Tony Osborne: The Party Collection for Bass Trio & Quartet

About the Collection

This collection of beginner and intermediate trios and quartets written by Tony Osborne introduces young bassists to ensemble playing through accessible writing, lively rhythms, and memorable melodies. With approachable ranges and supportive part-writing, these works build confidence, develop listening and rhythmic skills, and make the first steps into chamber music both fun and rewarding.

Bass Clef Trios Book 2

Written in 1981 for the composer's own pupils, these four short pieces are in a fun, melodic and accessible style.

1. Passe-Pied
2. Burlesque
3. Blues-Style
4. Ragtime

Popular at music courses and concerts, they are a useful introduction to double bass chamber music and are very easy on the ear. There are few technical challenges but much scope for great music making. Playable with one bass to a part or larger forces, these bass clef trios are typical of the effective and idiomatic music written by Tony Osborne, one of the most successful composers writing for the double bass of his day.

Party Pieces for double bass trio

Party Pieces consists of three wonderfully jazzy and rhythmic pieces for the beginner-intermediate double bass trio. Typical of the lively and accessible music of Tony Osborne, these are instantly appealing and full of high spirits.

1. Picnic Time sets the mood with a toe-tapping tune
2. Bass Metal is repetitive, lively and full of jazzy and driving syncopations
3. Sing-Song has a bright and melodic appeal. 

These could be played as a trio or with larger forces and have always been successful in performance.

Remaining in bass clef throughout, Party Pieces offer wonderfully accessible and fun music which is ideal to teach about ensemble skills and would also be suitable for any audience or occasion.

Bass Clef Quartets for Beginners Book 2

These three fun and lively quartets are aimed at the progressing young quartet and each offer easy and accessible musical and technical challenges, remaining in bass clef throughout.

1. Basso-Saurus Rock for double bass quartet & percussion: Composed for Junior Bass-Fest 2000, this fun and energetic work is aimed at the beginner ensemble. It has a separate percussion part with the flexibility of being played by any percussion instruments - or even using the bass percussively - which adds a strong and driving momentum.
2. Habanera for double bass quartet: A popular and evocative quartet and immediately accessible for the beginner quartet. There is great rhythmic interest for each player, and it can also be performed one octave higher than written by the more advanced quartet.
3. Plinky-Plonky! for double bass quartet: Plinky-Plonky! is a fun spoof on modern styles and techniques for beginner bassists of all ages - from 8 to 80! Popular and effective in performance, there are few technical problems for any player, but much scope for great fun and enjoyment.

Three Fun Bass Quartets

Three Fun Bass Quartets introduces beginner and progressing bassists to ensemble playing through accessible ranges, steady rhythms, and lively styles. The collection develops rhythmic confidence, ensemble awareness, and stylistic versatility, while keeping students motivated with fun, memorable music.

1. Green Bass Blues remains in bass clef throughout and is aimed at the progressing beginner bass quartet. Composed in 1980, it combines elements of swing, blues and rock'n'roll, in a lively and rhythmic idiom that appeals to players of all ages.
2. Down at the O.K. Corral is a Wild West epic and written with the young bassists in mind. It’s a fun and energetic piece, with much to enjoy, and uses a limited number of notes and positions which are ideally for bassists who are just beginning to explore the double bass repertoire.
3. The Pink Elephant is one of Tony Osborne's most popular works and was written in the early 1980s for the intermediate double bass quartet. It's lively, rhythmic and jazzy idiom has been successful with performers and audiences alike and has also been successfully played with massed basses. The catchy melody is one that stays with you for a long time and this is a fun quartet which has stood the test of time. All basses remain in bass clef throughout.

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.