A rare work for double bass quintet, Chanson Triste is lyrical and sonorous contrasting long flowing melodies with a sustained and rhythmic pizzicato accompaniment. There are sufficient treble clef challenges for some players and this would be ideal bass ensemble who are confident playing in the solo register. Bass 5 is the easiest of the parts but underpins the whole piece.

Chanson Triste has a beautiful and poignant melody with effective and intersting harmonies throughout.

Miloslav Gajdos writes in a traditional and tonal style producing accessible music which would suit any concert or occasion.

Performance Level: 8;Advanced

Miloslav Gajdos is one of Europe's most active and inventive bassist-composers. He was born in northern Moravia in 1948 and initially learned violin before transferring to the double bass, studying with Alois Kriz, Jiri Bortlicek and Ludwig Streicher. He has been Professor of Double Bass at the Vejvenovsky Conseravtoire in Kromeriz (Czech Republic) since 1971, and was a member of the Olomouc Symphony Orchestra for a number of years. He is Director of the Gregora International Double Bass Competition, founded in 1979 and held every two years in Kromeriz, and has been a juror at many competitions in Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Miloslav Gajdos is a prolific composer and arranger and, for almost 40 years, has produced a vast body of original works and transcriptions for double bass which are performed worldwide. His original works combine Czech lyricism and melody with brilliant technical demands, and music from one to sixteen double basses. He writes in a traditional and accessible style, producing music for every level of performer, particularly for the advanced bassist, and his many works for unaccompanied double bass are frequently chosen as international competition repertoire.

Miloslav Gajdos was Recital Music's Featured Composer in 2007 and has recently revised a number of earlier works for the intermediate bassist which will be published by Recital Music.
[Gajdos is pronounced GUY-DOSH]