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 FrantisÌŒek PosÌŒta (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.
Seven Last Words from the Cross is dedicated to Nicholas Tall
1. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do [Luke 23:24] – dedicated …to Tom Mahoney (UK)
2. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise [Luke 23:43] – dedicated to Elsen Price (Australia)
3. Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother [John 19:26-27] Рdedicated to Marco Antonio Qui̱ones Martinez (Mexico)
4. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? [Matthew 27:46/Mark 15:34] – dedicated to Diego Zecharies (Uruguay/Spain)
5. I thirst [John 19:28] – dedicated to Eloine Vatteville (France)
6. It is finished [John 19:30] – dedicated to David Whitla (Canada/Eire)
7. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit [Luke 23:46] – dedicated to Daniel Chiva Sanz (Spain)
“This work was so moving. David Heyes has created a piece of beauty for our bass community.” [Gaelen McCormick]
“I’ve been working through these. Such beautiful music, David. Congratulations!” [Adam Booker, Appalachian State University, USA]
“People are STILL talking about it and I played it on Wednesday (and there have been multiple recitals every day here). They were brought to tears. Loved loved loved it. (As do I)… I am playing it again this year. It’s GORGEOUS!!!” [Susan Hagen/Boston Pops]
“What a beautiful piece. It is reverent, moving, haunting, and eloquent” [Gina Hagen Kolenda]
“By the way: when I was in North Carolina with Adam I heard his last recording featuring your piece for solo bass and wanted to say I really love it!!!” [Andres Martin] The commission to write ‘Seven Last Words from the Cross’ came about during a conversation in March 2016. I liked the idea of creating a work for unaccompanied double bass on this theme and Nick Tall kindly commissioned the work for a performance at his church at Easter 2018. ‘Seven Last Words from the Cross’ is dedicated to Nick Tall. As bassists we know that the double bass can be a very colourful, evocative and descriptive instrument, able to portray many moods and emotions, which I wanted to demonstrate to new audiences. I aimed to create a seven movement work which employed a range of performance techniques, alongside creating atmospheric mini soundscapes, with movements which could be performed individually or collectively. Each is influenced by its title and a generally low tessitura is used, although the higher solo register is also employed in some to demonstrate the many and varied facets of the solo double bass.
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