About the Program

Composer David Heyes shared the following…

 

“The commission to write 'Seven Last Words from the Cross' came about during a conversation in March 2016. I liked the idea of creating a work for unaccompanied double bass on this theme and Nick Tall kindly commissioned the work for a performance at his church at Easter 2018. As bassists we know that the double bass can be a very colorful, evocative and descriptive instrument, able to portray many moods and emotions, which I wanted to demonstrate to new audiences. I aimed to create a seven-movement work which employed a range of performance techniques, alongside creating atmospheric mini soundscapes, with movements which could be performed individually or collectively. Each is influenced by its title and a generally low tessitura is used, although the higher solo register is also employed in some to demonstrate the many and varied facets of the solo double bass.

 

Over the past four years I have composed many works for unaccompanied double bass and have enjoyed the opportunities, whether writing for a specific ability level, theme or duration. The challenge of creating seven pieces which were both individual and had their own character but also worked as a suite, was daunting to say the least, but one I wanted to accept. My aim was to create a work which demonstrated the true potential of the double bass as a solo instrument and to explore the wide range of its sonorous and cantabile qualities.”

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About the Soloist

Susan Hagen – a familiar name at Old North Church as Susan has performed with the Old North Festival Orchestra – is the principal double bassist and has been a featured soloist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the first female ever to achieve this honor. She has toured the US and Japan as principal double bass of this group. In addition, Susan has been a first call substitute bassist with both the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) and the Boston Pops Orchestra for the past 20 seasons, performing over 650 concerts with the BSO and over 1000 with the Boston Pops, as well as being on multiple recordings with each orchestra. Susan also performs with several Boston-based chamber music groups. Ms. Hagen is on the faculty at Berklee College of Music and is a frequent guest lecturer at Harvard University as well as Boston University. She has been a clinician at the Rochester Bass Retreat, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the International Online Bass Summit, Oberlin Conservatory, Louisiana BassFest, Appalachian State, and Musicians for the World, among others.

 

About the Composer
David Heyes studied double bass at the Royal College of Music London and in Prague with Frantisek Posta (Principal Bass, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra). He has given recitals and masterclasses in 20 countries over the past few years, is in demand as a soloist and teacher, and serves as juror at numerous double bass competitions including Chair of the 2008 Brno International Double Bass Competition. He earned the David Walter Charitable Trust of New York award for his pioneering work as soloist, teacher, publisher, and commissioner of new music for double bass with over 500 works written for him. David founded Recital Music in 1986, now the largest publisher of double bass music in the world. Mr. Heyes resides in the UK.

 

More Information about this Concert
This Good Friday Meditation/Concert is FREE and open to the public; a free-will offering, with proceeds to benefit the artist, will be gratefully accepted.  Old North Church is accessible for the physically impaired.