Twelve Little Duets, Opus 70: Violin Book

Mazas crafted these duets to develop ensemble awareness while remaining thoroughly musical. Each duet is short enough to fit into a lesson or rehearsal yet substantial enough that violinists genuinely enjoy performing them. The collection works beautifully for contest prep, studio recitals, and building confidence in young duo partnerships.

The Mazas duets flow with the lyrical grace of early Romantic music while remaining grounded in Classical structure. They feel approachable yet rewarding, offering moments of genuine beauty without overwhelming technical demand.

These duets suit second-year violinists and beyond who are ready for ensemble work. Studio teachers use them regularly for students preparing for competitions or recitals; school orchestra directors value them for sectional rehearsals and concert pairing opportunities.

• Balance the parts carefully; even when one violin carries the melody, the accompaniment voice needs audible presence to maintain harmonic and rhythmic clarity.
• Work through each duet slowly enough to establish secure intonation together before increasing tempo; these pieces reward precise tuning.
• Breathe together and listen actively to your partner's phrasing rather than playing mechanically through the page.
• Use the full bow and dynamic range available in your register to give each duet shape and character appropriate to its style.

Program these throughout the year in studio recitals or as duet novelties on concert programs; their length and appeal make them ideal for creating varied programming. A small group of students can prepare different duets from the collection and perform them as a themed set, showcasing both individual voices and ensemble maturity.

• Listening and responding to a partner's phrasing and intonation
• Playing sustained melodic and accompanying voices with equal musicality
• Managing rhythmic precision in simple and compound meters
• Shaping Romantic-era melodic lines with appropriate rubato and dynamics
• Reading and executing the duet textures typical of early Romantic violin repertoire