Dominic Seldis – Double bass Born in 1971 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk Dominic was schooled at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester where he studied with Duncan McTier. He then was awarded a top Scholarship to go to the Royal Academy of Music, London, to study under Professor Robin McGee and then on to the Mozarteum, Salzburg, to study under the principal double bass player of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Professor Klaus Stoll. Dominic has been a concerto finalist at the Shell LSO competition, prize winner at the Royal Overseas league competition and was the first ever bass player to be taken under the wing of the Young Concert Artists Trust. Dominic has performed concertos with such orchestras as London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Johns Smith Square and BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He has also performed with James Pearson numerous times on both BBC and commercial radio and television stations, at the Wigmore hall, South Bank Centre, and notable festivals and societies such as Buxton and Henley where he was Musician in residence 1996. As well as solo and Chamber music engagements, in May 1998, Dominic was appointed the principal double bass of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He also freelances in London and is often guest principal double bass with such orchestras as Academy of St. Martins in the Fields, London Mozart Players, the Halle & London Sinfonietta. He is also a member of the highly successful Marianne Olyver Gypsy Orchestra. He lives in Gloucestershire with his wife and 3 daughters.

James Pearson – Piano Born in 1970, James was also born in Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk, but was schooled in Hertfordshire. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama under Peter Bithel, and since then has become acknowledged as one of the country’s most versatile and sought after pianists. He has performed numerous concertos and solo recitals, composed many wonderful works including a set of string quartets and even a musical. He has worked in the West End theatres, with such names as Ronnie Corbett and the late Willy Rushton, his arranging skills are legendary and has worked for the BBC Big Band, Burt Bacharach, John Dankworth and Clio Lane and regularly appears along side Lionel Blair. James is also a great of collector of Victorian lace.

SWANSEA  CHAMBER  CONCERT  REVIEW

DOMINIC  SELDIS  – DOUBLEBASS         JAMES PEARSON – PIANO

The lecture hall at Swansea Museum provided an informal venue for a most unusual chamber concert on Saturday 3 February 2001. On reading the programme notes, I felt an immediate affinity towards Dominic which was only slightly marred by the wish that I had been born 20 years later! It appeared that I had left my school in Bury St. Edmunds 10 years before Dominic was born in that same city, and having played principal doublebass with Gloucestershire orchestras in my youth, I find that Dominic now lives in Lydney, close to where I was teaching. Having moved to Wales shortly after marrying, I note that Dominic is now principal doublebass of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

The music chosen for this concert was largely unfamiliar, despite having 2 double bass players in our household (but a glance at the music after the concert soon reassured us that it was all best left to the experts, as it was quite impossible to play on a bass anyway! The evening opened with Csárdás by Monti, which was more recognisably Hungarian than the Kodály which we heard later. The sonorous melodic tones of the bass contrasted well with the slightly humorous harmonic features, which set the atmosphere for our flamboyant soloist, encouraging his lively repartee. His nimble virtuoso technique was explored to the full in the Paganini Variations, and the pieces by Bottesini demonstrated the full range of the instrument, showing true empathy with the bass by composer and performer alike. James Pearson was able to remove all the restrictions of a sensitive accompanist during his versatile arrangement of Gershwin melodies. Such a gifted musician left the appreciative audience awestruck. The modern work by Henze was possibly undertaken more as a challenge than a rewarding experience, but it was performed with no less commitment. The Fauré Elegy provided an interlude of familiarity, but the highlight for me was Caprice Fantasia, the joint composition of our 2 soloists. It was completed (if we are to believe even half of what our exuberant compere said) only hours before the concert, and contained variations in the style of famous composers. It explored more harmonic possibilities than I thought possible from a bass, and all were executed with jovial competence. The gifted mimicry of the soloists was exemplary and the charismatic nature of this flamboyant doublebass player makes us hope that we can hear him again soon with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. 

Jill Francis.

SIZE MATTERS

Dominic Seldis is large and his powerful fingers dance up and down the long neck of the double bass as if it were a violin. In contrast, James Pearson, his talented accompanist, is deft and unassuming on the piano. Last Saturday, this formidable duo treated the audience at the latest Crwth concert to music that ranged from mock-Vivaldi to twentieth century Hans Werner Henze and from an adaptation of Aida to the jazz classic Autumn Leaves. In between, Dominic added irreverent commentaries on subjects ranging from over-paid conductors to PVC trousers.

Double bass? Yes, surely the most misunderstood instrument in the whole musical zoo. Compared with the cello of Hannah Roberts (so enjoyed last November), this is a loving and (until now) uncelebrated look-alike, never for a moment attempting to compete. Rather, with the indulgence of composers such as Bottesini, the music we enjoyed draws upon the unique character of the double bass. In Dominic’s loving hands, it has one of the most moving and mysterious of voices, ranging from low and distant tones to a complex of high harmonics, often played on a centimetre of string.

BB

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