Headstand, Cartwheels for Piccolo and Piano

Headstand, Cartwheels is a really well-pitched (pun intended) duo for piccolo and piano. The first movement, Headstand, flows steadily, spending lots of time in the middle register where the piccolo can sound really beautiful. It is mostly at a quieter dynamic, giving the player an opportunity to show off the delicacy of the instrument. In contrast, Cartwheels is an exhilarating adventure, popping up into the higher octave for chirpy effect but still whizzing around the full range to depict the tumbling nature of the title.

Both movements keep the player on their toes with changes of time signature and detailed dynamic instructions—this is a great piece to show off (or work on) the nuances of your piccolo playing. The piano is definitely an equal partner in this, and there are many opportunities to refine the ensemble performance and balance. Melodic lines cleverly interact and rise out of each other in the first movement, whilst in the second snappy rhythms and syncopated accents bounce around between the parts.

This piece is manageable by a Grade 7-8 player with some piccolo experience and would make a refreshing addition to a recital programme.