Senad Gacevic: Garland from Dalmatia for double bass trio

About the Composition

Commissioned by David Heyes for 40@40 to celebrate Recital Music’s 40th birthday in 2026.

Garland from Dalmatia is a rhythmically charged and exciting work for the intermediate double bass trio. Based on three folk songs from Dalmatia, the costal part of Croatia, it is in a generally free form which the composer calls a garland. The contrasting sections, celebrating different moods and a wealth of colours, offer musical and technical challenges in equal measure with solo opportunities for each bassist.

This type of musical form was first used by the Serbian composer Stevan Mokranjac (1856-1914) which he included in his choral works based on folk songs from the Balkans. “The musical language is not too contemporary and I have tried to capture the spirit and atmosphere of Dalmatian music rather than simply arranging the folk songs. There is one place where the performers add narration and bass percussion, alongside a short singing passage which is optional.” [Senad Gačević]

This purchase includes individual bass parts and the full score.

About the Composer

Senad Gačević (b.1962) was born in Podgorica (Montenegro - ex Yugoslavia) and studied composition, alongside music theory and pedagogy, at the University of Montenegro - Music Academy with Prof. Željko Brkanović and at the Conservatory "Peter Iljich Tcaykovsky" with Prof. Nikolay Sideljnikov.

He is a Professor at University of Montenegro - Music Academy and is the composer of is solo, instrumental, chamber, symphony and vocal music, including music for theatre and film. His music has been performed throughout Europe including Italy, Spain, France, Russia, Ukraine, Austria, Turkey, Romania, Albania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosna i Hercegovina, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

Senad Gačević is active as an ethnomusicologist and has made many arrangements of folk music from Montenegro and the Balkan area for different ensembles. His music for double bass is dedicated to the Montenegrin ensemble "Bassonegro".

He received state awards of Montenegro "Oktoih" (2018) for excellent work in pedagogy and "13. July" (2022) national award for national important work in art and science.