Results 1 to 15 of 15

Thread: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daughter

  1. #1
    Registered User Mark Marino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    262

    Default Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daughter

    My daugher is 11, and although not advanced, just completed 'Fur Elise' on piano, if that helps gage her capability. I'm looking for suggestions on a fairly easy piano/mando duet to try with her. I don't want to risk anything too involved- hopefully something easy that she won't burn months learning. (I'm the old #### playing mandolin, she's playing piano).

    Any good suggestions that she might not be bored to tears with? I think it would be great to be able to do something like this. Thanks in advance!
    "If you hit a wrong note, then make it right by what you play afterwards." - Joe Pass

  2. #2
    Moderator JEStanek's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Pottstown, Pennsylvania, United States
    Posts
    14,284
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    What about a simple version of the Ode to Joy? If you have access to a church hymnal there is plenty of music there. The piano can be used and the mandolin can play along with either of the lines on the Treble Clef staff. The beauty of that, is many of the songs you two may already know and be able to hear the music in your head already (makes reading music easier for me, at least).

    What is the target audience/venue for this?

    Another alternative is to use the Beginner songs at Mandozine.com with TablEdit and print the notation. You can also preview a midi version in TablEdit so you can hear it too.

    Jamie
    There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. Logan Pearsall Smith, 1865 - 1946

    + Give Blood, Save a Life +

  3. #3
    Registered User Nelson Peddycoart's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Huntsville, Alabama
    Posts
    369

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    If she is a fan of The Wizard of Oz, I think Somewhere Over The Rainbow probably can be found in an easy piano version or fakebook.
    Nelson
    Madison, Alabama
    --------------------
    2011 Duff F5
    1928 Gibson A

  4. #4
    Registered User Mark Marino's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Northern Michigan
    Posts
    262

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    Quote Originally Posted by Nelson Peddycoart View Post
    If she is a fan of The Wizard of Oz, I think Somewhere Over The Rainbow probably can be found in an easy piano version or fakebook.
    Thanks- she already knows that, and doesn't see the value in having me 'hog the melody' on a song that she sees herself capable of playing. I know that during the 20's and teens, there were a lot of mandolin/piano duets released, but there are probably very few folks that play these actively today. Was hoping to run across either that sort of thing, or a piano/flute duet (or similar) where the two parts are distinct and need to be played together.
    "If you hit a wrong note, then make it right by what you play afterwards." - Joe Pass

  5. #5
    Registered User abuteague's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Western Mass
    Posts
    316

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    This is what I would pursue:
    http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=Greenblatt
    Deborah Greenblatt duets are available in a variety of genres. I have the Irish fiddle tunes and O'Carolan tunes for two mandolins, but they are not limited to Irish music. Basically you have two treble clefs. Very enjoyable. Fun to play. Maybe she can do chords with her left hand.

    Best of luck.

  6. #6
    Registered User Jim MacDaniel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Rotten City
    Posts
    3,915

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    How about either of Beethoven's Sonatinas for mandolin and piano? (I've seen the sheet music for both somewhere on-line before, but for a taste, check out tracks 2 & 3 here)...
    Last edited by Jim MacDaniel; Apr-06-2010 at 5:37pm.
    "The problem with quotes on the internet, is everybody has one, and most of them are wrong."
    ~ Mark Twain


    Mandolin shirts, hats, case stickers, & more at my Zazzle storefront

  7. #7
    Registered User Scott Holt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Eugene, OR
    Posts
    135

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    I would also recommend Ode to Joy, also I would recommend Ashoken Farewell. Have fun.

  8. #8
    Registered User harper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    271

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    Does your daughter like Scottish airs or dance tunes? I have several I have arranged for harp and treble instruments, such as Highland Boat song and Arran Boat song. They would work on piano. If you would like to try one, please let me know and I will send a version with the harp fingerings removed.
    Harper (My other mandolin is a harp)

  9. #9
    Registered User Greg Stec's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Lutherville, Maryland
    Posts
    441

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    How 'bout "Lara's Theme' from the film 'Dr. Zhivago,' or perhaps the 'Godfather Theme?'
    Really, find a cheap piano fake book and have at it.

  10. #10
    working musician Jim Bevan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Limache, Chile
    Posts
    809

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    If she can play Fur Elise (the whole thing), then she can handle Mozart's sonatas for violin and piano. Even played somewhat slower, the fast movements still groove.

    Mozart is easier than Beethoven, note-wise, but can be more challenging to play well because of the simplicity of the writing. "Less is More" also means you can't fake it as easily.
    It's easy to read, easy to understand, easy to learn, difficult to play perfectly, and lots of fun in between.
    And, as said, it grooves.

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Milwaukee, Wisconsin
    Posts
    2,354

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    I second Beethoven's Sonatinas for Mandolin & Piano.

  12. #12

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    Did you ever find good sheet music for the mandolin and piano? I am looking as well. My wife is starting piano and we thought duets would be a nice way to fill the time during the quarantine. Would love to hear what you found.
    Thanks
    Sandy

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Marino View Post
    My daugher is 11, and although not advanced, just completed 'Fur Elise' on piano, if that helps gage her capability. I'm looking for suggestions on a fairly easy piano/mando duet to try with her. I don't want to risk anything too involved- hopefully something easy that she won't burn months learning. (I'm the old #### playing mandolin, she's playing piano).

    Any good suggestions that she might not be bored to tears with? I think it would be great to be able to do something like this. Thanks in advance!

  13. #13
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    Mark last posted in spring of this year. Hopefully he will see your post. However his daughter would be about 21 now. Then again we can certainly revive this thread.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  14. #14
    Pataphysician Joe Bartl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Adamstown, MD
    Posts
    460

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    One place to start and at least get a sense of the variety to be found in the mandolin/piano rep, chiefly from the 1890-1920 era, is the Library of Congress. If you go to https://catalog.loc.gov/ and search ( score "mandolin and piano music" ), you should retrieve about 450 hits. The ongoing issue with LC, of course, is that this is a bibliographic database, not a cache of digitized music. Nevertheless, looking through the titles and composers may give you ideas about what to search for in, say, IMSLP.

    Joe

  15. #15
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Need suggestions on piano mandolin duet to work on with daugh

    Imslp.org is a very large and extensive repository of all sorts of sheet music. There are some mandolin pieces but also look at violin or flute and piano.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •