David Heyes: Passchendaele - A Meditation for 2 double basses

About the Composition Passchendaele - a Meditation was inspired by an iconic photograph of Australian gunners on a duckboard track in Château Wood near Hooge taken by Frank Hurley on 29 October 1917, arranged for double bass duet by the composer in 2021. Originally for two double basses and string quartet, Passchendaele - a Meditation is simple and slow-moving, contrasting strong and powerful emotions from the two soloists. There are opportunities to display the lyrical and sonorous qualities of the double bass, whether as a duet or in the two solo soliloquies, which eventually die away into nothingness. There is a constant dialogue between the basses, almost like snatches of conversations between two soldiers in 1917, and opportunities to create and explore a wealth of colours and timbres available to the double bass duo. Lasting six minutes and ideal for the intermediate bass duo, Passchendaele - a Meditation was premiered at Strabismi Festival (Umbria, Italy) on 10 September 2021,