Perhaps we should explain. MWDB is Lowri Blake (the Woman) on voice and
cello, and Peter Buckoke (the Man) on Double Bass. We originally formed
our duo to explore the unexpectedly rich romantic repertoire for cello
and double bass, centred on the remarkable Duetto by Rossini, but soon
branched out to develop a lively show in which we perform cabaret alongside
classical and contemporary music.
At the heart of the repertoire, and of this recording, are the nineteenth-century virtuoso classics. In this combination, the cello soars like a treble instrument (in fact, the Paganini Fantasia was originally for violin) while the double bass is responsible for everything else (in this case, the orchestra).
Who now remembers Goltermann? We do! thanks to his luscious Souvenirs de Bellini, full of favourite tunes from La Sonnambula and other operas. The magnificent Rossini Duetto was written in London in 1824 for cellist Sir David Salomons and the celebrated bass player Dragonetti. The piece encourages both players to show off their skill, and MWDB have even added a couple of cadenzas of their own.
John Cage is perhaps best known for the totally silent piece 4'33". His surprisingly beautiful song The Wonderful Widow of Eighteen Springs, based on a text by James Joyce, was written for voice and closed piano. We have taken the liberty of arranging it for voice and closed double bass.
Many people have written music specially for MWDB, including John Keane who is well known for his film and television music. The cryptically-titled 1M6 was written for a first performance in Shropshire, in the West Midlands of England, and the name could refer to the motorways taken to drive there from London. Or maybe not.
Beethoven sadly did not write anything for our combination, but Kate Romano has stepped in to fill this obvious gap with a heroic rendition of the Complete Symphonies (almost!) in just 7½ minutes. If you listen carefully, you will even hear Peter joining in the vocals for the Choral Symphony.
Our South American numbers bring out Lowri in full voice - while still
playing the cello, of course - inspired by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Peggy Lee
and Antonio Carlos Jobim. And finally, a switch to jazz mode as we swing
along with Duke Ellington in It don't mean a thing.
A Man, a Woman and a Double Bass
LOWRI BLAKE voice and cello,
PETER BUCKOKE double bass
Three for the Price of Two
CD now released (December 1997)