Two Dances for 3 double basses:

Ideal as both study or concert repertoire, these two short dances are lyrical and engaging, offering ideal ensemble music for the intermediate trio. Both are in waltz- styles, are tonal and traditional, and were composed in 2006.

Simple and direct, with scope for characterisation and interpretation, these should appeal to players of all ages. There are few technical challenges but much to enjoy for players and audiences alike.

Two Dances was premiered on 3 December 2006 at Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) by Tim Cavey, Louis van der Westhuizen and Greg Childs.

A Clutch of Folk Songs for Double Bass Trio:

Humphrey Clucas writes: ‘A Clutch’, for three double basses, consists of five folk songs, played continuously, as follows: ‘Quand j’étais chez mon père’, ‘I sowed the seeds of love’, ‘Pure and fair’, ‘Early one morning’, and ‘Widdecombe Fair’: one French, three English, and one, the third, entirely spurious since I wrote it myself, words and music.The words are as follows:

He tickled me under the chin, my dears, When spring was in the air;
For he was wicked as sin, my dears, And I was pure and fair.
So I cried, “Oh sir, for shame!” my dears, Remember your gentle birth!”
For I had never a name, my dears, But I knew what I was worth.

I parried his every kiss, my dears, For all the gold he’d bring;
He promised me oh! such bliss, my dears, And I said, “But where’s the ring?”
Then he’s down on his bended knee, my dears, He much have me all his life;
So I thought, That’ll doe for me, my dears – And now I’m a wedded wife.