Bass-Time Beginners is a set of six short and easy pieces for the progressing beginner bassist. They offer simple musical and technical challenges, using a limited number of keys and positions to encourage confidence in the early years of study, also introducing simple harmonics and pizzicato effects to create a greater awareness of the possibilities of the double bass.
The piano accompaniments are independent and supportive, written for the double bass teacher with some pianistic skills, creating music which is useful for both educational and concert use.
Written in a popular and accessible style, Bass-Time Beginners is aimed at about Grade 1-3 level and the six pieces were composed in 2010 for Recital Music's BassLines Project to create new repertoire for beginners.
Cover Caricature by Cameron Ford
The Ogre's Dance (No.1) and Evening Star (No.2) have been selected for Level 1, Romance (No.4) has been selected for Level 3 and A Summer Day (No.5) has been selected for Level 4 by MTB Exams (www.mtbexams.com)
'Bass-Time Beginners - Six easy pieces for the young bassist offers a variety of styles and technical challenges in suitably short pieces ranging in difficulty from AMEB 1st to 4th grade. Christine Donkin has written each piece to include specific challenges: Bartok and left hand pizzicato, shifts, string crossing, many accidentals in the harder pieces and opportunities to develop a more sustained tone. The collection allows a player to demonstrate a range of expression and techniques. The pieces need to be learned with the accompaniments as these provide the catchy rhythms that complement the bass part. Without them there are gaps in the bass melodies and a young player risks becoming disconnected from the music. The good news is that the accompaniments are playable by a bass teacher with even quite basic piano skills.'
[Alison MacGregor/Stringendo/Australian Strings Association]
'This selection of six pieces spans the earliest grades up to around grade 4 standard. They feature good piano accompaniments that characterise the pieces well; my only criticism of the pieces would be that in the last three pieces the bass melodic lines take slightly odd turns, although the style of the piano writing keeps the character and music intact.
Each piece makes a good teaching point well, for example 'Ogre's Dance' playing with string and light bowing and early use of slurs. 'Masquerade Waltz' is very good for supporting the use of half and first positions, and 'A Summer Day' has a smooth melody line that takes the performer into neck position. I found that 'Evening Star' is a beginner's equivalent to 'Deep Song' by John Walton, with lovely romantic piano harmony; it is a pretty piece for the early use of slurs. I think these pieces would also make a good addition for enjoyable sight-reading practice.' [Liz Bradley/ESTA/Arco-Summer 2012]
Christine Donkin is a Canadian composer of educational, choral and instrumental music. Born in Grande Prairie, Alberta, she holds degrees from the University of Alberta and University of British Columbia and, in addition to her work as a piano teacher, she is active as an adjudicator, clinician, judge, and guest speaker at educational events across Canada.
Christine's compositions have won awards at national and international competitions notably the DaCapo Chamber Choir's NewWorks Competition (Ontario, 2010); International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition (Greece, 2009); Living Music Under Living Skies Competition (Saskatchewan, 2009); Choral Horizons Competition (Minneapolis, 2009); Classical Marimba League International Composition Competition (2009); Guelph Chamber Choir Young Composers Competition (Ontario, 2008) and Sorel Medallion Competition (New York, 2008).
Christine Donkin's music is increasingly being performed throughout Canada and America, and also in many European countries. Her educational and choral music have been particularly popular and her works are available from a number of international publishers.
