Description

David Heyes writes: ” Tarantella Napoletana was composed for my younger students at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) to play in ‘Bottesini Bravura!’ in Quilter Hall …on Monday 25 March 2019. The concert celebrated the music of Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889) and this quartet was composed in an Italianate style and tailored to suit a specific ability level. The music is fast and lively, with a lyrical middle section and a short cadenza for bass 1 accompanied by a tremolando chord, which leads into an exciting and vibrant finale. Tarantella Napoletana is not difficult to rehearse and is a fun and exciting piece in performance. It sounds far more difficult than it really is and is part of as growing series of junior quartets I am composing for my progressing young students.” The parts are carefully graded and remain within a specific ability level with accessible musical and technical challenges for each player. Bass 1 plays primarily in the positions at the curve of the neck, octave harmonics alongside harmonics in the higher register.
Bass 2 plays in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th positions with octave harmonics and harmonics in 4th position.
Bass 3 uses 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions alongside octave harmonics.
Bass 4 is primarily in 1st position, with one shift into 3rd position.