Live Recital at Ithaca College of Zugzwang - Eight Duos (2017) Nicholas Walker
I. Fernweh - A Longing for Far-Away Places

II. Fruhjarsmudigkeit - A Sense of Listlissness Brought on by the Coming of Spring

III. Sehnsucht - Ardent Longing, Pining, or Yearning for Unattainable Life Experiences

IV. Fingerspitzengefuhl - "Fingertips Feeling" - Intuitive Empathy with Things & People

V. Weltschmerz - Despair Caused by the State of the World

VI. Kopfkino - "Head Cinema" - Playing Out an Entire Fantasy Scenario in Your Head

VII. Geborgenheit - The Perfect Combination of Cozy, Warm, Safe, & Comfortable

VIII. Luftschloss - An Unrealistic Dream - an "Air Castle"

Program Notes Zugzwang - Eight Duos
In April of 2017 I wrote Zugzwang - Eight Duos for Double Basses, for Matthew McDonald & Rick Stotijn to play together at the 50th Anniversary ISB Convention in Ithaca. All three of us have a deep love of Germanic music, although we are from non-German countries. This inspired a work for bassists from all cultures to play together, eight duos that depict "Eight German language words that do not exist in English, but ought to". In January of 2018 I arranged the duos for double bass and cello, which inspired this new 2019 arrangement for double bass and viola. Special thanks to Kyle Armbrust for his help with this project!

VIII. Luftschloss - An Unrealistic Dream - an "Air Castle"

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