Exact Change: Woodwind Duet Book

Rakowski writes duets that actually sound like duets rather than simplified versions of larger works. The collection balances technical interest with accessibility, giving players genuine musical material to sink their teeth into without requiring virtuosic technique.

These duets inhabit a contemporary idiom without sounding academic or inaccessible. The writing feels rhythmically alive and harmonically thoughtful, engaging both players and listeners with music that sounds fresh and intentional.

Intermediate to advanced high school duets, college preparatory students, and adult amateur players looking for contemporary repertoire with substance. Teachers seeking woodwind duet literature that avoids both oversimplification and excessive difficulty will find strong material here.

• Pay attention to rhythmic precision; Rakowski's rhythmic language often plays a central role in the music's character, and even small timing shifts will change the intended effect.
• Use the relative independence of the two parts to explore distinct musical personalities within each duet, resisting the urge to blend everything into a uniform sound.
• Record yourselves and listen back to check intonation in unison passages; duets expose tuning issues that larger ensembles can mask.

Exact Change works well as chamber recital programming, either standalone or paired with other duet literature. These pieces also serve curricular purposes for students developing independence and leadership in small ensemble settings.

• Reading contemporary notation and rhythmic complexity
• Balancing independence and ensemble awareness in a duet setting
• Developing distinct musical voices while maintaining stylistic coherence
• Intonation and blend in unison and octave doublings