David Heyes: A Little Suite for Izzy for Beginner Double Bass & Piano

About the Composition

A Little Suite for Izzy was composed in February 2020 and is dedicated to seven year-old Izzy in Belfast. The five short pieces are played pizzicato throughout, with added percussive sounds to add interest and variety, and the piano accompaniments are aimed at the double bass teacher with some pianistic skills, rather than the virtuoso.

Each piece offers different skills with repetition used to aid the learning process. There are two double bass parts, one played pizzicato and one which includes both pizzicato and arco.

The edition also includes a slightly more advanced bass part which introduces both pizzicato and arco.

Table of Contents

1. A Song for Saturday is lively and fun with a syncopated piano accompaniment played entirely in treble clef. The bass part uses three open strings, which should be allowed to ring, and introduces left hand percussion sounds played on the shoulder of the double bass and the ‘boom’ created when the belly of the bass is tapped with the right hand fist.

2. Sunday Morning is slow and easy going. Enjoy a leisurely few hours at home with time to do nothing but relax. The pizzicato notes are generally long and there is plenty of time to chill…

3. Time for Scales was inspired by Izzy practising her piano scales when we stayed with her family. The scales are all played by the piano accompaniment, with a strong and confident double bass part which also adds simple percussion rhythms. The music is fast and fun and should be played with determination and drive.

4. Lullaby introduces a different percussion sound for the bassist. The piano accompaniment is gently moving and supportive, and the piece gradually slows down as if the young bassist is falling asleep.

5. Party Time! has a hoedown feel with a lively and rhythmic piano accompaniment. The bassist plays pizzicato, alongside slapping the strings, with sudden stops in tempo to add drama and excitement. The last two bars bring the piece to a happy and successful conclusion.

About the Composer

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.