Toil and trouble was written in response to an invitation from the Associated Board, who were looking for new repertoire for their double bass syllabus. I had already given them a small piece called Lazybones for the lower grades (2 or 3); but something was also needed at an advanced level. These two pieces were composed in April 2009. The first, Underground, is for unaccompanied bass, and is a short set of variations on a partially stated ground bass. The second, Perpetual motion, was suggested by a video on the internet of a so-called perpetual motion machine: a revolving device with an extra rotor arm which every so often was whipped out by centrifugal force to create new impetus.

Giles Swayne May 2009