Double Bassist and Composer Xavier Foley Graduation Recital

Xavier Foley

The graduation recital of double bassist and composer Xavier Foley. A native of Marietta, Georgia, he received a Bachelor of Music degree studying under Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer, as well as composition with Eric Sessler and Edgar Meyer from Curtis Institute of Music in 2016.

Bach: Suite No. 1 in G major for Solo Cello, BWV 1007
Xavier Foley, double bass

Bach’s six Cello Suites, BWV 1007-1012 for unaccompanied cello are the most frequently preformed. Xavier performed Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, the Prelude in this suite is the most recognizable of all the set of suites. You probably had heard it in television commercials. The movements are: Prélude; Allemande; Courante; Sarabande; Menuett and Gigue.

Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K.618, arr. Foley
Xavier Foley, double bass

Xavier describes the piece as extremely difficult because of its many cords. He decided to arrange Mozart: Ave verum corpus, K.618 after hearing a particular sound from a World War II plane simulator video game called “War Thunder.” He describes it as smoothing and relaxing piece.

Foley: March of the Republicans
Xavier Foley, double bass

March of the Republicans is an original composition by Xavier Foley. He describes composing for the bass as easy because he knows the instrument so well.

Adolf Míšek: Sonata No. 2 for Double Bass and Piano, Op. 6
Xavier Foley, double bass; Michael Davidman, piano

Adolf Míšek was a double bassist and composer that lived between 1875 and 1955.
His compositions are an important part of the bass repertoire. The Sonata No. 2 for double bass and piano are very popular today. Xavier describes the piece as an ensemble piece with dialogue between bass and piano. The movements are marked: Con fuoco; Andante cantabile; Furiant. Allegro energico and Finale. Allegro appasionato.

Foley: Irish Fantasy, based on the Irish folk song “The Clergyman’s Lament”
Xavier Foley, double bass

The Irish folk song “The Clergyman’s Lament” by Turlough O’Carolan influenced Foley’s Irish Fantasy. Turlough O’Carolan was a blind Irish harpist and composer.
He took the composition and put his own rift on it and added a little jig.

Foley: Cranberry Juice
Clancy Newman, cello; Xavier Foley, double bass

Xavier Foley sees Cranberry Juice as an encore piece with a style of rhythm and blues.

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