Tony Osborne: Pizzicato All-Sorts for double bass & piano

About the Composition

Composed in March 2009, these four fun and appealing pieces are typical of the lively and jazzy music by Tony Osborne.

Played pizzicato throughout, they offer new and exciting repertoire for the intermediate bassist and would be suitable for any concert or occasion. Each piece has its own strong personality and character, and the independent piano accompaniments provide music that is full of rhythmic interest and energy.

Pizzicato All-Sorts is ideal for the progressing bassist who enjoyed the jazzy and rhythmic challenges in Junior Jazz Books 1 and 2, providing useful repertoire to develop a secure pizzicato technique and fine sound across the middle register of the double bass.

Table of Contents

1. Faster than you think!

2. Mixed Feelings

3. Sounds like fun!

4. Are we there yet?

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.