I composed a very short and simple violin duet this past Sunday. I wrote it for the YouTuber violinists known as TwoSetViolin. They are training to be violin pros, but their videos are hilarious and accessible to everyone, so if you haven’t heard of them, check them out!

They had posted a submission form for composers to submit their short violin duets for possible use in some upcoming video. I only discovered the request shortly before the deadline, so my duet was composed in about an hour, hence it’s very simple nature. (Granted, most of my music is pretty simple anyway, even when I have plenty of time.)

The violinists have almost 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube, so I’m sure they got a ton of submissions and I won’t be surprised if my humble attempt does not make the cut or goes unnoticed. Still, it was a fun little exercise!

Here’s the piece:

And here’s a PDF of the score.


4 Comments

Scott · June 30, 2020 at 9:45 PM

Nice song. I’ll add it to the collection I have of your songs (which is probably a lot smaller than your catalogue now).

My niece started violin lessons a couple years ago and found (and turned me on to) TwoSet. They are pretty funny, but sometimes I wish they’d make some more serious videos, since they are really talented. I’ve been thinking of starting a music performance youtube of my own (to chart my progress as I rebuild my destroyed embouchure), but I have to prepare for it. I refuse to play etude books, so I need actual sheet music, and I want sheet music that I would want to play and people might want to hear (and of course, for the trumpet, which is harder to find than you’d think outside of jazz music…), so I have to arrange it myself. But I’m woefully slow at arranging music (especially by ear) and don’t dedicate the time I should to it, so I need to build a bit of a sheet music library before anything will materialize…if it ever will.

    S P Hannifin · July 1, 2020 at 6:58 PM

    Thanks! Actually you probably do have most of my stuff since almost everything’s online, either on this site or bandcamp.

    Yeah, they really could make more serious videos… although someone like me who doesn’t play an instrument probably wouldn’t get as much out of it.

    Starting a youtube channel of your own is definitely worth a try; it’s difficult to get any views these days, but it may still help track progress. It would also be neat if you made tutorials for beginners because I have a trumpet that I have no idea how to play.

Scott · July 1, 2020 at 7:40 PM

Re: TwoSet — I really just thought they should add some serious “recital” videos, not necessarily start talking about the technical aspects of music. I just want to hear them play songs, instead of using their instruments to play charades every video.

Re: Youtube — I’ll think about tutorials once I get started and need content. But, generally speaking, I wouldn’t trust myself to do tutorial videos about the trumpet. I was an above average, but middling trumpet player in my time. I really enjoyed playing, but I am the first to admit that there are many other people better suited to show people how to play correctly. For example, it took me an especially long time to teach myself (since no one really tried to explain — they just said “you need to do it”) how to “tongue” notes. It was almost 4 years into playing when I finally figured it out, and I still can’t double or triple tongue (though I understand the basic concept). However, in my defense, once I figured it out, I became able to single tongue faster than anyone else in the band could double tongue (as far as I know, my “Circle of Fourths” in 23 seconds is still the school record by 5 full seconds). But I am the first to criticize myself and would feel inadequate presuming to teach someone else how to play. Although, on the other hand, the overarching element of a successful youtuber is having absolutely no self-consciousness despite being at best mediocre at whatever they hope to do… so what do I have to lose, other than my integrity?

    S P Hannifin · July 1, 2020 at 8:44 PM

    Re TwoSet: Ah, yes, that would be nice. There are a few videos out there of them playing classical music seriously, but I guess they’re on other channels.

    Re Youtube: True, but from the perspective of a complete beginner, you still know more… plus, if you post your progress on YouTube, you may get questions from beginners anyway (though, like I said, it’s hard to get views nowadays… unless you post clickbait thumbnails with titles and some kind of emotional reaction face… like all of TwoSet’s thumbnails).

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