These 27 curated gems include dance tunes composed between 1600 and 1750 from Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Prussia, and Sweden. Well known composers are included (Bach, Handel, Telemann), as well as some surprises (Fasch, Gambarini, Roman). Program notes are also included.
Each Tunes for Two collection consists of individual spiral-bound duet books presented in score form with melody on the top line and harmony beneath so you can play each tune by yourself or with others.
Duo arrangements of the tunes in this collection, in the same keys, are available for
violins,
violas,
cellos,
basses,
mandolins,
soprano recorders, and
alto recorders.
PDFs are available worldwide for each of the books in the Tunes for Two series.
We ship packages to domestic addresses only. For information on where to order our publications
for international shipment please check here.
Arne, “Rule Britannia”
Bach, J.S., “Bourree in D Major”
Couperin, “Gavotte”
Fasch, “Menuet in A Minor”
Fiocco, “Deux Gavottes”
Frederick II, “Der Hohenfriedberger Marsch”
Gambarini, “Giga”
Handel, “Forest Music”
Kindermann, “Sarabanda”
Lalande, “Passepied Pour La Jeunesse”
Lully, “Grand Air de Guerre”
Marais, “Sarabande”
Martini, “Aria”
Pachelbel, “Suite in G Major”
Pepusch, “Jigg”
Pergolesi, “Allegro”
Phillidor, “Courante”
Purcell, “Rondeau”
Quantz, “Allegro”
Roman, “Allegretto”
Sweelinck, “Fantasia Mr. Jan Pijtters”
Telemann, “Sancho Panza Mocked”
Telemann, “The Awakening of Don Quixote”
Telemann, “The Gallop of Rosinante”
Van Eyck, “More Palatino”
Van Eyck, “Prins Robbert Masco”
Vitali, “Sinfonia”
Reviews...
“With positive experience of her other publications in chamber music presentations in school and community settings and in my teaching studio, I was interested to explore this new publication (Baroque Tunes for Two Violas). She has chosen an excellent and diverse collection of 27 Baroque works from many European countries, with a mixture of well-known and less familiar composers, including a work by Frederick II of Prussia, student of Quantz, a couple of well-known tunes such as Arne’s Rule Britannia, Purcell’s Rondeau from Abdelazar and many other works, mostly inspired by theatre or dance.
Arranged alphabetically, from Arne to Vitali, the book ends with program notes that ‘educate and entertain’ for each work; an ideal resource. For students, these interesting stories and histories enrich the music and add appreciation to the creative context. As with all Greenblatt and Seay editions, the print is clear. The same duets in compatible keys are also available for cellos, basses, violins, mandolins and recorders. There is the option of pdf purchase or print in spiral-bound books, which work perfectly for gigs. Very reasonably priced and available online, this is an ideal book for all string teachers, due to the variety of offerings and many possible uses in lessons and performances. Highly recommended!”
“Baroque Tunes for Two Basses is another useful publication by Greenblatt and Seay. The duets are also available for violin, viola, cello, mandolin and recorders so the possible combinations are very exciting.
There are 27 duets based on works by Baroque composers from around the globe. In addition to Bach and Telemann it is a wonderful opportunity to widen students’ knowledge of other composers of this genre such as Vitali, Quantz, Pergolesi and Gambarini. Brief fascinating facts about the composers are included so this is a fantastic educational resource. My son (double bass AMEB grade 4/5) and I really enjoyed playing many of these duos; often they served as a departure point to discuss finer details of technique, rhythm and style.”
Baroque Tunes for Two Violins... “Violin teachers and students may recognize most of the composers of these works, like Handel and Marais, but have you ever played works by Phillidor or Roman? A handy appendix of composer biographies is included to introduce you to these Baroque composers, including, for example, Elisabetta de Gambarini, the ‘first female composer in Britain to publish a collection of keyboard music.’ The melody is maintained in the upper part, which allows for individual playing to study Baroque style or to work on sight-reading in one’s own tempo. Both major and minor key signatures are kept simple, with these of up to only three flats or sharps. Most selections remain in first position with an occasional shift to the second or third, but this is only done to facilitate a string crossing or reach notes on the E-string. Studio teachers may find these suitable for the intermediate players who need more experience with sight-reading or ensemble skills. There is a Bach bouree and a Fasch minuet, for example, which require alert reading comprehension to maneuver fluently through key changes and leaps in the melody. There are plenty of accidentals and varied rhythms, as well as stylistic ornaments, including mordents, turns and trills. For the more advanced player, these relatively short works are well suited for the study of acceptable tempo choices for stylistic performance.”
Baroque Tunes for Two Recorders...“Deborah Greenblatt is a prolific and talented editor of multiple editions of duets that span a wide variety of styles… Some are accessible to beginners as well as more experienced players.
The represented composers in the Baroque Tune for Two are mostly, but not all, well known. Some examples are: Thomas Arne, J.S. Bach, G.F. Handel, Elisabetta de Gambarini and G.P. Telemann. The genres are diverse, with many dance forms, such as the gavotte, minuet, sarabande, jig and courante. The keys are not difficult, with most containing only one or two sharps or flats. Rhythms are generally Straight-forward. In general, the works included are pleasant and charming. They are fun and enjoyable to play, and nice additions to a concert repertory. At the end of the volume, there is a section that presents short biographies and dates of each composer”