berkshire).