Big Bad Wolf Trumpet Duets Vol. 2

Description

Book 2 of the BIG BAD WOLF Duets series picks up where Book 1 left off, giving teachers and students an opportunity to play duets together whilst motivating the students to improve their technique and ensemble playing. In this volume, however, I’ve not labeled the parts Teacher and Student, but rather Trumpet 1 and Trumpet 2, leaving it up to the players to decide which part to play. A more advanced student should eventually tackle both parts. The pop, jazzy backing tracks are here once again, but I’ve also written piano accompaniments for this book in order to make live performance opportunities more appealing.

1. Wolf At the Door This is a moderate swing piece that was constructed as a conversation. One trumpet expresses an opinion, and the other agrees or contradicts.

2. A Canoe for Two It’s sweetly romantic, and gently rocking. The trumpets are mostly in thirds, but mind where those dotted rhythms come! 3. Chicas de Chicxulub A little Cha-Cha inspired by a town in the Yucatán, Mexico. It’s quick and dance-like requiring dexterity. Pay close attention to articulations.

4. Through the Nebulae A spacey, New Age duet with the trumpets echoing each other, line for line.

5. O, Brother! Where Have You Gone? A plaintive, sorrowful melody, and not too demanding technically. Good for working on legato playing.

6. House of Funk The title says it all. It’s fast and funky and a challenge to both rhythm and fingering. A good introduction to the funk brass style.

7. House of Blues A slowly swung blues that utilizes grace notes and ‘blue’ notes with the trumpets often in fourths.

8. House of Fanfare This is a rocking trumpet fanfare, beginning traditionally, but with a middle 8 section that gets poppy before returning to its brass band origins. Limber up the fingers for this one.

9. House of Whole Tones Vacillating in time signatures between 3, 5 and 6, this odd little composition is mostly comprised of whole tones. The trumpets vary between playing together and call and response. Rhythmically it’s a challenge!

10. House of Fives In 5/4 time and with a mostly ostinato pattern accompaniment, this haunting duet may be short but it will keep you counting.

11. House of Spaghetti Westerns This piece is directly inspired by the soundtrack writing of Italian composer Ennio Morricone. The Spaghetti Western films emerged in the mid-1960s, mostly produced and directed by Italians. Morricone himself was a trumpeter, by the way.

12. House of Stax Inspired by the R&B record label of the same name, this one recalls groups like Booker T. & the M.G.’s. It’s a groove piece with the trumpets playing together or trading riffs. Pay attention to articulations to get the most out of this piece.