Danza Chinesca is now available to buy as a PDF download. https://dbbpublications.gumroad.com/l/danzachinesca

Danza Chinesca (Chinese Dance) is a lively, exciting and evocative work for massed double basses. Also playable as a quintet, Danza Chinesca was premiered at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) on Sunday 26 February 2012 and is dedicated to David Heyes.

A range of playing styles such as sul ponticello, glissando, tremolando, harmonics and percussive effects, create an oriental soundworld which is immediately attractive for players and audiences alike. Each part offers effective challenges for a range of abilities and the composer has written a colourful work full of rhythmic energy and momentum.

Simon Garcia writes: 'Danza Chinesca is a piece created to be used in workshops and the theme is inspired by traditional Chinese music and uses different effects and sounds to simulate some of the traditional Chinese instruments. It is an interesting piece for young bass players because they will play with bow, ordinary pizzicato, jazz pizzicato, percussion, glissando, harmonics, tremolo or sul ponticello, with the addition of solo and tutti sections.

It is written so that it be can played together with students of elementary and advanced level. The acompaniment changes gradually until the chinese theme becomes hip-hop music.'

The edition includes a score and one copy of each part and allows the purchaser to make extra copies of each part as needed for their own use. Copying of the score is not allowed.

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 twenty 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.