Une Bouche Aimée is originally by Charles Gounod (1818-1893) and is based on My Beloved Spake for soprano, violoncello obbligato, and piano. Composed in London in 1871/72 and setting words from 'The Song of Solomon', Bottesini transcribed it for voice, double bass, and piano, transposing it into a lower key and adding new words. The double bass employs the lyrical and sonorous solo register of the instrument, in music which has delighted audiences since this piece came to prominence in the 1980s. Bottesini’s manuscript is undated but it is likely that he met Gounod in the 1870s, then living in London, or heard the song and realised that it would transcribe beautifully for the double bass. Une Bouche Aimée is also available in orchestral tuning and is successful as a stand-alone work or alongside Bottesini’s Tutto il Mondo Serra. The double bass part in the full score includes the original Bottesini bowings alongside an edited version by David Heyes
