Duets for All: Trombone, Baritone B.C., Bassoon Book

This book solves a real logistical problem: you can actually pull two players from different sections and have them make music together without rewriting parts. The repertoire spans four centuries and difficulty levels, so every pair finds something satisfying to perform immediately.

A musical journey across styles and centuries. You'll move from the snap of a Prokofiev march into the lyrical grace of Purcell, touch down in Hungarian Rhapsody territory, and land on contemporary whimsy with Shostakovich. Each piece feels substantial despite its modest length.

Intermediate students in band and orchestra programs who benefit from focused ensemble work outside the full group setting. Directors and private teachers looking for authentic duet literature that engages students from different instrument families without compromising musical quality.

• Establish a steady pulse before starting; without a conductor, one player should lead by breath or a clear entrance gesture.
• Balance your dynamic levels carefully in duets. Lower-register instruments often need slightly less volume to sit evenly with higher voices.
• Mark breathing points that work for both players, especially in longer melodic phrases where one instrument may need to breathe before the other.
• Listen actively to intonation at unison or octave moments; these exposed passages reveal tuning issues you'll want to address together.

Assign duets to student pairs as supplementary ensemble work outside full rehearsals, or feature them in chamber concerts and informal recitals where cross-sectional collaboration strengthens ensemble identity. The varied repertoire works well as a rotation system: students can prepare one duet per week and perform for the ensemble, building performance confidence and sight-reading stamina.

• Playing in tune with a partner without conductor feedback
• Balance and blend across different instrument timbres
• Independent pulse-keeping and leadership without a full ensemble
• Reading and interpreting varied musical styles from baroque to contemporary
• Rhythmic precision in ensemble contexts (crucial for duets)