Koussevitsky Connections Book 2: Europe - Seven Pieces for Unaccompanied Double Bass

About the Book

Koussevitsky Connections Book 2: Europe features seven impressive and inventive pieces for unaccompanied double bass. A wealth of innovative styles are idioms are encompassed in music which has the ability to challenge, engage and to excite, and all were premiered during a concert tour of New England (USA) in April 2024. The project features fourteen pieces from composers in the UK, USA, Czech Republic, Spain and Hong Kong.

Find the USA Koussevitsky Connections Book here.

Serge Koussevitsky (1874-1951)

The great double bass virtuoso and revered conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is the inspiration for a new project from David Heyes and Recital Music. 2024 is the 150th anniversary of the birth of Koussevitsky and the 100th anniversary of his appointment as conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Serge Koussevitsky was a great advocate of contemporary music and the Koussevitsky Foundation, set up in memory of his second wife Natalie, commissioned, and continues to commission, orchestral and chamber works to this day.

About the Composers and Compositions

1. Peter Byrom-Smith (UK) - Homage - a tribute to Serge Koussevitsky Maestro is not a term used lightly, but in the case of Serge Koussevitsky, this is indeed the correct word. This genius spread his passions as conductor, composer, and performer, far and wide, inspiring many musicians whilst on his own artistic journey. When David Heyes asked me to part of this project, and write a short piece for double bass, it was a true honour and at which I jumped at the chance to do so. Written with two thematic ideas, combining both slow expressive sections with more energetic contrasts, to try and reflect something of the maestro’s own personal expression, and energy in everything he achieved in his career. I hope that this short work somehow reflects this and that I have maybe captured something, even in just a very small way, that is a tribute to Serge Koussevitsky - a true musical artist. [Peter Byrom-Smith]

Homage - a tribute to Serge Koussevitsky was premiered by David Heyes at Old North Church (Marblehead, MA USA) on Friday 26 April 2024

2. Christopher Field (UK) - After Koussevitsky - Rhapsodic Concerto Musings After Koussevitsky is unashamedly composed of musings (doodlings...) on fragments taken from the Opus 3 Concerto in F sharp minor. [Christopher Field]

After Koussevitsky was premiered by Anthony Chappione at Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA USA) on Thursday 25 April 2024

3. Miloslav Gajdoš (Czech Republic) - Koussevitsky I have great respect for Serge Koussevitsky's compositions, whether he wrote them himself or in collaboration with Reinhold Glière and are performed by great artists, but also by students of music schools. In my composition for solo double bass, I tried to capture the characteristic features of these compositions, such as warm melodiousness, lively rhythms and interesting

modulations. Excerpts from Koussevitsky's miniatures and also from the well-known Concerto in F sharp minor are successively cited. However, the style of the double bass playing is moved to a higher technical level by the frequent use of double stops, chords and a hint of polyphonic playing. [Miloslav Gajdoš]

Koussevitsky was premiered by David Heyes at West Stockbridge Congregational Church (West Stockbridge, MA USA) on Saturday 27 April 2024

4. Simón García (Spain) - A Little Waltz A Little Waltz is a fun tribute to Valse Miniature by Koussevitsky and is both playful and rhythmically engaging. It uses much of the range of the double bass, including harmonics, and its subtle use of chromatic sidesteps ensures this will be enjoyable for players and audiences alike.

A Little Waltz was premiered by Sam Wright at Old North Church (Marblehead, MA USA) on Friday 26 April 2024.

5. David Heyes (UK) - Silences & Shadows From 1924-49 Serge Koussevitsky (1874-1951) was the Chief Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and lived at Seranak, a beautiful and spacious mansion with a garden which overlooked three states - Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. The house is preserved to this day, including Koussevitsky's concert clothes and shoes, and Silences and Shadows imagines slowly walking through the house and feeling the spirit and presence of Koussevitsky in each room. Silences and Shadows is slow and rhapsodic and is in three sections, each introduced by a three note motif (E-G-D sharp), taken from Koussevitsky's name. The piece is generally slow moving and evocative, using a darkly hued palette of colours to emphasise the atmospheric possibilities of the solo double bass. Each section has a different character, sometimes echoing dance-like themes, ending slowly and quietly in the lower register of the instrument.

Silences & Shadows was premiered by David Heyes at St John the Baptist’s Church (Glastonbury, UK) on Saturday 2 September 2023 and received its US premiere by Susan Hagen at West Stockbridge Congregational Church (West Stockbridge, MA USA) on Saturday 27 April 2024.

6. Ivor Hodgson (UK) - Itsy Bitsy Koussevitsky Full of rhythmic invention and drive, with echoes of Koussevitsky’s Concerto for double bass, the opening introduction (Andante) is expansive and lyrical followed by music which has constant drive and momentum. In the style of a tarantella, the music fizzes with energy and excitement bringing the piece to a strong and positive conclusion.

Itsy Bitsy Koussevitaky was premiered by Susan Hagen at Peabody Institute Library (Peabody, MA USA) on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

7. Frank Kakarigi (Spain/Croatia) - One Drawing for Koussevitskyiana 'One Drawing...' is my own (and personal) remembrance of a famous piece by Serge. A dedication was inspired on a warning Serge had launched to the bass section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal and immediately

transcribed onto a parts folder. Years later it was published in Oscar Zimmerman's book 'Once More...From the Beginning' (1993), a phrase which speaks of Serge's peculiar communication skills, not extent of his bitter-sweet sense of humour. [Frano Kakarigi]

One Drawing for Koussevitskyiana was premiered by David Heyes at Village Church (Wellesley, MA USA) on Thursday 25 April 2024.