The Skellet Knell by David Kirkland Garner

Written for and commissioned by a wonderful group of bassists led by Jory Herman and including Ted Botsford, Kristen Bruya, Logan Coale, Shawn Conley, Madeleine Crouch, Scott Dixon, Paul Ellison, Karl Fenner, Travis Gore, Maggie Hasspacher, Donald Howey, Jeremy Kurtz-Harris, Eric Larson, Brandon McLean, Kate Munagian, Volkan Orhon, Scott Pingel, Nicholas Recuber, Robertson & Sons Violin Shop Inc., Tracy Rowell, Dennis Whittaker, Susan Wulff, and David Young. Special

thanks to the International Society of Bassists.

Program notes:

A skellet bell (also known as a dead bell or mort bell) was a large hand bell that was sounded through the streets in the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland and Northern England to mark funerals. Knell means a bell toll, especially one associated with death or a funeral. I came to this name, The Skellet Knell, while in the middle of composing because the main recurring theme reminded me of this kind of dark bell toll. The melody

is characterized by a repeated melodic note with a short-short-long rhythmic profile. The piece is in three parts performed attacca and the skellet knell theme recurs throughout the piece.

Includes solo part and both orchestral and solo tuning piano parts.