20th Century Romantics - Works for Double Bass

“If you don’t often buy double bass recitals, here’s a good reason to start. This is a winning CD, full of attractive music expertly played. Nicholas Bayley is first bassist of the BBC Scottish Symphony and formerly principal for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The composers, both familiar and otherwise, are at their best… Every piece on this programme is a success that deserves your ears. Bayley and Duce make for great partners throughout — a truly satisfying chamber collaboration. I don’t have too many double bass albums in my collection. Is that a mistake on my part or is this just an unusually fine example? Either way, I’m captivated by this release.” Brian Reinhart, musicweb-international.com

"British double bassist Nicholas Bayley firmly establishes himself as a virtuoso with his CD, 20th Century Romantics. The scope of this album is truly monumental, evoking every emotion. It opens with a convincing rendition of Glière‘s Four Pieces for double bass and piano. Bayley performs this iconic work with sumptuous tone and beguilingly long phrases in the Praeludium. The Scherzo impresses with its virtuosity and vivacious tempo. Pianist Geoffrey Duce plays with great sensitivity, supporting the bass, then emerging to dominate as a dazzling pianist himself. There are only a few moments in the very highest register when the double bass tone quality is unclear, in an otherwise overwhelming display of musicianship from Bailey. The melismatic melancholy of the Intermezzo creates a transcendental effect before the Tarantella explodes at an ambitious tempo, resulting in a thrilling finale.

I was immediately struck by the honest quality of the recording style. There is no audio trickery, just the true sound of the instruments, allowing the integrity of Bailey’s skills to shine through. The majority of double bass solo recordings are played in solo tuning these days as the bass then sounds bright and clearer than the day to day orchestral tuning. Solo strings are also lighter and easier to play in the highest registers. Bayley however, has opted for the latter and delights us with the true depth and powerful capabilities of a double bass in orchestral tuning. Bayley captures the imagination in the quirky and whimsical cadenzas of Piazzolla‘s Kicho before the passionate driving tango theme sweeps us away. Next is Bloch’s Nigun which has been arranged for double bass by Bayley himself. He clearly has an affinity with this work as he captures the brooding tumultuous texture and soaring virtuosity of this passionate work. There are a few moments where the bass is lost in the deep dark texture but ultimately Bayley demonstrates technical prowess and mastery of his instrument. Extrême by Lajos Montag is a brief and phantasmic journey. At times it is fast and furious, reminiscent of Flight of the Bumblebee, then in places impassioned and lyrical, reminding us of the Swan and perhaps the mood of Czardas! Bailey’s performance is a musical and virtuosic triumph. The final epic work on the CD is the tumultuous Sonata op 100 for double bass and piano by British composer Derek Bourgeois (1941). Bayley demonstrates superior musical and physical strength as he compels the listener to engage with the multitude of moods and styles in his definitive performance of this land mark work." AUSTA, Stringendo, Volume 46 Number 2