Simon Garcia writes: "BassMonsters was commissioned by Claus Freudenstein, leader of the international double bass ensemble of the same name who play rock music as a double bass quartet. The piece begins with an introduction in epic style where, little by little, the music reaches a climax and from here the main piece begins, which was inspired by the British Heavy Metal 'Iron Maiden'. To give the maximum possible realism I wrote it the same as any song of this style, with slow and fast differentiated parts, lyrics and chorus, guitar solo... Accompaniments with a rhythmic force along, with virtuousic solos, make this piece very fresh and very forceful. The changes of sections and modulations surprise the audience at every moment and the piece transmits an energy that soon spreads."
Bassist and composer Simon Garcia was born in Mugardos (Spain) in 1977 and graduated in double bass from the Conservatorio Superior of Salamanca. He has worked as a double bassist in the Royal Orchestra of Galicia, having also performed in many orchestras throughout Spain, and is the bassist in the Symphony Wind Orchestra of A. Coruna. He has collaborated with many musicians and ensembles, particularly in the field of contemporary music, and has recorded and performed on many commercial recordings and for television and radio broadcasts.
Simon Garcia has composed more than thirty works for double bass, ranging from two to six players, alongside transcriptions of these pieces for various chamber ensembles. His music has been performed in Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay, Denmark, Spain, Japan, Italy, Austria, Germany, Canada, USA and UK by The Bass Gang, Bass Instinct and Il Quint-etto amongst others, and some of his music was used as teaching material in the 2011 ISB Year of Collaborative Music.
Simon Garcia's music is lively, jazzy and rhythmic with great forward momentum and drive. Accessible for players and audiences alike, he writes colourful music of distinction and energy, employing the entire range of the double bass.