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Score and Parts
Composed for cellist Diana Golden and bassist Anthony Morris, Courtney Carey’s Duet for Violoncello and Contrabbasso, Op. 13, transforms the confrontation scene from Act III of Oscar Wilde’s The Duchess of Padua into an intense dramatic exchange between two low-string instruments.
The cello and double bass emerge as distinct, equally matched characters, moving through passages of agitation, argument, pursuit, and uneasy reflection. Rapid gestures, sharp rhythmic exchanges, and striking contrasts of register create a sense of theatrical urgency, while more sustained passages expose the tension beneath the conflict. Rather than serving conventional supporting roles, both instruments carry the musical and dramatic action.
Written for advanced performers, the duet demands technical command, rhythmic precision, expressive range, and close ensemble coordination. The result is a compelling chamber work that brings operatic drama to the concert stage without words.
Score and Parts
Composed for cellist Diana Golden and bassist Anthony Morris, Courtney Carey’s Duet for Violoncello and Contrabbasso, Op. 13, transforms the confrontation scene from Act III of Oscar Wilde’s The Duchess of Padua into an intense dramatic exchange between two low-string instruments.
The cello and double bass emerge as distinct, equally matched characters, moving through passages of agitation, argument, pursuit, and uneasy reflection. Rapid gestures, sharp rhythmic exchanges, and striking contrasts of register create a sense of theatrical urgency, while more sustained passages expose the tension beneath the conflict. Rather than serving conventional supporting roles, both instruments carry the musical and dramatic action.
Written for advanced performers, the duet demands technical command, rhythmic precision, expressive range, and close ensemble coordination. The result is a compelling chamber work that brings operatic drama to the concert stage without words.
