James Belbin-Wood: The Threepenny Suite for double bass & piano

About the Suite

The Threepenny Suite includes three lively and engaging pieces which are ideal for the intermediate bassist. Brimming with energy and rhythmic momentum, each piece is appealing and accessible, alongside supportive accompaniments which add interest, contrast and colour.

“The title of this work comes from the fact that an ex-advanced pupil of mine, Penny Carey, wanted to get back into playing after a long break. I decided to write her some motivational pieces of about Grade 3 standard; hence three pieces for Penny or better still A Threepenny Suite. Each movement explores different aspects of double bass playing, and all have a fairly straightforward piano accompaniment.

Table of Contents

1) Greek Dance - sitting in a taverna in Crete in 1973, I was amazed, in my 'buttoned up' English way, to suddenly see three Greek men jump up and to a bouzouki accompaniment, proceed to perform a' Pentozali' traditional Greek dance, where they stand in a line and hold each other’s shoulders moving to a steady beat. This piece is my attempt to capture a flavour of that very Greek experience with the music moving to a steady thread with modal piano harmonies and arco and pizzicato techniques.

2) Chromatic Waltz - a gentle movement exploring a more wistful aspect of the double bass' sonority, with an elegant chromatic melodic line and shifting accompanimental piano harmonies.

3) Black Cat Rag is called after our mischievous cat 'Hobson' who would I'm sure have been a ragtime fan. The music is in the style of Scott Joplin, and is not meant to be played too fast, having the typical rhythms and melodic effects of that genre, but without putting the player under too much pressure and therefore making for an attractive finale to the suite.” [James Belbin-Wood]

About the Composer

James Belbin-Wood was born in 1952 in North Yorkshire and studies double bass, piano and classical guitar at Bretton Hall College and Leeds College of Music He has combined a busy career as a performer, conductor, teacher and composer, from 1980 as a peripatetic music specialist for The William Appleby Music Centre in Doncaster, retiring in 2022.

He studied double bass with Bronwen Naish, has worked as a freelance musician and lecturer throughout the North of England, and was founder and conductor of The South Bank Sinfonietta which gave performances of many substantial and demanding works, notably Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

James Belbin-Wood has written a large amount of educational music, including works for classical guitar ensembles, wind bands, choirs and string and full orchestras. His children’s Cantata The Mystery of Flannan Isle has been broadcast several times by the BBC. Other significant works are The Kirbymoorside Suite for brass band, The Minster Psalms composed for the choir of Doncaster Minster. The Shakespeare Suite for school and Music Centre orchestra and the three movement Chinese Lanterns Suite for string training orchestras (published by Recital Music).