Bass Day 1998: Bass Guitar Solo: Recorded Performance

SKU: FG.55011-906-2

ISBN 9790550119062.

Harri Wessman's Summer Variations for viola and piano (1998) exploites the rich and romantic sound of the viola and enjoys the many shades of summer days. It is dedicated to violist Yuri Gandelsman, who premiered the suite with Risto Lauriala 15th June 1998.

Duration: c. 11'

Movements:
1. Summer theme
2. What is this?
3. Pizzicato
4. Con sordino
5. Stile concitato ostinato
6. Tango
7. Finale

Harri Wessman (b. 1949) is interested in all aspects of music that may be expressive, without in any way ignoring the possibilities of melody. He himself describes his harmonic method as a kind of contrapuntally treated jazz harmony. Wessman is particularly preoccupied with the ability of music to express emotions, an interest which has led him to study the so-called doctrine of the affections and the musical rhetoric of the baroque era. His Eine kleine Figurenlehre for wind quartet and piano is a playful application of a set of baroque musical figures.

His output is dominated by chamber and vocal music as well as a number of concertos for various instruments such as the Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra and the Serenade for Piano and String Orchestra. During recent years pedagogic music has become a more and more central area in his output with an emphasis on creating repertoire for budding musicians, from beginners to young professionals. He has even tailored some solo and chamber works for young musicians that he personally knows: e.g. Five Trombone Pieces for Minna Kajander (1992), Five Horn Pieces for Jenni Kuronen (1993), Five Piano Etudes for Tiina Karakorpi, Five Trumpet Pieces for Alevtina Parland and Five Double Bass Pieces for Amanda Thieme. Other chamber and solo pieces include Pan and the Nymph Pitys (1979) for flute and guitar, Three Caprices for Konstantin Weitz (1994) for solo violin and Capriccio for wind ensemble (1989).

SKU: BT.DHP-0981286-140

The Baroque is a period of frills and ornaments, wether in architecture, painting or music. An easy melody passes through a variety of arrangements. From brass quintet and different tutti parts, all the sections are in action. Fortified by a drum set and an (optional) electric bass, the piece is given a modern touch and becomes more acceptable to the audience. A follow-up to Rondo Romantica, this piece was composed in December 1997.

De barok: een tijdperk van speelsheid in de architectuur, de schilderkunst en de muziek. In dit werk wordt een eenvoudig in het gehoor liggende melodie door veel verschillende arrangementen geleid. Van het koperkwintet tot enkele tuttidelen zijn alle secties in actie. Versterkt door de drumset en de basgitaar krijgt het stuk een moderne touch. Hierdoor wordt het extra aantrekkelijk voor het publiek!

In diesem fröhlichen Werk des österreichischen Komponisten Otto M. Schwarz kommt wirklich jede Instrumentengruppe Ihres Blasorchesters zum Zuge. Ein spielerisches Barock-Thema wird durch einen flotten Schlagzeug-Rhythmus unterlegt und wird somit zu einer swingenden Nummer für Ihr nächstes Konzert!

Le baroque : un style et une époque marqués par la légèreté qui a investi tous les domaines artistiques (architecture, peinture, musique, etc.). Dans ce morceau, la mélodie simple est jouée plusieurs fois dans des arrangements différents. Tous les pupitres sont sollicités afin que l’on entende aussi bien des tutti que des interventions du quintette de cuivres. La batterie et la guitare basse donnent au morceau une touche moderne très attrayante. Rondo Barocco, qui s’inscrit dans la lignée de Rondo Romantica, est une oeuvre adaptée aux orchestres juniors et aux formations plus expérimentées.

Il barocco: uno stile e un’epoca contraddistinti dalla leggerezza che ha infl uenzato tutti i campi artistici (architettura, pittura, musica, ecc.). In questo brano, la semplice melodia è eseguita a più riprese in diversi arrangiamenti. Tutte le sezioni della banda sono sollecitate per far sì che si possano ascoltare vari passaggi in tutti, ma anche degli interventi del quintetto di ottoni. La batteria e la chitarra apportano un tocco moderno ed accattivante. Rondo Barocco è un brano a sicuro effetto che delizier il pubblico.

SKU: KN.52745S

Recorded in 1998 by the Monday Night Big Band on their Thanks To Thad album, this is Part 3 of Thad's larger Return Journey Suite. It features lots of powerful writing for the full ensemble and abundant solo opportunities -- an open solo section for alto, tenor, trumpet and/or trombone, and piano and/or guitar. After a loud shout, a series of short drum solos lead to a strong finish. Duration 5:30.