Memories of Youth is in memory of the legendary double bass virtuoso and Professor, Frantisek Posta who set formidable standards, and whose many students are themselves major figures in the world of double bass playing and teaching.

The piece has two main themes. One is a quote from the final scene of Janacek's operatic masterpiece 'The Cunning Little Vixen', sung by a young frog, who tells the Forester, surrounded by other animals, that he is the grandson of a frog he encountered earlier. This opera is loved everywhere and represents the renewal of youth and life.

The other theme is a romantic and lyrical waltz that celebrate's Posta's love and feeling for melody and the expressive qualities he so eloquently brought to all he played. Both themes return with variation, and the work closes with the string orchestral motif with which Janacek's opera concludes.

This edition includes two versions for the advanced or intermediate duo.

Memories of Youth was premiered in Exeter (UK) on 4 May 2013 by David Heyes and Ben Groenevelt.

Tony Osborne is an important educationalist and prolific composer who has made a significant and unique contribution to the double bass repertoire over the past 35 years. His solo music for young bassists is included by many international examination boards, and his many ensembles pieces are performed at workshops and concerts throughout the world. Tony Osborne notes the influences of Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein, alongside some of the Russian masters, on his music, which he combines with a jazzy, rhythmic and energetic style that has been popular with players and audiences worldwide.

Born in 1947 into a musical family, Tony Osborne studied at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with John Walton (double bass) and Richard Stoker (composition), and divides a busy career between composing, teaching and performing. A very prolific composer and arranger, Tony's original compositions include works in almost every genre, notably Chaconne Syncopations and Wainwright's Ways for brass quintet, Celebration Fanfare for brass ensemble, the musical A Fine Time for Wine, a beautiful and dramatic Requiem and many works for string orchestra.

In 2001 Tony Osborne was elected an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his pioneering and important work for double bass, and has been a featured composer at Bass-Fest for the past decade. He was a very successful BIBF Composer-in-residence in 2002-3 and wrote a number of impressive and innovative works for the project. He has been a judge for the British Composer Awards over the past few years and has been a judge for the BIBF Composition Competition since 1999. Recital Music held a festival of Tony Osborne's music in 2012, to celebrate the composer's 65th birthday, and has formulated a 10-year project to publish all his works for double bass.
www.tony-osborne.com