2011-06-17
On 7 April Dan Styffe premiered Rolf Martinsson’s Double Bass Concerto No.1 on his Gasparo da Salo bass dated ca. 1580.
In his concerto Martinsson has focused on writing in such a manner that the double bass is not drowned out by the orchestra. His goal has been to create a varied kind of music taking advantage of both the melodic-harmonious sonorities in the high register of the bass and the slightly tougher sound in the middle and lower registers. Conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Dan Styffe and the Oslo Philharmonic gave a world premiere that was enthusiastically received by the Oslo audience. In connection with the world premiere the concerto was also recorded for a CD to be released on the Simax label.
Under the direction of Ingar Bergy the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra will give the second performance of the concerto on 20 October.
Watch the video clip from Oslo Concert Hall in April 2011
A short solo version of the concerto called Bassic Instinct was premiered by Styffe during the International Society of Bassists Convention on 11 June in San Francisco, USA.
It will be heard again during the Brno International Chamber Music Festival in the Czech Republic on 18 September.
For more information about Dan Styffe and the concerto visit Dan Styffe’s new website at www.danstyffe.com.
Work information:
Double Bass Concerto No. 1
Instrumentation: 3333/2220/timp.2perc/hp/pno(cel)/strings
Duration: 30’
Dan Styffe in Oslo. Photo © Louise Martinsson