Six Duos for Concert and Contest: String Duo & Ensemble, Duo, Score and Parts (LUDWIGMASTERS)

Latham has curated a collection that spans centuries without sacrificing coherence or playability. Each piece sits comfortably on violin and cello at this level, and the stylistic variety means your students encounter Baroque counterpoint, Classical elegance, and early 20th-century character writing all in one book.

A musical tour across three centuries. You move from the spirited energy of Baroque dance forms (Liadov, Chaminade, Bach, Handel) through the Classical grace of Pergolesi into the witty charm of 20th-century French writing. The collection feels assembled with care, each piece chosen for both musical substance and practical musicianship.

High school string students ready to collaborate as equal partners in performance. These duets work equally well as concert repertoire, contest selections, or extended study in stylistic awareness and ensemble balance.

• Balance the violin and cello lines as equals. These duets thrive when both voices share the musical conversation rather than defaulting to a melody-accompaniment texture.
• Pay attention to articulation contrasts between pieces. The Bach and Handel demand precision and clarity, while the Ibert Scherzetto invites a lighter, more playful touch.
• Use the score to understand the harmonic framework, then listen closely to how each part moves against the other during rehearsal.

Program individual pieces as encores or as part of a string concert's lighter moments. Pair several together to create a short recital segment that showcases how stylistic understanding develops across repertoire. Use as contest selections where variety and technical control matter equally.

• Balancing two independent melodic lines without hierarchy
• Recognizing and executing stylistic conventions across Baroque, Classical, and early modern periods
• Achieving ensemble precision in contrapuntal writing
• Shaping phrases as a duet partner rather than as a soloist
• Reading and interpreting articulation markings that define character