Bernard Salles

'Five for Teppo' were composed for Teppo-Fest 2016. The three-day event, held in Somerset (UK) from 13-15 May celebrated the 75th birthday of Finnish bassist-composer Teppo Hauta-aho and included concerts and workshops. Teppo-Fest director David Heyes invited composers across the world to write one-minute pieces for unaccompanied double bass and over 60, from around 20 countries, were performed during the weekend. Bernard Salles contributed five miniatures for Teppo-Fest, each lasting between one and two minutes, creating a suite of great breadth and range. 'Teppo' is only nineteen bars in length, is based around the letters E, A and F, and features arco, pizzicato, tremolando and sul ponticello across the range of the double bass to create a magical soundworld which emphasises the lyrical possibilities of the instrument. 'Teppo' was premiered by David Heyes on Friday 22 May 2015 at The Norman Centre Public Hall, Budleigh Salterton (Devon). 'Hauta' is rhythmic and confident, with a strong forward propulsion and momentum. Chromatically interesting and influenced, the music is episodic and full of bravado and spirit and makes a great contrast to the opening movement. 'Hauta' was premiered on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at the Bristol BASS CLUB (Bristol, UK) by Ben Groenevelt. 'Aho' is lyrical and plaintive, again with chromatic influences, but a strong narrative which has much to say within its fifteen bars. A repetitive rhythmic phrase helps to maintain a sense of unity, and this short piece demonstrates many possibilities of the solo double bass. 'Aho' was premiered on Wednesday 24 June 2015 at the Bristol BASS CLUB (Bristol, UK) by Ben Groenevelt. '75th Birthday' is rhapsodic and brimming with ideas. Mildly chromatic, but always within a lyrical framework, the music has a gentle movement, with an occasional flourish, but always emphasising the cantabile qualities of the double bass. In treble clef throughout, the music sings and dances. '75th Birthday' was premiered by David Heyes on Wednesday 2 December 2015 at Bristol BASS CLUB (Bristol, UK). 'Fest!' is fast and furious bringing the suite to a dramatic and successful conclusion. Playable in two versions - triplets of semiquavers (16th notes) - the piece has a 'moto perpetuo' feel from the first note to the last and should be played with great energy and spirit. This movement is about fun and enjoyment and has a remarkable drive and momentum which reflects the party atmosphere of Teppo-Fest 2016. 'Fest!' was premiered by David Heyes on Wednesday 20 April 2016 at Bristol BASS CLUB (Bristol, UK). Bernard Salles was born in 1954 and began his musical education in his home town of Perpignan (France) where he studied double bass, organ, composition and orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire. In 1973 he want to the Conservatoire of Versailles and in 1976, at the age of 22, he was awarded a double bass teaching diploma. Since then he has taught at the Conservatoire of Pau (South-west France) and played with many major French orchestras including the Orchestre de Paris and the National Orchestra of France, under the direction of conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Pierre Boulez, Zubin Metha and Lorin Maazel. In 1983 he began a parallel career as a conductor and was Music Director of the Orchestra of Pau from 1996-2001. He has directed the Orchestra of Pamplona (Spain) and is currently Music Director of the OSSO (Orchestre Symphonique du Sud-Ouest). As a composer and member of SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music), he has written over 30 works including two symphonies, a cantata, a psalm for bass and orchestra, a concerto for double bass and small orchestra, Rhapsody for viola and orchestra, Triptych for orchestra, Prelude for cello and orchestra, a symphonic poem for soprano, cello and orchestra, as well as works for chamber groups, and for choir and organ. in 2010 he began a series of short pieces for unaccompanied double bass - Portraits for Friends - dedicated to his double bass playing friends.