Echoes & Shadows is originally for 12 double basses and was newly arranged for the German bassist, Manuela Uhlmann, by the composer. ORCHESTRAL TUNING ONLY

Simon Garcia writes: "When I received the proposal from David Heyes to write a piece for twelve basses to finish my BASS2014 concert I thought it a brilliant idea. The first word that came into my mind when thinking of twelve basses it was 'noise', so I started looking for the opposite sounds. Would it be possible for twelve basses to sound kindly or gentle? That was my challenge! I started creating a minimalist soundscape, highly enriched rhythmically with harmonics which would work well. I searched through various types of pizzicato sounds but these created 'noise' rather than my original target. I needed a more 'brillant' sound, so I opened the case of my old electric mandolin and started to play my bass with the pick. That was what I needed!

Finally, the piece consists in a powerful melody which passes among all players over a harmonic and rhythmical ostinato. It is a piece with full of contained energy, highly rhythmic and timbral richness. We asked Friends on Facebook to suggest a title and received 70 entries, and the winning title was by Chino Chinoski Parrilla from Galicia (Spain)."

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.