University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

David Ellis's seven solo and chamber works for double bass: A performer's guide

Ma, Yi-Hung

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/103403

Description

Title
David Ellis's seven solo and chamber works for double bass: A performer's guide
Author(s)
Ma, Yi-Hung
Issue Date
2019
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Cameron, Michael
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Cameron, Michael
Committee Member(s)
  • Moersch, Charlotte Mattax
  • Silvers, Michael
  • Solya, Andrea
Department of Study
School of Music
Discipline
Music
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
A.Mus.D. (doctoral)
Keyword(s)
  • David Ellis
  • double bass
  • chamber works
  • solo works
  • New Manchester school
  • British composers
  • Peter Maxwell Davies
  • John Ogdon
  • Rodney Slatford
  • Yorke edition
  • David Heyes
  • recital music
  • Leon Bosch
  • Sonata for unaccompanied double bass
  • Safranski's Heroic Leaps
  • Contra-Partita for double bass trio
  • Low Priority Sonata
  • Four Journeys and an Arrival
  • Distant Dreams - Forgotten Memories for violin and double bass
  • Parallel Shadows
  • piano
  • violin
  • duo
  • contemporary music
  • set theory
  • tonal center
  • twelve-tone
  • palindrome
  • sequence
  • International Society of Bassists
  • 1978 International Double Bass Competition
Language
en
Abstract
This study is an examination of the British composer David Ellis (b. 1933) and his seven works for solo and chamber music. The study explores the background of the composer and the seven works in general, analyzes the works for double bass, and discusses issues of performance goals in them. Ellis’s Sonata for Unaccompanied Double Bass, op. 42 (1977) is his first composition written for the double bass, and the techniques and dramatic expression of the work inspired me to do the study. His music provides a good opportunity for double bass players to address more challenging techniques of both hands and comprehend contemporary compositional manners. Having been inspired by Sonata op. 42, I discovered six more pieces, including four for double bass and piano, a trio for three double basses, and one duo for double bass and violin. The seven compositions chronologically are Sonata op. 42, Safranski’s Heroic Leaps for Double Bass and Piano, op. 67 (2001), Contra-Partita Per Bassi for Double Bass Trio, op. 69 (2001), Low Priority – Sonata for Double Bass and Piano, op. 74 (2002), Four Journeys and an Arrival for Double Bass and Piano, op. 81 (2006), Distant Dreams – Forgotten Memories for Violin and Double Bass, op. 82 (2007), and Parallel shadows for Double Bass and Piano, op. 84 (2008).
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/103403
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2019 Yi-Hung Ma

Owning Collections

Doctoral Project Papers [Option 3] - Music PRIMARY