David Heyes
Beginner Bass: 50 Melodies in First Position for Double Bass (arr. by David Heyes)
Beginner Bass: 50 Melodies in First Position for Double Bass (arr. by David Heyes)
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About the Melodies
Beginner Bass is a collection of 50 short, fun, and accessible melodies in First Position for the beginner bassist. A range of keys, time signatures, and musical styles are included, alongside interesting bowing and rhythmic challenges, making these ideally suited as a study or sight-reading repertoire for the beginner bassist of any age.
Dynamics are at the discretion of the student and teacher, and bowings should be amended as needed. The main aim is accessibility and enjoyment, with the collection featuring pieces for different ability levels but remaining in First Position throughout.
The melodies do not need to be taught in any specific order, and the book could be taught alongside any method or book of etudes.
Some of the melodies can also be played an octave higher for bassists beginning to play in thumb position.
Table of Contents
1. National Anthem [18th-century Patriotic Song]
2. Au Clair de la Lune [French Folk Song]
3. Early One Morning [English Folk Song]
4. Solo from Symphony No.1 [Gustav Mahler 1860-1911]
5. When the Saints Go Marching In [Spiritual]
6. What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor [Sea Shanty]
7. How Beautiful Are the Feet [G.F. Handel 1685-1759]
8. Blow the Man Down [Sea Shanty]
9. Frères Jacques [Nursery Rhyme]
10. Searching for Lambs [Somerset Folk Song]
11. Michael Row the Boat Ashore [Spiritual]
12. The Gift to be Simple [Shaker Song]
13. Pastoral Symphony [G.F. Handel 1685-1759]
14. Yankee Doodle [American National Song]
15. Ah! How Pleasant ‘tis to Love [Henry Purcell 1659-1695]
16. Lullaby/Wiegenlied [Johannes Brahms 1833-1897]
17. Auld Lang Syne [Scottish Folk Song]
18. London Bridge is Falling Down [English Nursery Rhyme]
19. As I Sat on a Sunny Bank [English Folk Carol]
20. Now is the Month of Maying [Thomas Morley 1557-1602]
21. Steal Away [Spiritual]
22. The Wild Horseman [Robert Schumann 1810-1856]
23. Lightly Row [German Folk Song]
24. Oh! Susanna [Stephen Foster 1826-1864]
25. The New Squire/Peasant Cantata [J.S. Bach 1685-1750]
26. John Barleycorn [Somerset Folk Song]
27. The Miller of Dee [17th-century English Tune]
28. London’s Burning [English Traditional - Round]
29. A Baby Elephant [Camille Saint-Saëns 1835-1921]
30. Old French Song [Peter Tchaikovsky 1840-1893]
31. Home Sweet Home [Sir Henry Bishop 1786-1855]
32. The Ash Grove [Traditional Welsh Folk Song]
33. Men of Harlech [Traditional Welsh Song]
34. The British Grenadiers [Traditional Marching Song]
35. John Brown’s Body [American Civil War Marching Song]
36. Hornpipe [G.F. Handel 1685-1759]
37. Ode to Joy [Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827]
38. The Trout [Franz Schubert 1797-1828]
39. Geordie [English Folk Song]
40. All Through the Night [Old Welsh Air]
41. Bobby Shafto’s Gone to Sea [English Folk Song]
42. Drink to Me Only [Old English Melody]
43. Camptown Races [Stephen Foster 1826-1864]
44. Long, Long Ago [Thomas Haynes Bayly 1797-1839]
45. Mattachins/Sword Dance [Peter Warlock 1894-1930]
46. Pavane [Peter Warlock 1894-1930]
47. Greensleeves [Traditional English Song]
48. Up on the Housetop [Benjamin R. Hanby 1833-1867]
49. Alouette [Canadian Childen’s Song]
50. La Donna è mobile [Giuseppe Verdi 1813-1901]
About David Heyes
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 750 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 32 countries across five continents and is proud to be a D'Addario Performing Artist.
