Humphrey Clucas: Bass-Time Bonanza: Five Pieces for Beginner Double Bass & Piano

About the Book

Bass-Time Bonanza is a collection of five short and engaging pieces in First Position for the progressing beginner bassist. Each piece offers simple musical and technical challenges, ideal for both concert and study use, alongside colourful and inventive piano accompaniments.

The rhythmic and bowing challenges are undemanding and this collection would be ideal first concert repertoire and suitable for any occasion or audience. The pieces can be played singly or collectively, in any order, and the aim is enjoyment.

Table of Contents

Nocturne is slow and smooth, emphasising the beautiful long notes of the double bass in its low register, with a gently moving arpeggio accompaniment.

Hurdy-Gurdy is dance-like with a repetitive off-beat accompaniment figure contrasting a simple and effective solo line.

Dancing Bear features a strongly independent and rhythmic melody alongside a simple and supportive piano accompaniment.

Drum and Colours is march-like and regal with a measured energy and drive from both performers. The music is confident and self-assured.

Clown Dance has echoes of a Viennese waltz, with short and effective melodic phrases alongside a colourful and inventive piano accompaniment.

About the Composer

Humphrey Clucas was born in 1941 and read English at King's College, Cambridge, where he was also a Choral Scholar. Having taught English for twenty-seven years he subsequently became a Lay Vicar at Westminster Abbey but is now retired.

As a composer he is self-taught, and although he is well-known for a set of Anglican Responses written as an undergraduate, almost all his serious music has been written over the last twenty-five years.

He has a growing reputation as a choral composer and has produced an impressive and steady stream of choral works, both sacred and secular, alongside much instrumental music. He has written works for Cathedrals in Chichester, Guildford, Salisbury and Winchester, as well as for King's College, Cambridge, Southwell Minster and Westminster Abbey.