Each piece has been carefully selected and edited with all three aims in mind and Book 1 brings together ten composers from the 16th to the 20th-century.

1. Thomas Morley (1557-1602) – Canzonet – Fire and Lightning

2. František Černý (1861-1940) Duet in D Major

3. W.A. Mozart (1756-1791) – Menuetto & Trio  is adapted from ’12 Duette’ for 2 basset horns.

4. Francesco Durante (1684-1755) – Duet in F major was arranged by Otto Langey (1851-1922) and included in his Practical Method for Double Bass.

5. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) – Canonic Sonata in D minor is the second of 18 sonatas for two equal instruments, originally flutes or violins, first published in 1738. .

6. Orlando di Lassus (1532-1594) – Oculus Non Vidit was composed in 1577 and is the third of 12 two-part motets for two voices.

7. Adolphus Charles White (1830-1902) – Duet in G major is an original work for double bass duet and was included in White’s ‘Appendix to the Double Bass.’

8. Giovanni Punto (1746-1803) – Duet No.7 in C major was originally for two French horns and is from a suite of 8 Horn Duos.

9. Victor Frédéric Verrimst (1825-1893) – Canon in Unison is originally for 2 double basses and was included in Verrimst’s Méthode de Contre-Basse, dating from 1865.

10. Béla Bartók (1881-1945) – Teasing Song No. 2 is originally for 2 violins and is from 44 Duos composed in 1931.

About editor and arranger David Heyes

David Heyes (b.1960) studied double bass with Laurence Gray and Bronwen Naish, later at the Royal College of Music in London, and completed his post-graduate studies in Prague with František Pošta (Principal Bass, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra). He has given recitals and masterclasses in 20 countries over the past few years and has been a juror at a number of international competitions, three times as chairman.

David’s collaborative work gained him a prestigious award from the David Walter Charitable Trust of New York for his pioneering activities as a soloist, teacher, publisher, and commissioner of new music for double bass and he works with composers throughout the world to expand the double bass repertoire by commissioning new music and by rediscovering forgotten ones. Since 1983 more than 700 works have been written for him, music from one to twenty basses and from beginner to virtuoso, and he has premiered ten contemporary concertos with orchestra.

David began to compose in 2013 and has had music performed and recorded in 29 countries across five continents. He is a D’Addario Performing Artist and has recently commissioned a solo double bass from British master-luthier Martin Penning.