for Solo Double Bass

During the last two years of my teaching work at the Conservatory in Angouleme, at a request of the director Mr Jacques Pési, I undertook to compose a whole series of short works for the students exams. There were a lot of them, for various instruments, for different purposes - mainly, however, they served as exams of autonomy (consisting in individually prepared interpretation of a particular piece by a young soloist in two weeks) or as exams for chamber music, etc. Having in thought the fact that many of these compositions could arise as small concert pieces for young artists, I started going through these quickly written pieces. I selected Titane for double bass solo and Alla breve for piano to be published first. Titane offers the performer a very free interpretation. It is mainly unmeasured (with tiny exception) often requiring unconventional means of sound production. The piece allows to show multiple attitudes of a young artist. It might become a virtuoso spectacle, a dramatic tale or a lyrical tune. I dedicated it to its first performer - the already deceased Christian Travaillé. [El?bieta Sikora]