Composer

:

Teppo Hauta-aho

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

5:54

Teppo Hauta-aho's 'Kadenza' is a contemporary piece for solo double bass that was composed in 1982. The piece is known for its technical difficulty and virtuosic demands on the performer. It premiered in Helsinki, Finland in the same year it was composed. 'Kadenza' is a single-movement work that is divided into three distinct sections. The first section is marked by a slow and contemplative mood, with the double bass playing long, sustained notes that gradually build in intensity. The second section is much faster and more frenetic, with the performer executing a series of complex and rapid arpeggios and runs. The final section returns to the slower, more contemplative mood of the opening, with the double bass playing a series of long, sustained notes that gradually fade away. One of the defining characteristics of 'Kadenza' is its use of extended techniques. Hauta-aho employs a wide range of techniques to create a variety of sounds and textures, including harmonics, glissandi, and percussive effects. The piece also requires the performer to use a variety of bowing techniques, including col legno (striking the strings with the wood of the bow) and sul ponticello (playing near the bridge of the instrument to create a harsh, metallic sound). Another notable feature of 'Kadenza' is its use of unconventional notation. Hauta-aho employs a variety of symbols and graphic notation to indicate the various extended techniques and bowing techniques required by the piece. This can make the score challenging to read and interpret, requiring a high level of skill and experience on the part of the performer. Overall, 'Kadenza' is a challenging and complex work that showcases the technical and expressive capabilities of the double bass. Its use of extended techniques and unconventional notation make it a unique and innovative contribution to the contemporary double bass repertoire.

More....