Michael Kurth: Quisky Rickening Theme with Three Variations for solo double bass

About the Composition

Quisky Rickening is a showpiece theme and variation set for solo double bass. It's pretty effin hard. Filled with double stops, harmonics, and other brain-melting techniques. Very tonal, tuneful, fun, and virtuosic. It'll keep you busy for a while, and it will build your skills in ways you'll want to show off. About 7 1/2 minutes long, but each movement could stand alone.

Theme: Quisky Rickening

Var. 1: Swicky Tritching

Var. 2: Sickly Twitching

Var. 3: Quickly Thickening

About the Parts

Includes parts with and without an additional line that explains the harmonic pitch refernce.

About the Composer

Kurth has been a member of the Atlanta Symphony bass section since 1994. 

The ASO has commissioned and premiered many of his orchestral and choral works. A recording on the ASO Media label is scheduled for commercial release on CD and digital platforms in February 2019, including Everything Lasts Forever, A Thousand Words, May Cause Dizziness, and Miserere featuring Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor.

He frequently collaborates with Atlanta poet Jesse Breite on vocal works, including Miserere, Tenebrae, and Magnificat. He was named “Best New Composer” by Atlanta Magazine in 2017. He has been awarded Artist-in-Residence fellowships from the Hermitage and Serenbe.

Many Atlanta-area artists have commissioned and performed his works, including the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus, the Atlanta Chamber Players, the Atlanta Young Singers, the Gwinnett Young Singers, the Morehouse College Glee Club, the Peachtree String Quartet, the Franklin Pond String Quartet, the Atlanta Contemporary Ensemble, Concert Artist Guild Award-winning violist Jennifer Stumm, the Georgia Sinfonia, the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra, the DeKalb Symphony, the Georgia State University Wind Ensemble, and movement artists gloATL.

He teaches bass at Emory University.