7 Duets for Clarinet: 2 Clarinets Conductor Score

These duets swing, bounce, and occasionally shift meters beneath you. Harlow writes with a light touch, favoring accessible grooves and clear melodic lines that still demand rhythmic precision and ensemble listening. There's humor in the titles and an unpretentious joy in the playing.

Intermediate to advanced clarinet students preparing for contest or concert performance, and directors seeking quality duet literature that works equally well as pedagogical material or polished performance pieces. The stylistic variety makes these suitable for players who want exposure to jazz and contemporary forms without leaving the clarinet family.

• Lock the swing feel between both players before worrying about speed. The rhythmic pocket matters more than tempo accuracy in Blue by You and Mice 'n Rice.
• In Dual meter swing, mark the meter changes clearly on both parts and conduct them through a few rehearsals. The rhythmic disorientation is intentional, but clarity prevents panic.
• Balance the melody and countermelody in Lilly's Pad by having one player stand slightly forward. Waltz voicing works only if the harmony is audible underneath.
• For the blues pieces, encourage the second clarinet to lean into the riff rather than treat it as filler. Those repeating figures are the harmonic anchor.

Program individual duets as concert openers or lighter interludes between classical repertoire, or feature the entire set in a dedicated jazz or contemporary music concert. The mix of styles allows you to build a thematic half-hour around these pieces alone, with Bossa Mississippi and Refried Dreams creating strong contrasts against the swing standards.

• Swing rhythm and interpretation (straight eighths vs. swung eighths)
• Reading mixed meters (4/4 and 3/4 in Lilly's Pad; 3/4 and 2/4 in Play with Me; 5/4 shuffle in Refried Dreams)
• Blues and riff-based improvisation frameworks
• Ensemble balance and listening (melody vs. countermelody in duet texture)
• Stylistic flexibility across samba, waltz, Count Basie-style blues, and contemporary shuffle forms