I grew up to my friend (hornist) and her mother (cellist) playing duets. I just purchased a French Horn (I played her's grade school thru college) and I have a Cellist friend and we are looking for horn/cello duets.

Anyone know of any?

I believe Cello is written in E minor? Maybe I can transpose another instrument?

Thanks!

I'm afraid I cannot help you with the duets, but this is to tell you that cello is written in bass clef, and is not a transposing instrument, so its parts are written as they sound. So if you found a duet written in concert pitch, it's you who sould transpose (although maybe your cellist friend might, if you ask politely ) I'm not sure that's what you asked, though!

If you get some cello duets, the two of you can play them. Since Horns transpose all the time anyway, you should be the one to transpose. The cello is often written in bass clef. If you are looking at a bass clef cello part you can transpose it by pretending the music is written in treble clef, and reading 1 step down. You also need to add 1 sharp to whatever the key signature is. And drop it down an octave.(Someone may have told you once something about E minor, they are referring to reading the music as though it is written for Eb horn.)

If you are not used to transposing it may seem difficult at first. But do a little everyday and start slowly. You will be surprised how quickly you can learn to transpose at sight.

Example:
If the cello part has no key signature and has a written C (2nd space bass clef), You pretend the part is in treble clef with one sharp in the key siganture, key of G(the C now becomes your A), read it down one step (the A becomes a G).

If the part has a B. Then again add one sharp to the key signature (key of G); change to treble clef (B become a G)and read it down one step (G becomes an F#).

Other extreme ways to do it -
A) If you read bass clef easily you could also keep your trigger down and use F horn fingerings. (easier said than done)
B) You could also buy a Horn in the key of C and then read the parts as is.

What's hillarious is I am such a nerd I didn't even THINK of just doing my own transposition.

Simple idea. I honestly don't know much about string instruments. I played nearly every wind instrument...in fact the only one's I can say I DIDN'T play was trombone and Sax. Never liked 'em.


With that said, I'll look for some cello duets and get back into transposing practice...in high school and early college I could do that in my SLEEP! After 20 years of not even glancing at a piece of sheet music, admittedly I am a little intimidated. Practice practice practice!!!!!!


Thanks for the replies. This is a great forum...glad I found it, and even more glad I bought a horn, even after such a long break.

There's a great book called "Duets for ALL" that is written for ANY two instruments -- horn & sax, horn & piano, horn and oboe, horn and cello, etc. Great book. Lots of fun. They also make "Trios for ALL" and "Quartets for ALL". All very nice arrangments.

Valerie Wells
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/

Thanks for the tip! I'll DEFINITELY look for those scores.

I love the "for ALL" series. I haven't worked much with the Duets for ALL, only sight read through a few with a friend. I've mostly worked with the "Trios for all." THey are very well written; not hard, but still interesting. I've performed quite a few of the trios in a horn trio. I've also performed others in a mixed double trio. I put the violin & flute on the first, clarinet & horn on 2nd, and the cellos on the third part. The balance was lovely.

Valerie Wells
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/
www.BEforHorn.blogspot.com

I take it back. I like "Trios for All." I like "Duets for All." But I don't like "Christmas Quartets for All." Not good arrangements for horn. I bought them in November hoping to use them for a horn quartet performance. There were very few that would be suitable for four horns. They might, however work out for other instrumenation if horn is playing parts other than the melody line. But most of the melody lines in this book were either too high or too low to be suitable for horn.

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/

If you want good Horn quartets for Christmas go to .. .. ..

reallygoodmusic.com
Look for composer/arranger John Lorge. They are $15 per set (for eacharrangement) but they are very, very well written. The 4th Horn part might look challanging at first because there is some bass clef involved, but his writing makes sense and they are easy to read and play with minimal bass clef experience.

Thanks, John, I AM in the market for quality horn quartet arrangements. I appreciate this information.

Valerie Wells
The Balanced Embouchure Method
http://bebabe.wordpress.com/
http://www.beforhorn.blogspot.com/