Revisited – Dan Styffe – Dan Styffe

Double bass with company

A true master of his instrument, solo double bassist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra – Dan Styffe – has inspired composers like John Persen and Gisle Kverndokk to write music for the double bass. The two pieces Du0 and …wither wander you… are even written for the rather unusual combination of flute and double bass, instruments that actually work beautifully together.

The CD opens with a tango etude by Piazzolla, cleverly arranged for the bass by Styffe himself. The enormous range of expression and musical potential this instrument holds in the hands of the right player is reflected in Scelsi’s Maknongan and Hauta-aho’s Pieni Bassofantasia, and in one of Xenakis’ late pieces Roscobeck the cello joins in for a more spectacular musical event. American composer Paul Ramsier’s beautiful piece Eusebius Revisited is set out for solo double bass with piano, and these melancholy ‘remembrances of Schumann’ ends a CD that no doubt will make you listen.