Tony Osborne: Bass Clef Quartets for Beginners Book 2 for junior double bass quartet or ensemble

About the Collection

Tony Osborne composed a wealth of music for young bassists which is loved by students, teachers and audiences alike the world over. These three fun and lively quartets are aimed at the progressing young quartet and each offer easy and accessible musical and technical challenges, remaining in bass clef throughout.

1. Basso-Saurus Rock for double bass quartet & percussion Composed for Junior Bass-Fest 2000, this fun and energetic work is aimed at the beginner ensemble. It has a separate percussion part with the flexibility of being played by any percussion instruments - or even using the bass percussively - which adds a strong and driving momentum.

Also playable by larger forces, this would make an ideal introduction to chamber music for the beginner bassist. Lively, jazzy, and full of fun, this has some simple rhythmic challenges and is typical of Tony Osborne's accessible music for younger players.

2. Habanera for double bass quartet A popular and evocative quartet and immediately accessible for the beginner quartet. There is great rhythmic interest for each player, and it can also be performed one octave higher than written by the more advanced quartet.

"Like Bizet's habanera from Carmen, this piece features a sultry melody accompanied by an ostinato habanera rhythm...the composer is successful in setting this remarkable, effective and satisfying piece." (ISB)

3. Plinky-Plonky! for double bass quartet Plinky-Plonky! is a fun spoof on modern styles and techniques for beginner bassists of all ages - from 8 to 80! Popular and effective in performance, there are few technical problems for any player, but much scope for great fun and enjoyment.

A number of contemporary effects are used to demonstrate the possibilities of the modern double bass and the full range of percussive effects offer exciting challenges for any beginner quartet.

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.