Dance Duets for Cello
by Mary Cohen
- Instrumentation
- Cello, Cello
- Composed
- 2001
- Publisher
- Faber Music (ISBN 0571569390)
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About this piece
Dance Duets is a set of original duets for two cellos by the British string teacher Mary Cohen, first published by Faber in 2001. The pieces travel through dance styles: Polka, Tarantella, Saltarello, Waltz, Rumba, Ragtime and Hoe Down. Faber describes them as using 'extensive pizzicato, leggiero bowing, long legato lines, double stopping - and even the occasional chance to stamp'. Both parts are of equal interest, which makes the book good for pairs of students or for a teacher and student.
Technical overview
The Polka (2/4, G major) is played pizzicato throughout by both cellos, with dotted rhythms and echo dynamics. The Tarantella (6/8, E minor) sets three-note slurred groups against a pizzicato bass, and the players swap roles at letter A. The Ragtime (4/4) is marked 'leggiero sempre', with an offbeat melody that touches a few notes above first position on the A string over a stride-style bass line. The melody and accompaniment pass between the two parts.
Technical focus
- Pizzicato
- 3 Note Slurs
- Detaché
- Dotted Rhythms
- Dynamics
- Ensemble Skills