Tony Osborne: Mr Brunel's Victorian Vision for double bass quartet

About the Composition

Composed in 2003/4, Mr Brunel’s Victorian Vision is a rhythmically charged and action-packed work for the advanced double bass quartet. In one extended movement, the piece was inspired by the genius of Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859), an English civil and marine engineer who was considered one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution.

Mr Brunel’s Victorian Vision piece has energy and drive, with musical and technical challenges for each bassist, requiring four players who are confident playing in treble clef and in thumb position. Syncopations abound, alongside powerful chordal passages which creates pockets of calm and reflection between high-octane music which pushes to a powerful and successful conclusion.

Mr Brunel’s Victorian Vision is a fun and exciting piece which has great player and audience appeal.

About the Composer

Born in 1947 into a musical family, Tony Osborne studied at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with John Walton (double bass) and Richard Stoker (composition), and divided a busy career between composing, teaching, and performing. A prolific composer and arranger, Tony's original compositions include works in almost every genre, notably Chaconne Syncopations and Wainwright's Ways for brass

quintet, Celebration Fanfare for brass ensemble, the musical A Fine Time for Wine, a beautiful and dramatic Requiem, and many works for string orchestra. Tony’s music for young bassists is very much at the heart of the teaching repertoire, particularly his jazzy and enjoyable bass trios and quartets, and he had the rare ability to create wonderful music which is always player and audience-friendly.

In 2001 Tony Osborne was elected an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his pioneering and important work for double bass and was a featured com- poser at Bass-Fest for over ten years. He was a very successful BIBF Composer-in-residence in 2002-3, was a judge for the British Composer Awards and a judge for the BIBF Composition Competition from 1999 until 2015.

Tony Osborne died on 30 March 2019 at the age of 71