Storyteller (Chamber Concerto no.3) - for solo double bass and eight players - 2010
duration 15 minutes
The Paul Klee Ensemble via Fabio di Casola and Kaspar Zehnder commissioned a concertino work for double bass and ensemble entitled Storyteller for a concert on the theme of childhood. The soloist in Bern in January 2011 was Ivan Nestic who also gave considerable help with the writing of the bass part.
"Storyteller" conjures up "a picture of storytelling" rather than describing any specific plot. I imagined a spellbound gathering of people around a crackling fire in the dark of night, manipulated by a slightly sinister character, casting flickering shadows and weaving his yarn with well-dramaticised twists and turns. We all like to be scared a little by stories!
After a brief "curtain up", the piece divides into three sections: fast-slow-fast. The solo bass both tells the story (via the ensemble) and comments upon it, sometimes stepping outside the narrative as if he were interpretting it with "asides" to his audience, who themselves occasionally react. The whole scene has a slightly malevolent air, with a "dark energy" and much animation, but, as in all good fairy stories, there is a happy ending!
It is my intention to revise this work.
Scoring: solo double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, 'cello, piano
PLEASE READ: THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC DOMAIN WORK. ALL RIGHTS ARE RESERVED. PRINTED COPIES ARE FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES ONLY
solo double bass
flute/piccolo oboe clarinet bassoon
horn violin 'cello piano
VIDEO of premiere - Ivan Nestic and the Paul Klee Ensemble of Bern - January 2011.
(Courtesy of my friend Fabio di Casolá.)
(The sound quality is acceptable, though the small camera microphone does not pick up the solo bass quite as well as it was heard live.)
Storyteller - live première performance from Bern by Paul Klee Ensemble
(painting "Storyteller" by Ilgvars Zalans - used by kind permission)
If you have arrived at this page from a search engine (e.g. Google) and cannot see the menu system, please click here.
