Violin Duos

Details

Zachary Ragent full profile / Violin Duo / 2 musicians

Other players: Autumn Pepper

Full program notes

Ayres, Duo for Violins (2011)- a short canon for two violins

LeClair, Sonata for 2 Violins in e Minor, Op. 3 No. 5- a very dance inspired exploration in three parts of what 2 violins could do in early 18th century France

Mozart, Sonata in C for 2 Violins, K. 296- Originally for violin and piano, this sonata has been arranged for two violins to have a chance to share Mozarts songful melodies and rich harmonies

Chen Yi, Energetic Duo (2015)- this short contemporary piece is all about exploring timbre and dynamics. The audience will hear both of those aspects constantly shifting in this up tempo piece.

Prokofiev, Sonata for 2 violins, Op. 56- Written in four movements, this piece has a huge range, from sorrowful to rollicking to everything in between.

Historical context

These pieces all come from different points within a continuous Western Classical tradition, with pieces ranging from 300 years old to around 10 year old, and composers born in England, France, Austria, China, and Russia. The fact that they all committed to composing pieces for this instrumentation of two violins binds the program together across times and places.

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