Duos! 4-hands, 2-pianos, and more
Hi everyone!
We're excited to help you coordinate playing duos with each other. To get connected, do the following:
1. Write a short post with the 4-hand or 2-piano pieces you'd most like to play at the camp! Include whether you prefer primo/secondo or Piano 1/Piano 2, and also which session of the camp you're attending.
2. Comment on other participants' posts to let them know which pieces on their list you'd like to play with them!
Once at the camp, rehearse with one another during your practice time, and if you wish, you are welcome to bring duo works to a portion of your lessons (especially with Dominic or Noah). We recommend using 20-30 mins of lesson time on duo literature, if you choose to bring it.
You are very welcome to play duos on the recitals -- or just to have fun with them while at the camp!
Can't wait to hear you making music together!
Yours,
Noah
19 replies
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“Invierno Porteño” and “Primavera Porteño” primo part - need a secondo :) by Piazzolla. I have a PDF I can email. Week 1. Love this piece so much!
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Gabi and I will be playing Poulenc's Sonata for four hands.
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I have a TON of duet music. A friend of mine who was working at North Carolina School of the Arts rescued many volumes of piano arrangements of orchestral works when the music library there was being purged. I may bring a volume or two of Haydn Symphonies or opera overtures arranged for piano four hands - they are fun to sightread and put one in mind of the pre-gramophone days when the main way to experience the classical symphonic repertoire was to play it oneself on the piano.
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I would love to connect with someone to play 4-hand duets during practice/rehearsal time (very open to perform in recital too!). I don't normally get to play duets in my regular practice, so I'm really excited to dive into some ensemble music at camp!
To be completely transparent: I haven't had much time to prepare duet repertoire in advance, so I’ll be relying quite a bit on sightreading and some quick preparation next week. I’m fairly comfortable sightreading and looking for low-stakes, fun collaborations with anyone open to pairing up under those terms.
Some pieces I have on hand & can prep next week:
Dvořák – Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 (e.g. No. 2/4, prefer Secondo as it's a little more forgiving for me to sightread)
Fauré – Dolly Suite (e.g., Berceuse, either Primo/Secondo)
I'm also super open to trying other pieces/scores if you already have something prepared or want to sightread through together. Let me know if you’d like to pair up!
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and I will be playing Perpetual Commotion by Kevin Olson (Session 1). It’s an 8-hand piece though and we need two more people. Anybody interested? (Video and a page from all 4 parts below)
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I'm participating in Week 2 of this year's Tonebase 2026 and hope to find time for lots of duets, especially 2-piano since it's rarer to have two pianos available. Maybe even some 8-handed 2 piano reads?
I am bringing a couple that I've had for years but haven't played with others as they are more advanced and need good sight-reading, in case anyone is up for it:
William Bolcom's Receurdos, Three Traditional Latin-American Dances for two pianos, four hands) - one of his more advanced works — the first movement is in 6 flats
Stravinsky's Three Movements from Petrouchka (Russian Dance, Petrouchka & The Shrove-tide Fair) for two pianos, four hands (Arranged by Victor Babin)
Like Michael Lodi's note in this thread, I also get a kick out of reading multi-handed arrangements of orchestral works if anyone else does, too (not sure what week Michael is attending). For instance I have a 2-piano 8-hand arrangement of Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben that might be fun to read. Several of his tone poems have been arranged for duets 2p4h & 2p8h.
Regular duets I enjoy:
John Corigliano's Gazebo Dances for piano four hands
Samuel Barber's Souvenirs for piano four hands (this is the standard composer version - I have a scan on my iPad, but there is also a 2 piano, 4 hand arrangement by Arthur Gold & Robert Fizzle I'd enjoy reading if anyone has a copy.)
Percy Grainger's Harvest Hymn for piano four hands
Percy Grainger's Molly on the Shore for 2 pianos four hands
Kapustin's Sinfonietta Op 49 for piano four hands
I have others to read through too, with my iPad.
Okay, I'll stop, now - and yes, I kind of like duets...
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Wow! Molly on the Shore!!! I would love to explore this repertoire. I used to gave a regular duet par
tner
(I gave 2 pianos). I will be there week 2.
