Obscure Music Monday: Scontrino's Elegia
Antonio Scontrino (May 17, 1850 - Jan. 7, 1922) was an Italian double bassist, composer, and professor. He studied at the Palermo Conservatory from ages 11 to 20, and also studied in Munich. He began performing as a double bassist in 1891, and eight years later taught composition at the Palermo Conservatory. He also taught counterpoint at the conservatory in Florence.
Scontrino's compositions included operas, string quartets, symphonies, and more, including Elegia,for double bass and piano.
The introduction starts ominously in the piano, and then travels to the double bass, where their part spans much of their range, and includes pizzicato and harmonics. The piece then opens up to the development, where the double bass has long lines while the piano moves about underneath. The double bass part gets progressively busier, continuing to use the entire range of the instrument. The lyrical lines in the higher register of the double bass soar beautifully, especially when contrasted with the busy sections in the lower register. Arpeggiated harmonics close the work out, which by his point has transitioned to a cheerful, major key.