Mary Rae: Alone: 5 Miniatures Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe for unaccompanied double bass

About the Miniatures

Alone is a suite of five short and engaging pieces, primarily in the rich middle register of the double bass, emphasising the lyrical and sonorous qualities of the double bass. There are few technical challenges but many opportunities to create mood pictures and explore a wealth of colours and moods.

My 'Alone' Suite is based the poetry of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) and the first three movements were inspired by the poem, "Alone." "From Childhood's Hour I Have Not Been As Others Were," is the first line of the poem. This movement begins with youthful exuberance, which gives way to an contemplative state. "And All I lov’d - I Lov’d Alone," expresses the journey along a singular, often lonely path. "The Mystery Which Binds Me Still," captures the feeling of a life that is mysterious and sad, yet not without beauty. The title of the fourth movement, "Thou Wast All To Me, Love, For Which My Soul Did Pine," comes from the first two lines of the poem, "To One in Paradise." The piece expresses the deep sadness of unrecoverable loss. The last movement, draws on Poe's famous poem, "A Dream Within A Dream." "All that we see or seem / Is but a dream within a dream." Here, the words are given music for a voice. [Programme note by Mary Rae]

Commissioned by David Heyes for 40@40 to celebrate Recital Music’s 40th birthday in 2026.

About the Composer

Mary Rae was born in Washington D.C. in 1951 and grew up in Virginia. She studied flute and voice in Boston and, at the same time, received a BA in Spanish Languages and Literature from Boston University. Mary has always been interested in composition, and devised for herself a course of self-study. Aside from writing for double bass, she particularly likes writing for voice and piano and her works have been premiered in the United States, Great Britain and elsewhere.

Mary Rae is currently involved in the revitalisation efforts for the Cherokee language, which is severely endangered, as most indigenous languages are. She has studied the language for a number of years, and recently achieved teacher certification from the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, something which is rare for second language learners. Mary has been working at writing settings for Cherokee hymns with the aim of uniting two of her great interests.