Eric Funk: Processional for double bass trio

About the Composition

Processional is a colorful and evocative one-movement work that is aimed at the intermediate bass trio. Primarily using the middle and lower register, the music is inventive and rhythmically engaging with few technical challenges but much to enjoy.

"When I started to think about this trio for three double basses, I heard something of a noble procession. It seemed fitting to acknowledge the grand and scholarly process represented by this celebration of 40 years. All too often we forget to acknowledge the honour of carrying a legacy forward with the necessary nod to scholarly integrity and academic rigor. Were it not for Mendelssohn and the Bach Society, it’s likely that J.S. Bach’s music would have disappeared and be unknown. The 93 years of silence with regard to his music is known within musical circles. But we are beneficiaries of dedication and belief. Recital Music, in addition to commissioning myriad new works, has created a massive collection of lesser-known works, transcribed and preserved by David Heyes."

Processional seeks to lift and honor David Heyes and Recital Music with the grace and serious regard deserved through this music, a sort of “processional” during which listeners might pay tribute to such a fine undertaking." [Eric Funk]

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).