Duets for One

A series of play-along recordings of the baroque recorder duet repertoire

Owen Morse-Brown recorder

Owen Morse-Brown

'a delightfully unforced tone' - Early Music Review
'precision and lyricism with enormous delicacy' - The Bath Chronicle

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In the introduction to his 6 Duetti of 1759, J.J. Quantz (1697 - 1773) describes in detail the usefulness of practicing and playing duets over that of concerti and solos. He tells us we will become more sure of our ability to play in time, develop a taste for the effects of harmony and phrasing, become better at holding our own part even when the second plays a contrary movement, and that two players will find pleasant entertainment without the need for an accompanist. Indeed as a teacher I have found the playing of duets in lessons perhaps the most useful tool for teaching and implementing the techniques and stylistics associated with baroque repertoire. For each recording I have suggested an edition to play from, however there are often many other publications of each piece and any will suffice to use in playing with the CDs.

Currently available in the series


Georg Philipp Telemann 1681 - 1767
6 Sonatas for two treble recorders (2nd part)

First published in Hamburg in 1727 for flutes, violins or recorders, these sonatas are among the finest in the repertoire. Indeed they even received a testament to their quality from J.J Quantz in the introduction to his own duetti of 1659. All sonatas have four movements including, largo, affettuoso, presto, soave, vivace, spiritoso and grazioso. The CDs contain two versions of each fast movement, the first slightly slower.

Suggested music editions - Amadeus BP 2426 (Sonatas 1 - 3) BP 2427 (Sonatas 4 - 6)
Schott OFB 142 (sonatas 1 & 2) OFB 143 (sonatas 3 & 4) OFB 144 (sonatas 5 & 6)

Avaialbe at:
www.sheetmusicplus.com (USA)
www.schott-music.com (EU)
www.recordermail.demon.co.uk (UK)
Sonatas 1 - 6 (2 CDs) £10.50
Aprox
$15/12Euro

Joseph Bodin de Boismortier 1691 - 1755
6 Suites for two treble recorders Op. 17 (2nd part)

Published in Paris in 1727 these suites are an ideal introduction to the French baroque style but also equally enjoyable for those already acquainted with it. Boismortier was a very successful businessman, making his publications appeal to a wide audience in order to increase sales. These suites therefore were not only written to be playable on many different instruments but also by a wide variety of technical levels. At the same time, they remain delightful, well composed pieces that will be enjoyed by players of all levels. The 6 suites contain between 7 and 9 movements each and include an ouveture, preludes, menuets, gavottes, gigues, courantes, a passacaille, brunettes, a branle, a marche, passepieds, sarabandes, rigaudons, allemandes, rondeaus, muzettes and a viligeoise!

Suggested music edition - Amadeus BP 2042 (Suites 1 - 3) BP 2043 (Suites 4 - 6)
Schott OFB 5 (suites 1 - 3) OFB 6 Suites 4 - 6)

Available at:
www.sheetmusicplus.com (USA)
www.schott-music.com (EU)
www.recordermail.demon.co.uk (UK)
Suites 1 - 6 (1 CD) £7.50
Aprox $12/9Euro

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681 - 1767)
6 Sonatas in Canon for two Treble Recorders Opus. 5

As the title suggests, both players in these sonatas play the same part but in canon, one, two or three bars apart. This makes them ideal as play-along pieces. The CD contains the 'leader' part, so to play along you simply start when the recorder part reaches the number '2' and stop at the 'pause' sign before the end. The effect is very exciting and the more you play them the more you are able to listen to the other part in front and hear the phrasing and any ornamentaion enabling you to imitate it (or better it) when you arrive at the same point. Telemann had an interest in the folk music of Poland and a few of the movements of these sonatas appear to display this. I have once again included fast and slow versions of the faster movements where appropriate.

Suggested music edition - Schott OFB 98

Available at:
www.sheetmusicplus.com (USA)
www.schott-music.com (EU)
www.recordermail.demon.co.uk (UK)
Sonatas 1 - 6 (1 CD) £7.50
Aprox $12/9Euro



Gottfried Finger (c. 1660 - c. 1723)
Six sonatas for two treble recorders Op. 2 (2nd part)

Bonus Duet

Georg Philipp Telemann
Duet from Der Getreue Musickmeister
for two treble recorders (2nd part)

Although born in Moravia, Gottfried Finger spent much of his working life in London and is most well known for his music for the theatre. Among his colleagues in this field were such names as Daniel Purcell and John Eccles and these duets of his published in c. 1705 certainly reflect these associations. Echoes of an earlier, even Purcellian style can occasionally be heard and this in a time when the Italian style was most prevalent.
The 'bonus' duet on this CD is a Duet from Telemann's Der Getreue Musickmeister published in 1728.

Suggested music editions
Finger: Amadeus BP 802. Telemann: Schott OFB99
Sonatas 1 - 6
plus bonus duet (1 CD)		 £7.50
Aprox $12/9Euro



All prices include worldwide postage and packing.
CD's are pitched at A = 440 (modern concert pitch)
Owen Morse-Brown studied recorder at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama under Pamela Thorby after completing his degree at Bath Spa University. His own ensemble Sociall Musick were finalists in the 2003 York Early Music Competition, and he performs regularly as a soloist with The Welsh Baroque Orchestra and Bradford Baroque Band among others. His teaching work has been with students at The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and Bath Spa University as well as in masterclasses, workshops, schools and private tuition.

Visit my other sites:

www.owenmorse-brown.com/sociallmusick
early music ensemble
www.owenmorse-brown.com
hand made early string instruments