Lawrence Wolfe: "Blomidon Set" for solo double bass

About the Compositions

Composed by Boston Symphony Orchestra Assistant Principal double bassist, Lawrence Wolfe. "Blomidon Set" is a collection of 5 pieces commissioned by San Francisco Symphony Assistant Principal double bassist Stephen Tramontozzi that appear on Steve's album, Basso Novo.

The bass parts are in bass and treble clef.

From Lawrence Wolfe

“I’ve always told my students that the highest calling in a musician’s life is Bach, and bass players have for generations looked to the Cello Suites to heed that call.  

When asked by Steve Tramontozzi to compose an unaccompanied piece for the double bass, where better to look than the Bach Cello Suites for inspiration?  The idea of the individual movements of the Baroque Dance Suite appealed to me, but I was looking for a different ‘take’ on courantes, allemandes, and the like.

Enter my Boston Symphony Orchestra colleague Bewick Brown: her research and performances (featuring me on bass) of Celtic, Scottish, Irish, and Acadian fiddling gave me the idea for a set of dances based on the forms and styles I learned while working with her.

As for the title, Blomidon (Blow-me-down) Mountain in  Nova Scotia, Canada, is a special place with deep meaning for me, and the name makes a great title!

~Lawrence Wolfe

Assistant Principal Bass, Boston Symphony Orchestra

About Stephen Tramontozzi

Stephen Tramontozzi is the Assistant Principal Bass with the San Francisco Symphony since 1980. A native of Arlington, Massachusetts, he studied at the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the San Francisco Conservatory. Mr. Tramontozzi is on the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory, has led master classes across the United States, and has coached members of the SFS Youth Orchestra bass section since its inception. He also formerly served on the faculties of Stanford University, the University of California, Berkeley, and UC Santa Cruz.

His publications include his solo albums Walkabout and Home Bass, chamber music album Urban Bass, and the Solo Cello Suites of J.S. Bach for Double Bass Nos. 1 - 5.

He has recorded the Books of Madrigals by George Crumb under his supervision; the keyboard concerti of J.S. Bach with Awadagin Pratt and the St. Lawrence Quartet; and a CD of chamber music by Lou Harrison.