Peter Byrom-Smith: Celebrations Book 8: Six Pieces for unaccompanied double bass

About the Composer

Celebrations Book 8 brings together six exciting, evocative and inventive works for unaccompanied double bass by the English composer Peter Byrom-Smith. Composed over the past few years, each piece celebrates a specific bassist, commemoration or anniversary, and all are aimed at the adventurous intermediate bassist. 

Peter Byrom-Smith writes in a modern and distinctive style, with a keen eye for detail and colour. His music is accessible, sometimes technically challenging, but none of the pieces outstay their welcome and he creates mini-soundscapes which explore the lyrical and cantabile qualities of the double bass 

“I write music because I have to; sharing my personal thoughts, reflections and emotions in music, it is my life’s passion.” [Peter Byrom-Smith] 

Table of Contents

1. ENCORE - composed for Teppo & Frank @ 89 to celebrate the 80th birthdays of Frank Proto (USA) and Teppo Hauta-aho (Finland) in 2021 

2. TWO-WAY MIRROR - composed for Self-Portrait 2021 

3. THE PURSUIT OF PAN - composed for The Syrinx Project in 2018 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death of Claude Debussy (1862-1918) 

4. LIGHTING OUR DARKNESS - composed for Da Vinci 500 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) in 2019 

5. EVER TURNING - THE PAINTED WHEEL - composed for A Tribute to Tony, a celebration of the life and work of the composer-bassist Tony Osborne (1947-2019) 

6. PRAGUE BY NIGHT - composed for Pošta100, a project to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Czech double bass virtuoso František Pošta (1919-1991) 

About the Composer

Although completely self-taught, Peter Byrom-Smith had the opportunity of writing for, and performing over many years, with musicians from across a wide spectrum of genres, as well as musical director for theatre, church organist/choirmaster, lutenist/guitar performer, rock band member, teacher at schools, colleges, and universities. All this experience had been his true musical apprenticeship and many of his works have been played around the world at festivals and in many major concert halls. 

As a composer, his music crosses boundaries, which is a melange of musical sounds, bringing together and reflecting his personal musical interests: from Elgarian melody to jazz harmonies, and rock rhythms. He has also found inspiration from many, and varied sources, everything from literature, artists, poets, the natural world, the wider universe, all of which are added to the mix of his own personal compositional voice. 

Peter's ever growing portfolio of work includes diverse pieces written for full orchestra, opera, chamber musicians, as well as solo works. He enjoys working regularly with pop/rock, and folk musicians, writing and arranging music, both in the studio for commercial releases, and live performances, which provides him with constant inspiration for new adventures in 

the musical world. Providing music for the theatre has also proved wide ranging too; from Shakespeare to a variety of contemporary drama productions, and over the years he has written a number of musical soundtracks for films and provided music installations for art exhibitions at galleries, and museums. 

Peter's personal musical journey has taken his work across Europe, Japan, New Zealand, and USA, where it is regularly performed, recorded and broadcast. He has spent many years encouraging other composers and performers in their careers presenting his popular, and ground-breaking radio show ‘Trust Me….., I’m A Composer’ (which has the subtitle ‘Music you know, music you don’t, and music you should hear!’) which features a wide ranging variety of music from all genres, with the emphasis on creative ideas, and possibilities, giving the artists an opportunity for their musical voices to be heard by as wide a listening audience as possible.