A Composer in Slough

Wikipedia pic


I have met Tony Osborne on many occasions in Slough High Street, and at the local Library. I have had many pleasant chit chats with him, and we got on well.
He was Jewish, and lived all his life in Slough. He formally introduced himself back in 2012 as he recognized my "selfie" photo on my Facebook page. He was a very self-effacing individual, and kind hearted. He could also be a little eccentric at times. He also knew my other friend Keith Bosley for a number of decades, and is featured on one of the pages of this blog.
Apart from music he had a gift for doing impersonations which amused me, and I said to him he could make a fortune doing it. This pleased him.
He was interested among things in global justice, and local politics to some extent. Indeed, he used post e-petitions on his Facebook site for his "friends" to consider.
He was also keen on alternative medicine, and the esoteric. Indeed, he had being notably involved in Reiki, and Silva Mind Control.  He also liked homeopathy, and ideas about diet. He once informed me that the composer Cyril Scott was very interested in these kinds of thngs, and wrote about them on occasion.
Shortly before Tony passed on he attended a talk, and discussion presentation on the arts in the Slough, and Berkshire area. I was also present in the audience, and managed to  briefly introduce people to my advanced whistling skills, (including a quality improvisation  if I recall correctly), plus an example of my voice credibly imitating a woodwind instrument. I also made the point that musical improvising was an extremely important art form if it was undertaken by a "real maestro." Tony was much impressed by this, and said to me, and a friend that it "..showed credibility..!" to use his words.
When he died I went to his funeral, and I was much taken by a piece of music which was played. It was ofcourse written by him, and was called Soap on String..... which was both warm, and beautiful....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc_AhlO4sI8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0ykR-__QPBSBkWytkEsncdKa0q-OafNb3UFkKuyRkaKjKhXyncoJmIzAI


http://www.musiciansgallery.com/start/composers/osborne/tony.htm


Source Bass Notes


Interviewed by David Heyes (whom Tony referred to as "his boss")

1) What first attracted you to the double bass and at what age did you begin lessons?
My brother played Bass and I followed. He encouraged me from the age of 9 to jam along with the regular jazz sessions in our house – joined by locals such as the late Randy Jones, on drums, who worked with Brubeck, and Keith Mansfield on Piano – who went on to compose themes such as Grandstand and Wimbledon.

2) Which teacher or teachers have had the biggest impact on you?


My brother was a great inspiration from the start, and my father, a fine violinist, also. I did not have formal Bass lessons then, and took Cello lessons with Blyth Major, though I was busy playing Bass in anything and everything I could – shows, pub jazz nights, concerts. I applied for the Royal Academy of Music (London), but realized I’d never had a professional Bass lesson. I was fortunate that Keith Marjoram, then in LPO, lived a short walk away, and he kindly gave me two lessons before my audition, without charge. I was immediately accepted, and have been immeasurably thankful to Keith ever since.


I then studied at the RAM, with the wonderful musician and human being, John Walton, who allowed me to breathe and develop, in his unique way. He also gave me a lot of work – often on the same desk.


3) When did you know that you were a bassist?

Around age 15, when I started earning 30 shillings a week playing in a pub at weekends!


4) Which bassists have inspired you and why?


I watched Gary Karr on TV since he was about 19, and got to know him and Harmon well over the years.


I grew up listening to the great jazz masters: Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Percy Heath, and also had the opportunity to see, hear and work with, the London legends: Adrian Beers, Jack Sylvester, Jim Merret, Gerry Brinnen, John Bass, Rodney Slatford.


I always revered Danish virtuoso, Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and met him at Ronnie Scotts many years ago.


I greatly admire all those for whom I’ve been privileged to write, and who have become my good friends: David Heyes, Barry Green, Mette Hanskow, among many.


I have never met Francois Rabbath in person, but I greatly admire his work and light.


5) What were your original aspirations? Have you achieved them?


I knew I wanted to be an orchestral player, and worked freelance with the BBC Symphony and Concert orchestras, Royal Ballet, and many others. I developed excellent aural awareness from my ‘jamming’ days, which stood me in good stead when I played extensively in reception and function work – mainly at The Ritz and many exclusive venues – mostly without any music at all!

 I also enjoyed a lot of theatre work at Windsor, West End, and local shows, as well as cabaret work, which kept me busy enough to raise my family.


6) Do you teach? If so, what do you aim to give to your students?


I have taught in schools, colleges and universities, ages ranging from 5 ½ to 88.
I aim to give students a balance, building on their strengths, and enabling them to explore new avenues. I like to let their inner resources flow naturally. Above all, I like them to believe in themselves.


7) Which musicians or composers have inspired you and had an impact on your career?


As well as those mentioned in Q 4, the list is too long to mention, but I’ll name a few:
Pianists: Trevor Brown (former BBC MD), Norman Percival (The Ritz),
The most versatile violinist I worked with: Johnny Van Derrick
Violinist Louis Frossio (Hotel De Paris Monaco)
Accordionists: Henry Krein (BBC/Mantovani), Jack Emblow (BBC), Claudio Allodi, Jimi Giordanengo (Hotel De Paris Monaco)
Conductors: Roy Goodman, Hickox, Boulez, Boult, Groves, Barbirolli, Mackerras, Andrew Davis, Colin Davis, Handford, Del Mar, Gielen, Leinsdorf, Marriner and more.
I worked in cabaret with Faith Brown, Frankie Vaughan and Harry Secombe, among many.
Composers: apart from the great masters of history, all of whom I love, I’ve always had a great interest in the music of two composers:
-K S Sorabji – who wrote hugely long and difficult works for Piano and Organ, and some sumptuous songs
-Andria Balanchivadze – known as the most important C20 composer in Georgian Republic.
I love world/ethnic music of all kinds, especially Romanian and Middle Eastern.


8) Do you perform as a soloist? If so, why? Which repertoire do you enjoy playing?


I’ve seldom done this, although, like most young and aspiring players, I thought I was the bees knees, until I heard others at RAM! I gave the odd recital, including some of my own pieces, and the usual Capuzzi, Eccles, Vivaldi, Verdi, etc.


9) Which is your favourite work for double bass, or a work which you think is important?
All things considered, I’d have to say the Bach Cello Suites adapted.
I also love Bottesini Elegy, and Faure Apres un Reve


10) Very few of us leave footsteps in the ‘sands of time’. What do you think your legacy will be?


Devotion to all I did, or attempted, sincerity and kindness.
(11 August 2016)

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Tony Osborne is an important educationalist and prolific composer who has made a significant and unique contribution to the double bass repertoire over the past 35 years. His solo music for young bassists is included by many international examination boards, and his many ensembles pieces are performed at workshops and concerts throughout the world. Tony Osborne notes the influences of Gershwin, Copland and Bernstein, alongside some of the Russian masters, on his music, which he combines with a jazzy, rhythmic and energetic style that has been popular with players and audiences worldwide.


Born in 1947 into a musical family, Tony Osborne studied at the Royal Academy of Music (London) with John Walton (double bass) and Richard Stoker (composition), and divides a busy career between composing, teaching and performing. A very prolific composer and arranger, Tony's original compositions include works in almost every genre, notably Chaconne Syncopations and Wainwright's Ways for brass quintet, Celebration Fanfare for brass ensemble, the musical A Fine Time for Wine, a beautiful and dramatic Requiem and many works for string orchestra.


In 2001 Tony Osborne was elected an ARAM (Associate of the Royal Academy of Music) for his pioneering and important work for double bass, and has been a featured composer at Bass-Fest for the past decade. He was a very successful BIBF Composer-in-residence in 2002-3 and wrote a number of impressive and innovative works for the project. He has been a judge for the British Composer Awards over the past few years and has been a judge for the BIBF Composition Competition since 1999.



The following are some of the recordings of Tony Osborne (not to be confused with someone else with the same name who crops up often or not as Tony Osborne and His Orchestra)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FceYAt3ks


Whistle Bop Tour Part 1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ys337_-iy88


Part 2 of the above


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ForGSyX0A


The Pink Elephant


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PENb48YhDOU


The Blue Suite


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_P7Q--Txo8


The Blue Suite Part 1


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYhz-ZDh-Aw


The Blue Suite Part 2


https://soundcloud.com/highams/tony-osborne-variations-on-londonderry-air?fbclid=IwAR2AGSeVXddVxPhtgpV3ZoPYk9uV6PK8TdkpX812IbSgPyBuZhjc2UXSrFk


Variations on a Londonderry Air


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfEB-Q6ZpR8&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2vmLPSgLjg1eW9VxRlQ3luusZsLL6adoj-39UjtcQnJLWjsXCQ5IUcntY


Free Spirit




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU8dLfZJqrQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR0F--5EX4-qjyPcsz5gpJJ6VyiaCf5vQ4Fj90GFlitnlfGLnQBY6CAfsRM


Da Vinci 500  This is  believed to be Tony's last composition celebrating the legacy and passing of Leonardo Da Vinci in 1519


The above links are selective but the following have simply been taken en masse so to speak from youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tony+osborne+double+bass&fbclid=IwAR09rcC8BCgsFHHsruiQdZNmaoworWULojP5p3MqwazMq35HLHEUFlrF-cY




The following section of this blog page is a link to specialist musical publications of what appear to be mainly scores of works by Tony Osborne plus another link to a Facebook site


https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/composers/19331/browse?size=10&view=large&fbclid=IwAR2f-mvAUWjWmAvyPfEO3cXHf-tBEfEpsndf_amIlnzb7U8__ZgL-_oai6w


https://www.facebook.com/The-Music-of-Tony-Osborne-425709104909257/?tn-str=k*F

                                                              Tony Osborne 1947-2019