BASS TROMBONE (tuba, too) DUETS
I learned as much playing duets with my pals as I did in lessons – you should, too – frequently! Duets are the "lowest common denominator" of chamber music. Phil Teele refused to take me on as a student. He did say, "Anytime you wanna come over and play duets . . .” So I did every few weeks for a year and a half or so – worth it's weight in lessons – and for free! My dear friend and colleague, Jim Self, with whom I played many duets, has said:
"As a young musician I had the privilege of playing duets with many of the world’s finest tubists including Harvey Phillips, John Fletcher, Bob Pallansch, Chester Schmitz, Dan Perantoni, Toby Hanks, Ron Bishop, Winston Morris and Tommy Johnson. I learned more about playing music in these duo sessions than from any other musical activity I have ever experienced. Duets are powerful teaching tools for learning and mastering rhythm, phrasing and intonation and for developing overall musicianship."
Here is a list of tuba/bass trombone duets – in no particular order. There may be some high(ish) notes here and there – we need to do that sometimes. (Some of these are arranged for various instruments – be sure to order the right ones!)
"As a young musician I had the privilege of playing duets with many of the world’s finest tubists including Harvey Phillips, John Fletcher, Bob Pallansch, Chester Schmitz, Dan Perantoni, Toby Hanks, Ron Bishop, Winston Morris and Tommy Johnson. I learned more about playing music in these duo sessions than from any other musical activity I have ever experienced. Duets are powerful teaching tools for learning and mastering rhythm, phrasing and intonation and for developing overall musicianship."
Here is a list of tuba/bass trombone duets – in no particular order. There may be some high(ish) notes here and there – we need to do that sometimes. (Some of these are arranged for various instruments – be sure to order the right ones!)
- Long Tone Duets for Trombone: Ralph Sauer Edition, David Vining (must have)
- Long Tone Duets for Tuba: Style and Articulation, David Vining (different from above)
- 7 Tuba Duets, William Presser (excellent)
- 12 Duets from Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook, J.S. Bach, arranged for tuba, Ronald Dishinger
- Duets (12), K.487, W.A. Mozart, (for horn) arranged for tuba, Ronald Dishinger
- Suite for Two, John Stevens
- 10 Duets, Lew Gillis
- 10 More Duets, Lew Gillis
- 10 Pieces for Two Bass Trombones, Tommy Pederson (great, but hard to find)
- Ten Duets for Bass Trombone, Tommy Pederson (less challenging, but in print)
- Bagateles, Raymond Luedeke
- Celebrated Practice Duets, Arthur Amsden (corny, but great practice)
- Bass Clef Sessions, arr. Gearhart, Cassel & Hornibrook (good, silly, fun)
- 25 Baroque & Classical Duets v.1 & v.2, edited & transcribed, Kenneth Singleton
- 28 Vignettes for Two Trombones, Richard Fote
- 14* Concert Duets for 2 Tubas or Bass Trombones, arranged, Jim Self
- 15 Canons, transcribed, Andrew Kesten, arranged, Dave Kirk
- Eight Duets, Benjamin Coy
- Eight More Duets, Benjamin Coy
- Concert Duets, Vladislav Blazhevich
- Big Book of Sight Reading Duets for Tuba, David Vining
- Dynamic Duos – Michael Eversden
- Ten Duets for Bass Trombone – Earl Zindars
- The Magic Tuba – Corrado Maria Saglietti
- Duet – Carl Stamitz
- Dialogue – Anthony Plog
- Largo and Allegro – Jay Krush
- Fantasia – James A. Garrett
- 6 Roundabouts – Michael Forbes
- Five – Thomas Albert
- Second Base Blues – Gordon Bowie
- The Crimson Collop – Tommy Pederson
- Devil's Waltz – Steven Verhelst
- Angel's Tango – Steven Verhelst