David Heyes: Bessy's Beginner Bass Quartets for junior double bass quartet

About the Quartets Bessy’s Beginner Bass Quartets are for junior double bass quartet, or larger forces, and are primarily in 1st position, with a few easy harmonics in 4th position. A number of playing techniques such as col legno, sul ponticello, Bartók pizz. and bass percussion creates interest and contrasts. 1) Bessy's Big Day out is lively and fun with a limited number of notes and rhythms suitable for young bassists. The addition of harmonics in 4th position creates height and bass 4 grounds the piece with pizzicato open strings, bass percussion using a chopstick, ending with a strong Bartók pizz. note to bring the piece to a successful conclusion. The melodic interest is passed between basses 1 and 3 but each player is an important part of the team. 2) Bessy's Highland Fling uses the 'Scotch snap' throughout, alongside bagpipe effects, producing a piece that is Scottish-influenced from beginning to end. There is a strong forward momentum, with the repetition of themes and rhyt