Slavonic Dance No.1 is also available to buy as a PDF download. https://dbbpublications.gumroad.com/l/slavonicquartet

Slavonic Dance No.1 is for junior-intermediate double bass quartet or ensemble and was written for the composer's young students at Wells Cathedral School. It was premiered by the Wells Junior Double Bass Ensemble at Quilter Hall (Wells, Somerset) on Friday 25 January 2019 as part of 'Songs My Mother Taught Me', a concert to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the Czech double bass virtuoso Frantisek Posta (1919-1991).

The quartet includes four ability levels - bass 4 is in 1st position only - bass 3 uses 1st and 2nd positions - bass 2 plays between 1st and 4th positions - bass 1 plays around the harmonic register, an octave above the G string.

Slavonic Dance No.1 a fun, lively and rhythmic piece with plenty of action and energy to keep everyone happy. G minor/major alongside changes of tempo and mood, with melodic interest shared between the players, create a piece which has an educational aspect and audience-player appeal.

Slavonic Dance No.1 is dedicated to Jitka Vyletova in Prague.

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 22 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 and performed a wealth of music for double bass and in recent years has composed a number of original works which have been performed both nationally and internationally. Six works inspired by the centenary of the First World War have been particularly successful and his choral and vocal music has been performed with success in Britain, Ireland and America. He composed 'Sahara' for unaccompanied double bass as the imposed work for the 2015 Galicia Graves Double Bass competition in Spain and returns there as Featured Composer and guest tutor in 2017. Since 2014 David has had music performed in 19 countries (UK, USA, Germany, Czech Republic, Mexico, Turkey, Venezuela, Australia, Ireland, Israel, Malta, Brazil, Denmark, Ecuador, Japan, France, Slovakia, Norway and Spain). In November 2016 two of his songs were recorded by Sarah Poole (soprano) and Derek Harris (piano) for Prima Facie Records, who also recorded an entire CD of works by David in January 2017.

In 1986 David founded the publishing company Recital Music, which now has the largest catalogue of double bass music in the world, and has written articles and reviews for the leading specialist magazines including The Strad, Bass News, Music Teacher, Double Bassist, ESTA News & Views and Classical Music.

David Heyes is a D'Addario Performing Artist and has recently commissioned a solo double bass from British master-luthier Martin Penning.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ituqPaQNo