Schäfer, S.: Zoppo Trump

Ausgabe für vier Kontrabässe. Partitur und Stimmen.

In einem Kinderroman von Tilde Michels ist Zoppo Trump der Gegenspieler von Kalle Wirsch, dem kleinen König der Erdmännchen. Der Roman beschreibt eine Wanderung zum Inneren der Erde, wo die beiden Kontrahenten in einem entscheidenden Wettstreit aufeinander treffen. Die Komposition Zoppo Trump für vier Kontrabässe wurde aber durch Bilder des Romans nur assoziativ beeinflusst. Die imaginären Szenen stehen am Beginn der dreisätzigen Komposition und verselbständigen sich dann.

»Zoppo Trump by Stefan Schäfer was originally written for Klaus Trumpf´s Bassiona Amorosa bass ensemble. The three-movement work is accessible and pleasing to both audience and performers, easily readable in the hands of advanced players, not very profund, yet a fun work. Ist harmonies and rhythms are similar to those found in pop tunes and musicals, but because the bass writing is good, exploiting the harmonic series of the G and D strings to excellent effect, the piece sounds more difficult that it really is. Scoring is excellent, with the basses nicely spaced in register, and the texture is not too dense mainly because the rhythmic interaction is very intelligently written.

»The three movements ('Rival', 'Caveman' and 'Contest') are a colection of appealing and exiting effects, engaging rhythms, simple but memorable tunes and not much more. 'Rival' is marked by syncopated and aggresive rhythms and flashy arpeggiations using harmonics, at a rather quick tempo. Sections are mostly delineated by distinct textural changes grounded firmly by clear changes in the bass-line. It meanders aimlessly, yet appealingly, from section to section, finally culminating in a finish that brings together many of the rhythms and textures employed earlier in the movement. The second movement, 'aveman', is a three-part form, with the parts of the outer sections unified by a groovy, if repetitive, bass line. Completing the piece 'Contest' presents the largest rhythmic challenges of the entire work. The parts operate more independently, are heavily syncopated, and place more demands on the players´ ensemble skills. Zoppo Trump´s catchy rhythms , contemporary harmonies, and playability are likely to be a fantastic hit with younger performers and listeners.«

Paul Sharpe, Double Bassist –Number 41, Summer 2007

Komponist: Stefan Schäfer.
Friedrich Hofmeister Musikverlag FH3227.