Eric Funk: Concerto Op.85 for double bass & piano

About the Composition

Eric Funk’s Concerto Op.85 was composed in 2001 and premiered on Sunday 29 February 2004 in Montana (USA) by David Heyes (double bass) with the String Orchestra of the Rockies and the UK premiere followed in April that year at Bass-Fest 2004, where Eric Funk was composer in residence.

This rhythmically charged and exciting concerto which is aimed at the advanced bassist has three movements enabling the soloist to exploit lyrical and sonorous capabilities of the double bass alongside music which is colourful, dramatic and powerful. A strong narrative creates an engaging and intriguing dialogue between the soloist and accompaniment, with cadenzas of lyrical and evocative beauty and a rhythmic energy which powers the concerto to a forceful and successful conclusion.

Concerto for Double Bass, French Horn, Timpani, & String Orchestra, Op 85 is a three-movement work written for and dedicated to David Heyes. The composition follows a poeticized sonata-allegro concerto form, fast-slow-fast, with solo cadenzas. The first and last movements are rhythmically energized, the opening gallop capturing the spirit of my birthplace and home: Montana. The second movement is tender, entitled “Love’s Dance” as an abstract concept of the way “love, if it were a being” would dance. The entire piece is poly-stylistic, largely tonal, and seeks to showcase the comprehensive compass of the full range of the instrument and the power to create the lyrical, broad and deep emotional reach of the instrument. [Eric Funk, Montana / September 2026]

This edition is in solo tuning

About the Composer

Eric Funk (b.1949) has composed 170 major works, one third of which were commissioned, including nine symphonies, four operas, nineteen concertos, six string quartets, numerous large and small choral works and chamber works.

His music has been recorded and performed by Warsaw Philharmonic, Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Moscow String Quartet, Moyzes String Quartet, Elizabeth Croy (soprano), Gregory Young (clarinet) and the Meritage String Quartet.

In 2018 he was received an Emmy Award for Best Music Composition as part of the six Emmy Awards given for the Montana PBS/Scott Sterling documentary "The Violin Alone", the 2018 American Prize in Composition "Best Concerto of the Year" (Variations on a Theme by Jan Hanus for Violin & String Orchestra), and the leading international 2018 Global Music Award with two gold medals for classical music and composition for his Piano Concerto No.1. Eric Funk taught at the School of Music at Montana State University (USA).