Informationen zu "David Heyes The Great Wall of China Junior String Orchestra"
Verlag: Recital Music
Verlagsnummer: RM962
EAN: 9790570459629
ISMN: M-57045-962-9
Beschreibung
The Great Wall of China is originally for double bass quartet was composed on
21/22 July 2016 and premiered by a massed bass orchestra at the Purcell
School (Bushey, Herts) on Sunday 24 July 2016. In one movement and lasting
around three minutes, it is aimed at the intermediate ensemble using only 1st
and 4th positions employing a number of effective and evocative playing
techniques including arco, pizzicato, harmonics, sul ponticello, percussion,
col legno and Bartok pizz. It was designed to introduce younger musicians to
a number of playing effects, alongside accessible musical and technical
skills, offering solo and ensemble opportunities for each player. The music
begins with a slow and stately unison theme, which is repeated pizzicato,
before the main theme is introduced against a lively and driving percussive
accompaniment. The music has a drive and momentum which is eventually
interrupted by a series of dramatic chords to emphasise the amazing history
and grandeur of the Great Wall, with a recapitulation of the opening theme
ending with a strong, dramatic and sudden unison chord playing Bartok pizz.
The Great Wall of China also exists in a version for violin quartet, also
playable by massed violins. 'British double bassist David Heyes has been
providing bass teachers across the world with excellent repertoire and
teaching pieces for many years, through his publishing company Recital Music.
The Great Wall of China started life as a double bass quartet and translates
into an effective and memorable concert piece for Junior String Orchestra.
The piece is of substantial length, but provides an array of teaching points
for this level. Each part includes extended techniques, which are presented
clearly on the page and provide an accessible introduction to col legno,
Bartok pizzicato and sul pont. for both the learner and the listener. The
catchy melody is first played in unison, encouraging homogeneous bowing and
secure intonation across the ensemble, and then repeated just enough times
during the piece to become ingrained and familiar...The double bass section
(all too often an after-thought in beginner ensemble publications) are given
centre stage with an effective drum-kit style passage and plenty to play in
first position. As with all Recital Music publications, the printing is of
high quality and the layout and stave size suitable for the ability level.
There are some helpful bowings printed in the parts and the more unusual
'special effects' are clearly explained.' [Gemma Ashcroft/ARCO - ESTA]
David Heyes studied double bass with Laurence Gray and Bronwen Naish and
later at the Royal College of Music in London. He completed his post-graduate
studies in Prague with Frantisek Posta (Principal Double Bass, Czech
Philharmonic Orchestra). He has given recitals and masterclasses in 13
countries over the past few years and has been a juror at a number of
international competitions, twice as chairman. David has been Specialist
Double Bass Tutor at Wells Cathedral School for 19 years and received a
prestigious award from the David Walter Charitable Trust of New York for his
pioneering activities as a soloist, teacher, publisher and commissioner of
new music for double bass. He works with composers throughout the world and
is particularly interested to expand the double bass repertoire, by
commissioning new works and by rediscovering forgotten ones. Over the past 30
years he has commissioned more than 500 works, from beginner to virtuoso, and
from one to twenty basses. David has transcribed more than 200 works for
double bass, many published by Recital Music, and in recent year has also
composed a number of original works for double bass which have been performed
in Britain, America, Venezuela, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Germany and Czech
Republic. David is self-taught as a composer and his music has been described
as lyrical, evocative and accessible, but certainly of the 21st-century. See
http://contrabassconversations.com/2016/10/24/264-david-heyes-leaving-legacy/
