Tony Osborne: Bass Quartets Bundle

About the Collection

This collection of six works by Tony Osborne offers lively, imaginative repertoire for intermediate double bass quartets. Featuring everything from rhythmic drive to atmospheric color, the set develops ensemble skills while showcasing the versatility and expressive range of the double bass.

What's In the Bundle

1. All in a Day's Work

All in a Day’s Work depicts three contrasting moods in a busy day. Each movement draws on elements of serious music, jazz and rock, and presents exciting rhythmic and expressive challenges. Kick Start is smart, business-like and direct. It is about dealing with situations confidently, making decisions, and getting to appointments on time.
The second movement, Free Time, is a time for reflection, peace and unwinding, thinking of others and about a break from routine or a holiday. Rush Hour, the last movement, is a depiction of last minute developments or changes, and then the journey home.

2. Basses Four Book 1

Basses Four Book 1 brings together two exciting pieces which are aimed at the intermediate quartet. Both offer musical and technical challenges in equal measure,
written in an engaging and appealing style, and are typical of Tony Osborne’s upbeat and adventurous musical language.

Time Travel: Time, movement, drive, momentum, and energy all convey a feeling of the rhythmic power in this piece. It is in two distinct sections - the first Moderato reflects contained or restrained energy, building up prior to its release. It opens with a bold, fanfare-like statement followed by a strongly syncopated theme, which returns in the second section. A second theme, exclusive to this section, gives a definite jazz character, which is more rhythmically stable. The syncopated theme and opening fanfare are then restated.

The Millennium Bug: Composed in late 1999, during the 'millennium bug' scare, this fun piece is aimed at the intermediate bass quartet and remains in bass clef throughout apart from a few forays into low thumb position by Bass 1. Full of typical Osborne jazz influences and styles, it has great rhythmic energy and drive, abounding with striking syncopations and ending with a fun-packed hoe-down finale. Great fun to play.

3. Basses Four Book 2

Basses Four Book 2 brings together three fun pieces that are aimed at the intermediate quartet. They are colorful and inventive, offering musical and technical challenges in equal measure, and written in engaging and appealing styles which is typical of Tony Osborne’s upbeat and adventurous musical language.

Italian Tarantella: This fun quartet is ideal for the good intermediate bass quartet and is also playable with larger forces. A lively and rhythmic accompaniment drives the music along and the melodic material is shared between basses 1-3. Bass 4 provides a strong and important bass line and Tony Osborne successfully captures the feeling and mood of a sunny Italian landscape with a group of dancers performing a fast and energetic dance which is enjoyed by all.

Pastyme with Good Companye: Based on the partsong by King Henry VIII, the use of open fifths and repetitive rhythms evoke the world of Tudor England, with its raw energy and brash sounds. Effective with massed basses and a firm favorite at many double bass workshops around the world.

Real Cool: This lively quartet is full of jazzy rhythms and influences, pushing the intermediate bass quartet to explore different rhythms and sounds.

4. Basses Four Book 3

Basses Four Book 3 brings together three fun and vibrant pieces which are aimed at the intermediate quartet. These pieces explore lively rhythms, gentle melodies, and a unique jazz waltz. This book offers technical and musical challenges perfect for the progressing double bassists. 

On the Edge: This fun piece is lively and rhythmic, typical of Tony Osborne's jazzy and accessible music. Ideal for intermediate quartet, there are effective musical and rhythmical challenges for each player and the addition of percussive effects gives another dimension to the jazz-infused style. Bass 1 plays in thumb position with Bass 2 venturing into low thumb position, but everything is playable and the quartet has been successful and popular in performance.

Pure Soap: A contrast to Real Cool, Pure Soap is a gentle, melodic and flowing waltz. Written in a popular style, typical of the theme tunes used for TV dramas or ‘soap operas’ in the mid- 1980s, the melodic interest is primarily given to Bass 1, with strong, important and supportive accompaniments given to the other players.

Blues-Beat: In the style of a jazz waltz, the use of pizzicato and arco alongside jazz-inspired rhythmic figures and lyrical melodies, creates a fun work which has great energy and momentum. Tony Osborne had the great skill to write music which was instantly appealing for both players and audiences alike, guaranteed to bring a wry smile and enjoyment to all.

5. Bassos Paraguayos

Bassos Paraguayos is a lively and colorful work which is ideal for the intermediate bass quartet. Abounding in rhythmic energy and spirit, this is exciting and vibrant from beginning to end and suitable for any audience or occasion. Tony Osborne was a master at creating innovative and engaging pieces which demonstrate the many possibilities and great potential of the double bass quartet medium.

6. Dreamtime

Dreamtime expresses the essence of Aboriginal spirituality, tradition, and culture. Many think of it as describing creation itself as the unfolding history of an ancient people. It is a vibrant and colorful quartet which abounds with rhythmic energy and drive. There are musical and technical challenges for each player, which is aimed at the intermediate quartet, with effective and evocative music in an instantly appealing style.

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.