Six Violin Duets, Op. 5, Nos. 4-6 Cover Image

Six Violin Duets, Op. 5, Nos. 4-6: String Duo Conductor Score & Parts

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Six Violin Duets, Op. 5, Nos. 4-6 Cover Image
Six Violin Duets, Op. 5, Nos. 4-6: String Duo Conductor Score & Parts

Six Violin Duets, Op. 5, Nos. 4-6: String Duo Conductor Score & Parts

By Maddalena Sirmen / arr. Endre Granat

Grade: 4

Item: 36-52711570
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Description
Maddalena Sirmen was a groundbreaking and innovative violinist, composer, singer and keyboard player. She was a student of Giuseppe Tartini who considered her an outstanding talent. She decided to become a professional violinist at a time when female instrumentalists were a rarity. She concertized, playing her own compositions in Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, England and Russia. As a composer she remained active during her career as a celebrated violinist. She composed chamber music, concertos for one and two violins. In the 1780's the style of violin playing changed. Her playing became old fashioned, according to the tastes of the times. She abandoned her concert activity as a violinist, and became the leading soprano of the St.Petersburg Opera in Russia. Her Six Duets for Two Violins demonstrate her great compositional ability and reflect the early evolution of the Classical style, with the second part less contrapuntal but rather comprised of parallel and accompaniment figures. This collection comes in two volumes.

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Additional Details
Series: Latham Music - LudwigMasters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-887570-7
ISBN13: 978-1-63-887570-3
UPC: 735816261368
SKU: 36-52711570
Instrumentation: Violin Duo

More about this title

About the Composer: Maddalena Sirmen

Maddalena Sirmen (1745-1818) was an Italian violinist and composer who achieved prominence during an era when female instrumental virtuosos were virtually unknown. A student of Giuseppe Tartini, she established herself as a concert performer across Europe, playing her own compositions in Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, England, and Russia. Her success as a performing artist was matched by her productivity as a composer, creating chamber works, solo concertos, and duets that circulated throughout Europe.

As violin playing conventions shifted toward Romantic aesthetics in the 1780s, Sirmen's style became associated with an earlier Classical idiom. Rather than fade from musical life, she transitioned to opera, becoming the leading soprano at the St. Petersburg Opera. Her instrumental works, particularly these Six Duets for Two Violins, remain vital documents of Classical violin writing and demonstrate her command of form, melodic invention, and the evolving relationship between first and second violin parts.

Why we love this

These duets sit at a pivotal moment in violin pedagogy and repertoire, offering Grade 4 students a taste of authentic Classical writing from a composer whose voice has been historically marginalized. The published edition includes a conductor score, making it accessible for teachers who want to coach the ensemble while following the music, and the Granat edition maintains historical integrity while serving contemporary music reading. Programming work by a woman composer of genuine stature sends a clear message about whose music belongs in the curriculum.

What to expect

Elegant and conversational, with a clarity that comes from Classical form and straightforward harmonic language. The writing sits comfortably under the fingers while maintaining compositional sophistication, offering the satisfying experience of playing genuinely musical material rather than etude-style exercises.

Who it's for

String students at the intermediate level who are ready for ensemble work that stretches their musicianship without overwhelming their technical facility. Duet study groups, school chamber orchestras, and private studio teachers looking for historically significant repertoire that avoids the over-programmed classical canon.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the dialogue between parts by listening for when the second violin shifts from counterpoint to accompaniment; this transition reflects Sirmen's compositional voice and requires subtle dynamic control from the player holding the secondary line.
  • Establish a unified vibrato speed before rehearsals begin, since the duet texture makes unmatched vibrato rates immediately audible.
  • Work each violin part separately first, then combine only after both players are secure with intonation and rhythm; these duets reward the player who knows their part cold.

How to use it

Feature these duets in a chamber music recital or concert segment devoted to string ensemble works, or use them as a centerpiece when building a program around women composers in the Classical era. The trio format of three duets works well as a self-contained suite, giving young musicians the experience of presenting a complete artistic statement.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and performing Classical harmonic progressions and phrase structures
  • Balancing melody and accompaniment in duo texture
  • Coordinating articulation and vibrato between ensemble members
  • Ensemble intonation in close harmonic intervals
  • Sustaining independent musical lines while listening to a partner

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