“Some years ago Nicola Malagugini suggested that I write a series of Mystery Sonatas for unaccompanied double bass. Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644-1704) and his 16 Mystery Sonatas for solo violin was the inspiration and I decided to also write 16 sonatas for unaccompanied double bass. Each sonata would follow a similar pattern to the Biber, none lasting more than 5-6 minutes each, with the same key structure and movement titles, but they would be original for the double bass.
It has taken me a few years to start the project and Mystery Sonata No.1 was completed on 28 April 2022 although I only got around to editing and finally completing it on 10 June. It is written in an ‘olden style’ and is dedicated to my great friend Susan Hagen in Boston (USA) who has played, recorded and commissioned many pieces over the last few years.

Sonata No.1 is in D minor, although sounding E minor for solo tuning, and the movement titles are the same as Biber’s first sonata. It lasts around six minutes and I haven’t included many performance directions because I think the musical lines suggest the phrasing and dynamics.” [David Heyes]