Informationen zu "Armand Russell Hawai'i Variations Double Bass & Piano"
Verlag: Recital Music
Verlagsnummer: RM545
EAN: 9790570455454
ISMN: M-57045-545-4
Beschreibung
The Hawai'i Variations are based on a melody attributed to a Hawaiian
princess, Laura Konia, step-mother of the last Queen of Hawai'i. It is dated
around 1897 in the Queen's song book. This composition for double bass and
piano begins with a statement of this theme followed by six variations and a
coda. The piece is intended to reflect some of the implications of original
song text which in the Hawaiian language is titled 'Nani Haili Po I Ka
Lehua'. This can be translated in English as 'Haili is beautiful, dense with
the fragrant Lehua blossoms'. The term 'Haili' refers to a forest on the Big
Island of Hawaii noted for its many birds and 'Lehua', a very attractive
Hawaiian flower. Hawai'i Variations was premiered on 16 September 2012 at
Wells Cathedral School (Somerset, UK) by David Heyes (double bass) and
Christopher Finch (piano), as part of Armand Russell's 80th birthday
celebrations at the school. This edition includes one piano accompaniment
and two solo parts - one for orchestral tuning and one for solo tuning.
Armand Russell was born in Seattle, Washington in 1932. He received the
Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of
Washington, with a major in music composition, and a Doctorate in music
composition from the Eastman School of Music. He studied double bass with
Leslie Martin, who played in the Seattle Symphony and Boston Symphony
Orchestras, and at the Eastman School of Music with Oscar Zimmerman. His
composition studies were with John Verrall and George McKay at the University
of Washington, and with Bernard Rogers and Howard Hanson at the Eastman
School. Professionally, Armand Russell played double bass in many orchestras
including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Tour Orchestra,
Rochester Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras, and Honolulu Symphony. For five
years he taught as a visiting Professor at the Eastman School of Music. From
1961 to 1994 he taught at the University of Hawaii Music Department and
retired as Professor emeritus in 1994. While at the University of Hawaii he
taught music theory, composition and double bass and also served as Chair of
the Music Department for seven years. Armand Russell has composed many works
for double bass and also percussion, including solos, chamber music and
concertos. Some of his most frequently performed works include Chaconne
(Db/Pno), Buffo Set (Db/Pno), Harlequin Concerto (Db/Orch), Pas de Deux
(Cl/Perc), Percussion Suite, Theme & Fantasia (Concert Band) and Suite
Concertante (Tuba/Wind Quintet). He has also composed several works for
choirs in recent years and has continued to write for the double bass
alongside a growing body of chamber music and transcriptions. Armand
Russell's compositional style is confident and direct with a clarity of line
and texture always to the fore. A modern, yet lyrical and accessible style,
has created works which communicate equally to performers and audiences alike
and he has made, and continues to make, a unique and valuable contribution to
the double bass litereature throughout a long and successful career.
