“To be the King” by Mark Goodchild, lyrics by Tony Alcock for Double bass and Baritone

About the Composition

Ideal for people who want to sing and play the Double bass simultaneously. It is a 3-minute laid-back walking bass line with a lyrical croon over the top. Mark Goodchild wrote the music during lockdown based on a poem by Tony Alcock. Tony wanted the challenge of singing and playing at the same time.

About Tony Alcock

Being Principal Double bass of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London (2008-10 and 2012-16) fulfilled a lifetime ambition. Tony worked with world-class conductors such as Daniele Gatti, Charles Dutoit, and Leonard Slatkin and inspiring soloists such as Martha Argerich, Pinchas Zukerman, and Yujia Wang.

Tony was Section leader with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (2010-2012).
His years as Section leader with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (1997-2008) enabled him to work with distinguished Music Directors Osmo Vanska, Ilan Volkov and Donald Runnicles. There were many appearances at the Edinburgh Festival and the Proms.

Scottish Opera (1987-89) with Music Director John Mauceri was Tony’s first full-time position and Leonard Bernstein’s visit to direct a reworked version of “Candide”.

As Co-Principal with the Hallé (1989-1997), Tony gained invaluable symphonic repertoire experience with Music Directors Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and Kent Nagano. A highlight was a performance of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in the Musikverein Vienna with conductor James Judd, marking the 50th anniversary of the beginning of World War Two.

Extensive touring has covered many different countries and cultures and has encouraged interests in people, languages, art and architecture, and, of course, culinary experiences!

As a Guest Principal, he has led all the London symphony orchestras- London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and BBC Symphony and also takes part in commercial film sessions.

His solo career has included recordings of concerti for BBC Radio 3 and Radio Scotland including works by Bottesini,van- Hal, Edward McGuire and Gareth Glynn and a special recording to mark the Koussevitsky 125th anniversary of his birth for Radio 3 ( Concerto in F sharp minor with Ilan Volkov, conductor with the BBC Scottish Symphony and salon pieces “Valse miniature” and “Chanson Triste” with Lynda Cochrane, piano.)

Tony is undertaking a series of solo recordings focusing on works of living composers written for him and popular pieces from the repertoire. For more information, please see the Recordings page.

In recital, Tony’s performance and master class were highly commended in “The Strad” magazine and “The Double Bassist” during the “Partial to Paganini” festival at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD ) in March 2006.

He plays English basses by John Lott Senior (c.1840), and William Howarth (1899), and his solo bass is by Pietro Tononi, Bologna, Italy (1730).

The Lott bass is a significant instrument made in John Lott senior’s late period around 1840.

It is beautifully photographed and described in “The English Double Bass” by George and Thomas Martin with Martin Lawrence (published  by Arpeggio Publishing.)

As a teacher, he has held positions at Chethams (Manchester), RSAMD (junior & senior), and as a guest at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal College of Music. His students enjoy professional playing and teaching positions, including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, and Raidió Telefís Éireann. He is enjoying teaching and performance coaching at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in collaboration with Thomas Martin.

Tony has recently trained as a life coach with the Co-Active Training Institute(Cti), which is deeply rewarding supporting clients to enrich their experience.

He is a keen singer and enjoys learning the Alexander technique with Kevin Edwards. Tony also enjoys writing poetry and songs.

Tony is a proud father of four children and is a very young grandfather!