The Beginner Bass Series series
Recital Music publish music for every level of double bassist and in the past few years have concentrated on music for the younger player. This new and exciting series includes works with simple, accessible technical and musical challenges for beginners and progressing bassists. Piano accompaniments are supportive and written with the bass teacher in mind, creating a new repertoire which is ideal for concert and educational use.
Teppo's Ten 'plus Two' was commissioned by Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) for Teppo-Fest in 2011 and premiered by a number of young bassists on Sunday 22 May 2011, with the composer present. The pieces are aimed at the beginner and developing bassist and a suite of ten were commissioned, with the aim of a progression of difficulty from beginning to end. Teppo composed ten pieces and then soon after composed an extra one, leaving the set unbalanced with eleven pieces. The solution was to repeat the first piece, which was originally for open strings but now played an octave higher and in simple harmonics, thus creating a natural and successful ending to the set.
Teachers should feel free to teach the pieces in any order and they could also be played by solo double bass or larger forces. Writing interesting and accessible music for the beginner bassist is a true skill and is one that Teppo Hauta-aho has displayed in his many successful solo and ensemble works for young players.
The pieces are numbered rather than titled and offer a range of simple and effective musical and technical challenges for the beginner bassist. The piano accompaniments are well written and supportive, ideal for the pianistic skills of many double bass teachers, adding an atmospheric and evocative backdrop with double bas melodies played arco or pizzicato.
