David Heyes: Te Puia o Whakaari 'Scenes of the Dramatic Volcano' for double bass quartet

About the Composition

'Te Puia o Whakaari - Scenes of The Dramatic Volcano' is an exciting and vibrant work that can be played by the progressing bass quartet or larger forces. It employs a wealth of playing techniques and colors to portray the many possibilities of the modern double bass.

The music features contrasting episodes in the history of this active and powerful volcano. An underlying drone emphasizes the ever-present danger, above which two solo basses sing short musical motifs in harmonics, alongside sudden dramatic changes of rhythmic energy and ferocity. There is something of interest for each player and basses 3 and 4 remain in the lower positions.

The full Māori name for the island is 'Te Puia o Whakaari', meaning 'The Dramatic Volcano’ or ‘to make visible’. It was named 'White Island' and 'discovered' by Captain Cook on 1 October 1769 because it always appeared to be in a cloud of white steam. It is New Zealand's most active cone volcano and has been built up by continuous volcanic activity over the past 150,000 years. the music encompasses contrasting episodes in the history of this most active and dramatic volcano.

Premiere

'Te Puia o Whakaari - Scenes of The Dramatic Volcano' was premiered on Saturday 6 May 2017 at Blackwell Hall, Weston Library, Oxford (UK).