Description

Postcards from Prague was composed in memory of the Czech double bass virtuoso
František Pošta (1919-1991), who was Principal Bass …of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra for over 40 years, and his wife Irena. The pieces are short and succinct and none outstay their welcome. Postcards from Prague is a series of seven musical snapshots of Prague and is played pizzicato throughout. It was composed in August 2015 for a CD celebrating the life and career of František Pošta and recalls memories of the composer studying in Prague in 1986, when the country was still under communist rule. Postcards from Prague was premiered at Village Hall, Templecombe (Somerset UK) on 6 September 2015 by David Heyes, with its German premiere in Dortmund on 12 September 2015. Prague is represented by the opening three notes (A-G-E) and František Pošta is depicted by the notes F-A-E-E flat. Each movement portrays a different memory or image of Prague and its beautiful architecture, history, and culture. Testimonial
“We had two successful mini-concerts yesterday. “Postcards from Prague” was a huge success!!! Many visitors then talked to us about your composition and how they loved this work!” [Manuela Uhlmann] David Heyes 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.