Eccles: Sonata No. 2 in E minor for double bass and piano (edited by Lucas Drew)

About the Composition

Vincent Kantorski states the following in his article, A "New" Eccles Sonata, in the Spring 1977 issue of the American String Teacher:

Most double bassists and cellists are familiar with the Sonata in G Minor by Henry Eccles (c. 1680 - 1740), the English violinist and composer. (The G Minor Sonata has become a theme song of bassists of this generation through the published bass edition by Frederick Zimmermann and the recordings of Serge Koussevitzky and Gary Karr)*. Henry Eccles, also known as Eagles, was possibly not as well-known during his lifetime as his father, Solomon Eccles (1618-1683) an English Quaker violinist, or his brother, John Eccles (1650-1735) also a composer.

The Sonata in E Minor is from a collection of twelve solo violin sonatas (Book One, Sonata No. 2) published in Paris in 1720, which bears the autograph of Henry Eccles. An additional group of twelve sonatas (Book Two) is said to have been written in 1714 by Giuseppi Valentini instead of Eccles. this particular Sonata is believed to be Henry Eccles' own composition.

Keyboard Realization

In this edition, the treble clef of the keyboard part is a realization of the original figured bass lines. It may be played as written or adapted at the discretion of the performer. The cross ornament(+) has been retained from the original source and may be played as a short trill at the discretion of the performer. It is hoped that students and professionals will find this Sonata an interesting addition to the cello and double bass repertoires.

Lucas Drew
Editor, St. Francis Music Publications
Professor Emeritus, University of Miami Frost School of Music
Robert Heath

About Lucas Drew

Lucas Drew, after a distinguished career of more than 40 years of teaching and performing is now Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Principal Double Bass Emeritus of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, he is Founder/Artistic Director Emeritus of the Highlands - Cashiers (NC) Chamber Music Festival (1982-1999).

Dr. Drew studied double bass with Allen Warner, Dmitri Shmuklovsky, and Edward Krolick and later, coached with Frederick Zimmermann. He is a graduate of the University of Miami, University of Illinois, and Florida State University. Many of his former students are active in the music profession.