Lasting around 9-10 minutes, this is Teppo Hauta-aho at his very best, writing music which is engaging and interesting to play and demonstrating the wealth of tonal and timbral possibilities of the double bass quartet. In four clearly defined sections, the piece offers much to the enterprising and adventurous quartet who are looking for an original work which has much to say.

The introduction is rhythmically free. Basses 3 and 4 work together in time as a ground bass with bass 1 and 2 playing without metre and in the higher registers. The second section is the introduction of theChorale theme, now in time, but with added ‘Teppo touches’ to create something a little different. A slower middle section, played primarily in the lower register, contrasts music of a more chordal nature, with varied rhythms and chromatic notes to add interest and atmosphere. The piece slowly winds down and relaxes onto a chord of A and E, neither major nor minor.

‘Koraaliaana’ is a fascinating work and full of colourful textures and timbres. There is scope to create wonderful musical tapestries and soundscapes and to demonstrate the more lyrical and sonorous qualities of the double bass quartet. Beautiful music from a great composer.

PERFORMANCE NOTES:

1) The first page of score is also the first page of each individual part. Basses 1 and 2 play freely and independently, beginning approximately where it states in the score. The file is called ‘first page’.

2) Basses 3 and 4 play together, in time, independently of the other basses.

3) The music should eventually die away until there is a moment of silence before beginning with bar 2 which is the first bar of each individual part.

4) There are two possible endings and the details are included on pages 9 and 10 of the score.