Rondo Suite No.2 was composed in 2013 and is slightly more challenging than Suite No.1. Each of the three contrasting movements offers a range of musical and accessible technical challenges for the intermediate bassist, all within the orchestral register.

Armand Russell writes: " Rondo Suite No.2 is in three movements with titles that reflect its moods: a humorous fast movement (Rondo Giocoso), a tranquil slow movement (Rondo Tranquillo), and a festive fast movement (Rondo Festivo). The rondo forms of the fast movements follow the pattern ABACAB'A and the middle, slow movement has the rondo pattern ABACA. The three A sections in the slow movement are played pizzicato creating a strong contrast with the bowed sections which intervene. The fast movements have a dance-like quality that is intended to reflect the spirit of each movement."

Great scope to create musical landscapes and moods and to develop a range of tonal and timbral colours when the bassist is both the soloist and accompanist. Much to enjoy!

Armand Russell was born in Seattle, Washington in 1932. He received the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Washington, with a major in music composition, and a Doctorate in music composition from the Eastman School of Music. He studied double bass with Leslie Martin, who played in the Seattle Symphony and Boston Symphony Orchestras, and at the Eastman School of Music with Oscar Zimmerman. His composition studies were with John Verrall and George McKay at the University of Washington, and with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson at the Eastman School.

Professionally, Armand Russell played double bass in many orchestras including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Tour Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras, and Honolulu Symphony. For five years he taught as a visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. From 1961 to 1994 he taught at the University of Hawaii Music Department and retired as Professor emeritus in 1994. While at the University of Hawaii he taught music theory, composition and double bass and also served as Chair of the Music Department for seven years.

Armand Russell has composed many works for double bass and also percussion, including solos, chamber music and concertos. Some of his most frequently performed works include Chaconne (Db/Pno), Buffo Set (Db/Pno), Harlequin Concerto (Db/Orch), Pas de Deux (Cl/Perc), Percussion Suite, Theme & Fantasia (Concert Band) and Suite Concertante (Tuba/Wind Quintet). He has also composed several works for choirs in recent years and has continued to write for the double bass alongside a growing body of chamber music and transcriptions.

Armand Russell's compositional style is confident and direct with a clarity of line and texture always to the fore. A modern, yet lyrical and accessible style, has created works which communicate equally to performers and audiences alike and he has made, and continues to make, a unique and valuable contribution to the double bass litereature throughout a long and successful career.