Murray: Sonatas by Franck and Shostakovich

The Sonata in A Major from 1887 by Cesar Franck(1822-1890) and the Sonata in d minor from 1934 by Dmitri Shostakovich(1906-1975) were originally composed for violin and cello respectively. I have always felt very passionate about both works, and took it as a personal challenge not just to perform them but also record these masterpieces. I relish the expressive and lyrical elements of both sonatas and feel the bass is the perfect instrument to communicate these qualities.

Sonata in A Major by Cesar Franck
1. Allegro ben moderato
2. Allegro
3. Recitativo-Fantasia
4. Allegretto poco mosso

Sonata in D Minor by Dmitri Shostakovich
5. Allegro non troppo
6. Allegro
7. Largo
8. Allegro

David Murray has an international reputation as a solo bassist and teacher. He is currently Professor of Bass at Butler University in Indianapolis and Principal Bassist of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He also plays as Principal Bassist with Sinfonia da Camera in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Bear Valley Music Festival in northern California. Before coming to Indianapolis, David was instructor of Bass at West Texas A&M University. David's first private teacher was bass virtuoso Gary Karr, with whom he studied in high-school and at the Hartt Music School in Connecticut. Summers were spent at Tanglewood and the Aspen Music Festival, where he worked with Stuart Sankey. In 1981 he won the Aspen concert competition. In Los Angeles in 1988 he won the International Society of Bassists (ISB) Solo Competition, the first prize being a solo debut at Carnegie Hall. David has performed as soloist and given clinics and masterclasses throughout the United States, and in Canada, South Korea, Brazil, Israel, Scotland, Poland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, and Holland. In June, 2001, David hosted the ISB convention at Butler University for 800 bassists from 27 countries, and is currently Past-President of the ISB. He has recorded two solo CD's and released a DVD of theater music in the spring of 2003, a collection of duos, with bassists Diana Gannett, and a bass quartet CD with the Bad Boys of Double Bass.