photo by Gerald Place

Double Bass David Heyes CONTACT: RECITAL MUSIC P.O. Box 151 Aldershot Hants GU12 7YQ Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1252-319610 EMAIL

"...a dazzling display of the instrument's bel canto qualities."
Music & Musicians

David Heyes graduated with honours from the Royal College of Music and later studied in Prague with the internationally renowned soloist and teacher, Frantisek Posta (Principal Bass, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra).

He works as a soloist and teacher throughout Great Britain and Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Macedonia, France), also teaches at Wells Cathedral School and Royal Academy of Music (Junior Department), and is one of Britain's most high profile and active bassists.

David founded the publishing house Recital Music in 1986, which now publishes over 65 works for double bass; formed The British & International Bass Forum in 1994, with a membership in 23 countries, and is artistic director of Bass-Fest and the Wells Double Bass Festival. He is the driving force behind DOUBLE BASS 2000 -a ten year initiative to commission over 100 new works for young bassists of all abilities. Eleven works have been commissioned and premiered to date (to be published by Recital Music in 2001), and ten more for the 3rd Wells Double Bass Weekend (5-7 October 2001).

Alongside his solo work, David is a member of Ensemble Bassissimo (2-4 Double Basses), Bass International (4-8 Double Basses), Blue Kiss from Brazil (Piano, Double Bass & Drums), and gives many joint recitals with his wife Sarah Poole (Soprano).

His solo work with orchestra includes works by Bottesini (Concerto No.2 in B minor / Elegia / Passione Amorosa), Dragonetti (Concerto in A major), Vivaldi (Concerto in D major), Handel (Concerto in A minor), Dittersdorf (Concerto No. 2 in E major / Sinfonia Concertante), Paganini (Moses Fantasy), Bloch (Prayer), Tony Osborne (Concerto No. 1 'Melodic Portraits' / Concerto for Double Bass Quartet) and Paul Ramsier (Pavane).

David is a founder member of Basso! Basso! - with Dutch bassist Peter Leerdam, and they have commissioned many new works for bass duo, or duo with piano.

David owns a number of basses, but prefers to play an excellent solo bass by the English luthier, Paul Bryant.