Guitar Duets
Listen to York Guitar Quartet performing on their album Landscape with Trees
Composer
Title
Code
Albeniz, I.
Cuba (Caprice Creole)
No.8 from Suite Española for 2 guitars.
Grade: 5
D0020

Cuba (Caprice Creole)
No.8 from Suite Española for requinto and guitar duet.
Grade: 5
D0021
Barcarola
No. 3 from Douze Pièces Caracteristiques for piano.
Grades: 6
D0022

Plegaría
No. 4 of Douze Pièces Caracteristiques for piano.
Grades: 6,5
D0035
Anon
La Rossignol - from the lute duet
Grades: 3
D0015

Drewries Accordes from the lute duet.
This has been arranged with 3rd strings tuned to F sharp to give the same fingering and open string sustain as in the lute original.
Grades: 4-5.
D0014

Watkins Ale from the c.17 virginal score.
Grade: 4.
D0036
Bach, J.S.
Prelude No. 3 from 48 Preludes and Fugues for pianoforte.
Grades: 8,7
D0023
Prelude No. 12 - book 2 from 48 Preludes and Fugues for pianoforte - original key F minor.
Grades: 8,6
D0012
Musette - (originally for keyboard)
Grades: 1
D0004
Suite BWV1025 - (originally for keyboard and violin)
The guitar 2 part is essentially the same as that of Dresden Suite No.22 of Sylvius Leopold Weiss.
Grados: 8,8
D1025
Bartók, B.
44 Duos Nos 1-22 - (originally for 2 violins) also available as a viola/guitar duet.
Grades 1-5
D0002
44 Duos Nos 23-44 - (originally for 2 violins) also available as a viola/guitar duet.
Grades 5-9
D0003
Swine-Herd’s Dance - (originally for piano from ‘For Children’)
Grados 6,6
D0306
Evening in Transylvania - (originally for piano)
Grades 5,5
D0307
Beethoven, van L.
Bagatelle No.1 Opus 119 - (originally for piano)
Grades: 6,2
D0305
Bagatelle No.6 Opus 33 - (originally for piano)
Grades: 5
D0303
Bagatelle No.4 Opus 119 - (originally forpiano)
Grades: 3
D0302
Boccherini, L.
Minuetto from Quintet, Op. 11 No. 5
Grades: 2
D0006
Byrd, W.
Earl of Salisbury - a Pavan - also for flute or melody instrument.
This piece formed part of the publication Parthenia, composed in memory of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury.
Grades: 6
D0016
Will Yow Walke The Woods Soe Wylde - (originally for Keyboard)
from My Ladye Nevell’s Booke of Virginal Music.
Grades: 6
D0032
 
Capirola, V.
Padoana descorda nel ton di Santa Trinitas - Arranged from the lute solo for two guitars.
Grades: 3-4
D0025

Couperin, F.
Le Réveille-Matin (The Alarm Clock)
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original (in F).
Grades: 7,5
D0100

Les Papillons (The Butterflies)
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 8,5
D0101
Les Petits Moulins (The Little Windmills).
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 6,6
D0102
Les Bergeries (The Sheep-folds or Pastorale).
Arranged for two guitars from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 6,6
D0103

Les Moissoneurs (The Reapers ).
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 7,7
D0104
Les Tricoteuses (The Knitters).
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 7,5
D0202
Le Dodo, ou l'amour au Berceau.
Arranged for guitar duet from the harpsichord original
Grades: 6,5
D0105

Les Barricades Mystérieuses.
Arranged for two guitars from the harpsichord original.
Grades: 6,5
D0201
Dowland, J.
A Lesson for Two Lutes
Arranged from the lute duet for two guitars.
Grade: 2-3
D0027

The Frog Galliard - from a recording that I made a long time ago on Radio York! and now another version (remote) by All Strung Out
Also known as the air "Now, oh now I needs must part"
Grade: 6,6
D0026

 
Falla, M de
Intermezzo - from Fantasia Baética
Grades: 1-2
D0029

The Miller’s Dance - from The Three Cornered Hat..
Grades: 6-7
D0033
Fauré, G.
Romance Sans Paroles Opus 17 No. 3A
Well known piano solo arranged for 2 classical guitars.
Grades: 6-7
D0030

Pièces Brèves Opus 84 No.5 - Improvisation
Grades: 6-7
D0031

Nocturne No.3 - Opus 133 No.3
Grades: 6,6
D0037
Fiocco, J.
Allegro
Arranged from the original for flute (or violin) and piano.
Grades: 6,6
D0099
Forrest, A.
The Gaelic Collection
A Suite of Irish tunes for guitar duo - The Irish Washerwoman; Norah O'Neale; The Mug of Brown Ale; Planxty Irwin; Harvest Home; Miss McCloud's Reel.
Grades: 1-2
Norah O'Neale
Mug of Brown Ale
Planxty Irwin
D0001
Five Simple Pieces
Five simple but effective duets for beginner guitarists - Ski Jump Waltz; Rachel's Song; Coney Street Easy; Rocking; Last Waltz.
(Rachel’s Song and Ski Jump Waltz performed by Dúo Sinestesia - from Guam in the middle of the Pacific Ocean! and Rocking by Guitar ensemble "Fandango") and now Dueto de Guitarras Caracol playing the entire suite.
Grades: 1-2
D0005
Dmitri and the Heavy Fridge
A duet for 2 bass guitars
(or 2 tenor - or normal - guitars)
Grades: 4-5
D0010B
Bass
Dmitri and the Heavy Fridge
A duet for 2 standard guitars
Grades: 4-5
D0010G
Tenor

Graded Sight Reading Duets from Grade: 1 to 4
There is a score, which is probably easier to play from since each player can follow the other. Included are separate parts where each player has to rely more on an accurate sense of pulse and an understanding of the other player's interpretation. The pieces are not so much about sight-reading as to develop the ability to play in ensemble; to listen and keep in time, follow dynamics and expression. I'd like very much any thoughts you have on these since I have not come across any similar exercise elsewhere.
D0011
Granados, E.
Despertar del Cazador- (I from Bocetos)
Grades: 5,4
D0108
El Hada y el Niño - (II from Bocetos)
Grades: 7,5
D0107
Vals Muy Lento - (III de Bocetos)
Grades: 6,5 (score for requinto included - grade 5)
D0301
La Campana de la Tarde - (IV from Bocetos)
Grades: 4,4
D0106
Jacquet de la Guerre, E.
Cannaris - from the original for keyboard.
Grades: 4-5
D0017
Gossec, F.
Tambourin
for requinto and guitar.
Parts: rqto, gtr - Grados: 8,5
D0034
Malats J.
La Morena Cubana - from originals for piano
Grades: 6,6
D0091
Pergolesi, G.B.
Sonata
Grades: 7,3
D0040

Ponce, M.
Prelude for Guitar and Harpsichord
Grades: 6,7
D0092
Intermezzo No.1
Grades: 6
D0093
 
Ravel, M.
Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant - from Ma Mère, L'Oye (Mother Goose Suite)
Grades: 3-5
D0024

Robinson, T.
A Toy for Two Lutes
Grades: 3
D0028
Satie, E.
Gnossienne - Arranged from the piano solos.
No.1 - Grades: 2,1 - Watch an unusual video from DuJu
No. 2 - Grades: 5,2
No. 3 - Grades: 3,3
Gnossienne No.1
Gnossienne No.3
D0061
Gymnopédie No. 1 - watch a video from DuJu!
Grade: 3
D0064

Gymnopédie No. 2
Grade 4,3
D0062
Embyrons Deséchées - d'Holothurie, d'Edriophthalmia, de Podophthalma
Grades: 6,4,8
D0065
Le Piccadilly - An excellent performance from 2 members of Stetson University School of Music (at 17’17”)
A lively 'ragtime' piece arranged for guitar duo.
Grade: 4-5
D0067
La Caresse
Grade: 4-5
D0068

Je te veux - An excellent performance from 2 members of Stetson University School of Music (at 15’10”)
Grade: 4
D0069

Scarlatti, D.
Sonata L.428 - originally for harpsichord.
Grades: 7,6
D0070
Schumann, R.
Melody Opus 68 - originally for piano.
Grades: 0-1
D0018
Little Piece Opus 68, No. 5 - originally for piano.
Grades: 0-1
D0019
Shostakovich, D.
Sem' Tants Kukol (Seven Dolls’ Dances)
Lyrical Waltz, Gavotte, Romance, Polka, The Little Ballerina, Hurdy-Gurdy, Dance.In 1944-45, Shostakovich wrote his Children's Notebook (opus 69), an album of easy piano pieces, for his daughter, Galya. This second album of children's piano pieces followed in 1952. These dances are derived from material from ballet suites that he wrote in 1949-50. They exist in both orchestral and piano versions. The melodies are lively and tuneful, though Shostakovich's sudden modulations into remote keys ensure that they never become banal. This duet arrangement shares the melody and accompaniment between the two guitars where appropriate, especially in the last piece, Dance, where the parts become 'conversational', copying phrases from one another.
Listen to superb renditions of Lyric Waltz, Gavotte, Romance and Dance by Nick Faller and Babak Taghinia.
Grades: 7-8
D0080
Hurdy Gurdy

Three Preludes Opus 87 - originally from a set of 24 preludes and fugues for piano.
Grades: 8
D0081
Vals No.2 - from the Suite for Variety Orchestra No.7 - (Updated 2020/11/06)
Grades: 7-8
D0082
Soler, A.
Sonata No. 33 - from the keyboard sonata.
Grades: 8,8
D0087
Sonata No. 34 - from the keyboard sonata.
Grades: 8,7
D0088
Sor, F.
L'Encouragement
Cantabile; Theme and Variations; Valse
Grades: 7,7
D0090
Stamitz, C.P.
Drei Duette No.1
Grados: 7,6
D0140
 
Vivaldi, A.
Interlude by the Fireside - from L'Inverno de "Il Cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione" Opus 8 No. 4 of The Four Seasons.
Grades: 5,6
D0050
Concerto for Lute in D major - Largo
Originally written for strings and lute. Here included a page for the divisions in the Largo
Grades: (3-5),1
D0096
Zulaica de Donostia, J.
Eresia - Canción Triste - Preludios Vascos (No.4)
Grades: 6,5
D0304