Matthew Locke: The Tempest for double bass quartet (arr. David Heyes)

About the Composition

In 1674 Matthew Locke composed incidental music for The Tempest, a semi-opera by Thomas Shadwell. Eleven instrumental interludes, originally for string orchestra and transcribed for double bass quartet by David Heyes, are dance-like and rhythmically inventive, with contrasting moods to drive the music forward.

Ideally suited to the intermediate bass quartet, also playable by larger forces, there is something of interest for each player alongside the opportunity to develop strong melodic and ensemble skills in music which is consistently inventive, descriptive and rhythmically charged.

The suite can be played in its entirety or in smaller groups of pieces and in any order and this is wonderful music which makes a great addition to the bass quartet repertoire. Matthew Locke was one of the first English composers to add simple dynamic instructions alongside using tremolando as an effect.

About the Composer

Matthew Locke (c.1621-1677) was an English Baroque composer who was born in Exeter and became a chorister at Exeter Cathedral. He was a prolific and successful composer, writing much music for the stage, and his treatise on music theory, Melothesia, was published in 1673. The title page describes him as Composer in Ordinary to His Majesty, and organist of her Majesty's chapel - those monarchs being Charles II and Catherine of Braganza.

Locke also served King Charles II as Composer of the Wind Music and Composer for the Violins - his successor was Henry Purcell.