Armand Russell: Divergent Dances for double bass & piano

About the Composition

Divergent Dances is a vibrant and engaging work for the intermediate double bassist. It is one extended movement with clearly defined sections, and the bass part remains in bass clef throughout. Divergent Dances has an independent and supportive accompaniment that creates both clarity and lucidity, and the contrasting slow and fast sections create variety and interest. There is rhythmic energy alongside accessible musical and technical challenges, and it would be ideal for a player who isn't playing in thumb position yet.

Divergent Dances was composed for Fizz@50, a project to commission fifty short pieces for double bass and piano from composers throughout the world, instigated by David Heyes to celebrate his 50th birthday. Each composer received a bottle of champagne (Fizz) as payment.

This edition is only available in orchestral tuning.

‘Divergent Dances is divided into six sections of which the odd numbered sections are rather slow and the even numbered ones much faster. The three odd numbered sections are first a theme and then two variations. The three even numbered sections are named as Fast Dance 1, 2 and 3. Each one is different but use very similar ways of creating their themes using steps and small skips, often in succession. The overall effect of the form is that of a small rondo (ABACAD). Each of the sections uses a different diatonic mode. These are, in order G Phrygian, E Aeolian, D Ionian, F Mixolydian, A Dorian and G Lydian.

The sections alternate approaches to interpretation as well as tempos. The odd numbered sections and lyrical and more expressive and the odd numbered sections more rhythmic. Throughout, but especially in the odd numbered sections, there is a need for the player to decide whether to finger the music to achieve a darker effect, using cross strings in higher positions, or a brighter effect with more shifts which use lower positions when possible. This is the player's choice and may be played differently in different sections or for each performance. The music does not use thumb position.' [Armand Russell]

Divergent Dances was premiered by Nic Lum (double bass) and Gemma Beeson (piano) at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) on Sunday 2 October 2011.

About the Composer

Armand Russell was born in Seattle, Washington in 1932. He received the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Washington, with a major in music composition, and a Doctorate in music composition from the Eastman School of Music. He studied double bass with Leslie Martin, who played in the Seattle Symphony and Boston Symphony Orchestras, and at the Eastman School of Music with Oscar Zimmerman. His composition studies were with John Verrall and George McKay at the University of Washington, and with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson at the Eastman School.

Professionally, Armand Russell played double bass in many orchestras including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Tour Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras, and Honolulu Symphony. For five years he taught as a visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. From 1961 to 1994 he taught at the University of Hawaii Music Department and retired as Professor emeritus in 1994. While at the University of Hawaii he taught music theory, composition and double bass and also served as Chair of the Music Department for seven years.

Armand Russell's compositional style is confident and direct with a clarity of line and texture always to the fore. A modern, yet lyrical and accessible style, has created works which communicate equally to performers and audiences alike and he has made, and continues to make, a unique and valuable contribution to the double bass literature throughout a long and successful career.

Armand Russell died in October 2023 at the age of 92 years.