Curtain Up! Duos 1 for Two Flutes [Playing score(s)]

Although you probably have plenty of books of flute duets in your teaching bag already there's always room for another! Why this one? Firstly it's beautifully produced so it looks great on the music stand - a real bonus when attempting to entice reluctant duet players! Secondly the content is varied. The addition of pieces by Bartok and James Rae is great and means that you have plenty more style options at your disposal. Thirdly it's good value and will last years. Enough said.

This compilation of 25 'easy to middle-grade' duets from the 1700s to the present day is a fantastic addition to the library of anyone who teaches flute or plays with others.  There are pieces here which you may already have in other books, but this collection is particularly well-chosen, mixing different styles and levels of difficulty.  Starting with baroque dance movements from the likes of Boismortier and Blavet, it moves onto Devienne and Haydn, to Rossini, more dances from Bartok, and then modern compositions from James Rae and Maria Holzeis-Augustin.  The latter's Tonia is a particularly fun introduction to some easier extended texhniques, with key clicks and a 'tfffff' sound featuring in the middle section.  The pieces are suitable for players from around Grade 3 upwards.  Generally, the second part is lower, but both parts are interesting and present differing challenges.  In particular, there are opportunities to work on careful coordination when both parts have the same rhythm, on communication where there are changes in tempo, and on tuning where the parts are far apart in pitch.

The printing and layout is incredibly clear, with no akward page-turns - a really well thought-out and enjoyable publication.  Having used this in many lessons recently, a number of my students have gone straight out to buy their own copies - a definite recommendation!