Atmospheric and musically rewarding, Aeolian Air would be ideal for the intermediate bassist who is just venturing into low thumb position. Suitable for legato and cantabile playing, with a few technical challenges thrown in for good measure, this offers much to the intermediate bassist.

Written in the Aeolian mode - the white keys on the piano - this is a quality work from one of the leading composers writing for the double bass today. Tony Osborne has the rare ability to write interesting effective and idiomatic music for any level of bassist and this is successful as both a teaching piece and in recital.

"Despite being written throughout in a 5/4 measure, there is no syncopated feel to it, just a smooth, lilting flow...You'll know in the first couple of bars whether you have a bow change to be proud of. If you haven't then learning or teaching this piece can only help. It's also very pleasing to listen to." (Double Bassist)

Aeoilan Air has been selected for Level 7 by MTB Exams (www.mtbexams)

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 is planning a major 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