Bass Works

SKU: HL.48187803

UPC: 888680873622. 9.0x12.0x0.125 inches. French.

“Andr é Jolivet (1905-1974) established his love for composition from a young age. This remained throughout his life, and he held the post of Professor of Composition from 1966-1970 at Paris Conservatoire. Concerto for Bassoon was composed in 1954, and remains highly regarded. Jolivet, himself a cellist, wished to explore composition for all instruments, and therefore has a considerable number of works in all fields. The composer's style is also known for its spirituality, and the desire to associate the everyday with the magical, and the human with the universal. Jolivet draws on acoustics and atonality, as heard in his Concerto for Bassoon. The piece requires high, virtuosic skills due to its expansive use of extended techniques. For all advanced bassoonists, Jolivet provides an exciting, alternative piece for the instrument's repertoire.”.

SKU: HL.48181520

UPC: 888680842147. 9.0x12.0x0.06 inches.

“Havi ng won many prizes at the Paris Conservatoire during the 1920s-1930s, Eugène Bozza went on to conduct the orchestra of the Opéra-Comique and to become Head of the Conservatoire in Valenciennes. As a major figure on the classical music frontline, Bozza's compositions were well-received by audiences, Récit, Sicilienne and Rondo for Bassoon and Piano being no exception. This Bozza piece for Bassoon is expressive and virtuosic, displaying the entire range of the instrument, accompanied by rhythmic quavers and spread chords in the Piano. As music educationalist, Paul Griffiths has written of Bozza's compositions, ”“his works reveal melodic fluency, elegance of structure and a consistenly sensitive concern of instrumental capabilities.Ӡœ Récit, Sicilienne and Rondo for Bassoon and Piano is a highly suitable and exciting addition to the advanced bassoonist's repertoire.”.

SKU: HL.14003986

ISBN 9780853609858. 8.25x11.75x0.126 inches.

In the words of Laurence Perkins, I feel that this challenging, satisfying and musically very substantial sonata is one of the most important works for the solo bassoon in several years. Commissioned by South West Arts, this work was first performed by Michael Hancock and Laurence Perkins in February 1993 for Elizabeth's Music Society in the English coastal resort of Seaton. Score and part.

SKU: BT.YE0036

Four movements, top part advanced. Several recordings and many broadcasts. Duration c.13'.

Programme Notes:

The Swiss composer Joseph Lauber was born at Ruswil near Lucerne in 1864. After studying with Heger in Zürich and Rheinberger in Munich, Lauber worked with Diémer and Massenet in Paris. With Massenet he learnt a great deal about orchestration, a subject that he subsequently taught until the end of his life at the Geneva conservatoire as well as piano and composition. He died in 1952.

Lauber's 193 catalogued works are many and varied. He wrote for all instruments and in every genre except oratorio and opera. Among his output areseveral works for double bass, most written for Prof. Hans Fryba, a personal friend with whom he worked as a double bass and piano recital duo. Fryba was one of the leading players in Europe in his day and was principal of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. First was Theme and Variations (1936-7) and a Rhapsodie with orchestra (1937). Three Walzes followed in 1939, a Gavotte and Gigue, a Sonata and then in 1943 Fantasie de Concert, written for the Geneva Competition. Four Caprices appeared in 1942, the same date as the Quartet for double basses which was dedicated to Fryba and written for the Berlin Philharmonic Double Bass Quartet, one of the first ever such ensembles to exist.

The Quartet for double basses was revived by Klaus Stoll in the 1970s for the Philharmonic Double Bass Quartet at that time to play. It was subsequently published in 1975 by Yorke Edition by kind permission of the composer's son Edmund Lauber.

Rodney Slatford 2004