Pebbles Db/pno

A miniature suite of six short movements in a lyrical but modern idiom. This would be ideal for the intermediate bassist and could be successfulas both study or concert repertoire. The solo part includes a number of musical and technical challenges with a strongly independent and impres sive piano accompaniment, offering something a little different for the adventurous bassist. 'Emeritus professor of composition in Hawaii, Armand Russell gives us six very brief but contrasting movements which really explore ideas contained in the opening movement of his latest bass work. There's plenty of rhythmic variety in the playing, although I felt that practsing the solo part was curiously unrewarding without the consonant yet non-directional tonality of the accompaniment. After the quirkyrhythmic opener there are two slow pieces separated by a pizzicato move ment. Next a capriccioso with harmonics, and the set concludes with a lively vivace. Pebbles is written largely within the orchestral ra