Michael Montgomery: Spectacular Dracula: A Gothic Horror Story for double bass quartet

About the Composition

Spectacular Dracula is a suite of five adventurous and inspired pieces inspired by the story of Dracula by Bram Stoker (1847-1912). Playable by quartet or larger forces and in any order, there are effective musical and technical challenges in bass clef for the progressing young (or older) bass quartet.

A narration can be added between the movements and there is scope to create a wealth of colours and effects in music which is rhythmically inventive and musically original.

“It is said that Bram Stoker’s famous novel Dracula, written in the 1890s and completed in 1897, has been adapted to film thirty times over the course of the past century. I’ve tried to capture the temperament and experiences of five of the more prominent characters of his story as they interact in various ways with one another and the Count himself as their paths crossed.

An unsuspecting Jonathan Harker encounters Dracula early on as the story unfolds, sharing casual pleasantries with the Count initially although, as the days pass, he quickly finds himself in the most horrid of circumstances, believing he would be fortunate should he ever be able to escape the Count’s castle with his very life (which he however eventually does!). As it happens though, Mr. Harker inadvertently puts a naive Lucy Westernra at risk - not anticipating Dracula’s intentions concerning her, he arranges the purchase of a new home for Dracula in Whitby (North Yorkshire, overlooking the North Sea) right next door to Lucy. Professor Abraham Van Helsing, a widely known and well respected scholar of science, medicine, folklore, and any number of other things, is called in to check on Lucy, and soon realizes Dracula, with his designs on her, is the source of her afflictions.

Mina Murray, a best friend to Lucy, visits her on holiday, and the two share many a story in their time together, until Mina is called away to tend (and soon marry!) her fiancée Jonathan. Sadly, it is during these days Lucy slowly succumbs to Count Dracula’s enticements. The several actors of this drama are, of course, quite upset with Dracula, and set out bring about an end to his reign of terror - and in short order, do in fact bring about his demise.” [Michael Montgomery]

About the Composer

Double bassist Michael Montgomery, a student of Robert Rohe (Principal Bass, New Orleans Symphony) and Lucas Drew (Principal Bass, Miami Philharmonic), earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in double bass performance from the University of Miami, played full-time in the bass section of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra for two decades.

He now lives in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, where he teaches double bass at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville and privately in his home studio. Michael has composed numerous works for young double bassists (including over five dozen short bass quartets for young students) which are published by Recital Music and two American publishers.

His articles about bass performance, literature, and teaching have been published in American Suzuki Journal, Bass World, and Pastoral Music.