For my AQA GCSE Music course, i need to do an ensemble performance in the next 3 months, and i dont have a clue what to play? Any ideas? I'd like to do a piano duet, or maybe 2 or more pianos? Ideally grade 7-8 standard, because im about grade 8ish, and my mum (who i will do the duet with) is DipABRSM. I like most types of classical music, but it cant be anything with awful rhythms or with loads of tempo changes etc!

I also like the idea of doing a piece for 4 pianos, or 2 pianos and 8 hands, because my friend is grade 8ish piano too, and so is my music teacher, so it would be fun to play something all together.

If you can think of any other good combinations, i'd be greatful! I also have a friend who is grade 8ish flute, and her brother is grade 6 alto sax, and loads of my friends are about grade 5/6 flute, and i also know a grade 8 viola player, but she also plays violin to about grade 7/8.

Thankyou!

Jacob.

Try Piano Duets - Baroque Composers, edited by Michael Aston, published by OUP. I really enjoyed these.

Actually, there are lots of original compositions in piano duet, two-piano etc, etc, but it is finding a room with one than one piano to practise together, that is a challenge! Of course, these days, I guess you could substitute with electric pianos...

If you and your duet parter are Grade 8 level, here is my fav list:
Poulenc Sonata
Mozart Sonatas D and Bb
Debussy Petite Suite
Dvorak Slavonic Dances
Schubert Fantaisia in F minor

For two-piano... my fav is Scaramouche by D.Mihaud...

Have fun! that is the essence of playing duet!
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The obvious piano duet at about that standard would be one or two movements from Mother Goose (Ma Mere L'Oye) by Ravel. The first two parts are quite easy the later ones Grade 7-8.

I endorse Scaramouche for 2 pianos. Also the Slavonic Dances. I also posses a nice duet arangement of 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik'. And 'The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba'

My favourite duet - and nearly my favourite piece of piano music - is Schubert's Rondo in D Major. Maybe it's nearer Grade 6 - 7 than Grade 7 - 8, I don't know, but it seems quite testing to me and it's quite long. Anyway, it's beautiful.

Could I suggest some 4 hand arrangements of symphonies? Listz did quite a few of these, including all the Beethoven. Things like these are not often heard because they are used for conductor trainings, and it does sound amazing most of the time. In fact most symphonies have piano reductions for four hands or two pianos

Something like the 2nd movt of Beethoven 7 (Allegretto) would be perfect for that sort of stuff, and obviously it will be post-GCSE standard so works for your course too

I can definately recommend any of Dvoraks Slavonic Dances. Having 16 to choose from definately gives you lots of variety, and the playing standard varies up to grade 8 level.

I guess its up to you and your musical taste about what you want to perform. Just enjoy

Warlock's Capriol Suite is fun.......although it might be slightly on the easier side, more 6-7 ish......

Hi - nice thread!

I also love Grainger's arrangement of English Country Gardens - a very joyful piece!

The Haydn symphonies are great fun to play and the rhythms are generally fairly straightforward.

And anything by Schubert would be lovely to play.