Tony Osborne: Recital Rags for double bass & piano

About the Composition

Written in a similar popular vein as Junior Jazz Book 1, Recital Rags includes five inventive and engaging ragtime pieces for the younger player, offering useful teaching and concert repertoire. Tony Osborne is a past master at writing idiomatic and enjoyable music for the younger bassist and each piece has great rhythmic and melodic appeal, using a variety of keys and with simple, syncopated and supportive accompaniments.

“Given the rich legacy of ragtime music, most notably from Scott Joplin, and its time-honoured popularity, I did not want simply to copy what has been done so many times. Rather, I have attempted to explore ways in which the model could be extended into more varied musical styles.” [Tony Osborne, 2003]

Table of Contents

1. Bass-in-Ragtime starts off in a more traditional setting, but there is a quote from a popular classic!

2. Ragtime Waltz is just what it says, not exactly a new concept in itself, but generally less well known, and gives opportunities to try cross-rhythms.

3. Rockin’ Rag puts a bit of rhythmic zest and drive into the show - they’ll be dancing in the aisles!

4. Rhythmic Rag points firmly to the traditional style on the surface, but in a much bolder and humorous way!

5. Raga-Rag provides a whole new experience! It delves into the mysterious and fascinating world of Indian classical music, attempting to recreate the atmosphere of the sitar and table.

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.