James D'Angelo . Ode to St Kilda. Double Bass Quartet. Ode to St Kilda is James D'Angelo's third work for double bass and was a prize-winning entry in the 2008 Recital Music Composition Competition. Ode to St Kilda is a one-movement work for double bass quartet offering an evocative and atmospheric musical soundscape of this magical northern isle. It employs a number of ideas or themes (leitmotifs) which symbolise various aspects of the island - its landscape, people and culture - and offers much for the adventurous quartet. There are musical and technical challenges for each player, particularly basses 1 and 2 who also play in thumb position, but the piece is certainly worth the effort and would be suitable for any conservatoire or university bass ensemble. It would be suitable for any occasion or audience and is a valuable and welcome addition to the original quartet repertoire. Ode to St Kilda was premiered at Wells Cathedral School in April 2009 by David Heyes, Ben Groenevelt, Myles Nadarajah and Nicolas Lum.. Grade: 8 - Advanced