This new publication replaces the old Latham edition (now out of print) - popular title on both ABRSM and TG double bass syllabuses (grade 7).Dennis Leogrande writes:I began writing the melody first although every piece begins differently. I wanted to begin with a sound that for me is very characteristic of the bass that being the ½ step slide from G# to A. Looking throughout the piece you will notice other slides ie. bars 1 3 5 7 12 14 16 18 38 58 114 116 18 120 123 125 and 127. Please don't forget to notice the grace note slide in measure 100. These are the melodic motifs that give the piece its character and act as hooks(memorable ideas) for the listener to latch on to. Once I began writing the melody it just grew organically from the original idea. I hope you feel the same organic growth. The shifting harmonic tonalities (between D major and D minor) seem to ask the question 'May I?' and keep the listener involved in trying to answer the question. The jazz style keeps the 'question' light hearted a little 'tongue in cheek.' However playing this piece requires attention to these details and a great deal of musicianship. It's the fine musician who understands both the music and the instrument who can make a difficult and complicated piece sound easy light and fun. Oh and yes please enjoy!

Concerto No.2 'Haydn' A series of works based on the surviving two bars of Haydn's 'lost' Double Bass Concerto. Based on the two surviving bars of Haydn's 'lost' Double Bass Concerto and dedicated to David Heyes, this magnificent new concerto is a tour-de-force from a respected and leading Czech bassist-composer. In a tonal and accessible style, there are musical and technical challenges for the advanced bassist and this edition is only available in solo tuning. Influenced by the late 18th-century style, but imbued with Czech lyricism and influences, this new three-movement concerto is a major addition to the repertoire and utilises the entire range of the double bass. The concerto has been performed throughout Europe many times, most recently in Macedonia and Serbia by the composer. Miloslav Gajdos has composed and transcribed many works for double bass in a 40 year career and is Professor of Double Bass at the Vejvenovsky Conservatoire in Kromeriz (Czech Republic) alongside many international recitals and masterclasses. Concerto No.2 'Haydn' is available in three orchestrations alongside the published edition with piano. Please contact the publishers for more information about the various orchestrations. Performance Level: Advanced Miloslav Gajdos is one of Europe's most active and inventive bassist-composers. He was born in northern Moravia in 1948 and initially learned violin before transferring to the double bass, studying with Alois Kriz, Jiri Bortlicek and Ludwig Streicher. He has been Professor of Double Bass at the Vejvenovsky Conseravtoire in Kromeriz (Czech Republic) since 1971, and was a member of the Olomouc Symphony Orchestra for a number of years. He is Director of the Gregora International Double Bass Competition, founded in 1979 and held every two years in Kromeriz, and has been a juror at many competitions in Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic. Miloslav Gajdos is a prolific composer and arranger and, for almost 40 years, has produced a vast body of original works and transcriptions for double bass which are performed worldwide. His original works combine Czech lyricism and melody with brilliant technical demands, and music from one to sixteen double basses. He writes in a traditional and accessible style, producing music for every level of performer, particularly for the advanced bassist, and his many works for unaccompanied double bass are frequently chosen as international competition repertoire. Miloslav Gajdos was Recital Music's Featured Composer in 2007 and has recently revised a number of earlier works for the intermediate bassist which will be published by Recital Music.