
Nineteen Skeletal Duets for Euphoniums (treble clef)
Publisher Desc.
Nineteen Skeletal Duets for Euphoniums is a set of duets of easy to
moderate difficulty specifically for teachers and students in private
lessons. The first 15 duets are arranged from Fifteen Safari Duets for Tubas
which was composed in 1989 for playing with my tuba students at Berklee
College of Music. They are at different levels of difficulty and in various
styles so that we always had duets to play no matter what was the ability of
the student. The additional four duets were added in 2020 for this set. The
title of each duet is also a name for a bone in the human body, hence the
name Skeletal Duets. There is something in each duet for students to learn:
the basics of tone production, rhythms, melodic phrasing, jazz, graphic
notation, etc. Most are sight readable and some have been performed in
concerts. Nineteen Skeletal Duets for Trombones are the same duets but in
bass clef. Twenty-two Skeletal Duets for Horns uses the first 19 as in the
euphonium set with three additional duets added. Some of the euphonium and
horn duets are in the same key so they can be played together.
1. Cranium
This duet presents the cantabile �singing� style as studied for playing
the trombone. I find that this duet helps the student much like the melodies
of Borgodni (Rochet) etudes.
2. Stirrup
This duet provides an opportunity to read basic rhythms and articulations.
I find that the more advanced students can read in a faster tempo where the
less skilled students work best in the slower tempos � a common choice for
all of the duets.
3. Humerus
This waltz helps the student match phrasing in a cantabile setting. There
are a few instances where the teacher (playing the first part) plays a phrase
then the student plays a similar phrase.
4. Vertebra
This is in a �rock� style with syncopated rhythms with cantabile
melodies. Articulations are especially important in this duet.
5. Axis
Legato scales and syncopated rhythms are the features of this duet.
6. Tibia
This duet alternates in rock style and swing. Articulations and
manipulation of �swing� rhythms are important.
7. Clavicle
The key of A for this duet provides variation for the students.
8. Fibula nd
This duet uses the easiest of rhythms and range, especially for the 2
9. Scapula
This duet is non-metric and uses graphic notation. This was a favorite duet
of my students as many had never experienced this notation before.
10. Atlas nd This is an Invention in the Bach style. This is probably the
best duet to play when the 2 part is played by bass trombone or to work on
low range for euphonium.
(student) part.
11. Radius
This duet is in a �Medium Swing� jazz style. Each part has a chance to
play a little bit of a �walking� bass line. Articulations and
manipulation of �swing� rhythms are important in this duet.
12. Femur
This duet works on double time and half time tempo changes.
13. Patella
This is another duet that includes graphic notation. In this duet �Free
rapid legato lines� are used.
14. Anvil
This gallop displays different types of articulation.
15. Hammer
This duet is in the style of a fanfare.
16. Rib
This duet is a melody, �Magallon Blues�, that I originally composed
when I taught at a summer music camp in Magallon, Spain. In that camp each of
the students would practice playing a jazz solo. This duet also has jazz
chord changes so you can add piano or guitar. The use of drums is also an
added option.
17. Sacrum
This duet is a short arrangement of Mozart�s �Eine Kleine
Nachtmusic�.
18. Ulna
This duet is a short arrangement of the traditional Irish folk song
�Londonderry Air�, more commonly known as �Danny Boy�.
19. Ilium
This duet is a short arrangement of the Beethoven�s song �Ode to Joy�
which represents the triumph of universal brotherhood against war and
desperation.
Gregory Fritze is a prize-winning composer and Fulbright Scholar, as well
as an active performer. He recently retired from Berklee College of Music
where he was Tuba Professor and Chair of Composition, serving on the faculty
from 1979 to 2016. He has written over one hundred compositions for
orchestra, band, chamber ensembles and soloists. He has won over sixty
composition awards both nationally and internationally including First Prize
in the 1991 TUBA Etude Contest for Twenty Characteristic Etudes for Tuba, an
award from The American Prize for his Petite Suite for Brass Quintet and
others. His compositions include works published by several publishers in the
United States, South America and Europe that have been performed extensively
throughout the world. Many of his compositions are available on ITunes,
Youtube and Soundcloud.
His compositions are recorded on Albany Records, MSR Classics, Crystal
Records, Mark Records and others. He has been a guest lecturer, conductor and
performer at many colleges, universities and music festivals in the United
States, Canada, Japan, South America and Europe. He was born in Allentown,
Pennsylvania in 1954 and has Composition degrees from the Boston Conservatory
and Indiana University. He now resides in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida.
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