Christine Donkin: Business as Usual for double bass quartet

About the Quartet

Business as Usual was composed in 2023 and is a jazzy, fun, and rhythmic bass quartet. Aimed at the intermediate quartet, this would be an ideal final piece in any concert, with accessible musical and technical challenges for each player. The addition of bass percussion adds a new dimension, and players should feel free to amend or vary the percussive sounds as appropriate.

"This cheerful piece was composed for the 40 @ 40 project, and I decided to add another 4 to the mix by composing a piece for four double basses. I called it Business as Usual because I think it sounds a bit like the kind of music that could happen at the start of a film, before the plot gets underway."

[Christine Donkin]

40 @ 40 Project

Business as Usual was commissioned by David Heyes for 40 @ 40, a project to commission forty new double bass pieces to celebrate Recital Music’s 40th birthday in 2026.

About the Composer

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.