Easy Duet with VIOLA ??

AndyL · Post by **AndyL** » Sat May 28, 2005 12:07 pm

A friend recently began playing viola again, and I wondered if anyone could recommend an easy duet we might play (tuba + viola) ?

Would most any viola/cello duet work for range and clefs ?

Thanks for any assistance in this matter!

tubatooter1940 · Post by **tubatooter1940** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:08 pm

If you fail to find appropriate printed music,have your viola buddy record something he or she knows by heart and likes very much.Tuba guy takes the tape home and,by ear,works out an appropriate bass line and/or any solos he would suggest for what is on tape.Tuba guy drills it 'til he has it "down" and at rehearsal,makes the viola player smile.

Ames0325 · Post by **Ames0325** » Sat May 28, 2005 7:36 pm

I think there are some duets written for viola and bass. These would work perfectly with the tuba reading the bass part down an octave ( where the bass sounds).

Todd S. Malicoate · Post by **Todd S. Malicoate** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:55 pm

There are three duets for viola and string bass:

Borghi - Sonata in d minor
Dittersdorf - Sinfonia Concertante
Sperger - Sonata in d minor

I've only played the Dittersdorf (on bass), and I can tell you for sure that it would NOT work well at all on tuba. The characteristic string writing of the bass part (long phrases, double stops, huge range gymnastics) would just sound out of place on the tuba (if playable at all).

Don't know about the two sonatas, though. I think you would be better served transcribing a piece for two brass players (euphonium/tuba, trombone/tuba, etc.). Keep in mind, the viola is incredibly non-resonant. You will have some extreme balance issues to work out.

Best of luck!

Chuck Jackson · Post by **Chuck Jackson** » Sun May 29, 2005 11:34 pm

Try the "Beautiful Music for Strings" series by Samuel Applebaum. There are 5 books of Duets ranging from easy to mildly hard for any combination of string instruments. Tuba can either read the bass or cello part and you could read the viola part. Nothing too taxing in the first two volumes. Good music suitable for all ages. Good Luck.

Chuck