이중주(二重奏, Duo, Duet)

이중주(二重奏, Duo, Duet)는 2개의 악기만으로 구성된 중주이다. 독주에 적합한 멜로디 악기와 피아노 또는 쳄발로와 편성하거나, 2개의 멜로디 악기의 편성이 보통이다. 바이올린과 피아노, 첼로와 피아노 등은 자주 볼 수 있으며, 또 모차르트의 작품에 있듯이 바이올린과 비올라의 이중주 같은 것도 있다. 피아노와 쳄발로를 쓰지 않는 이중주에서는 이 바이올린과 비올라처럼 음질이 비슷하고 음역이 다른 2가지의 악기를 편성하는 경우가 많다. 그렇지 않으면 종합적인 울림이 빈약해지고 음의 범위도 좁아지고 음악의 안정감이 적어지기 때문이다. 보통 고전파 이후의 바이올린 소나타와 첼로 소나타 등은 물론 이중주이다. 소나타 외의 곡에서 이중주인지 독주인지는 피아노가 함께 연주되는 멜로디 악기와 대등한 입장에 있는지 또는 반주의 입장에 있는지에 따라 정해진다.

 

 

The Duet (1628), by

 

Hendrick ter Brugghen

 

A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece. It is often used to describe a composition involving two singers. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo section rather than performing simultaneously. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as "piano duet" or "piano four hands".^[1] A piece for two pianists performing together on separate pianos is referred to as a "piano duo".

 

"Duet" is also used as a verb for the act of performing a musical duet, or colloquially as a noun to refer to the performers of a duet. The word is also occasionally used in reference to non-musical activities performed together by two people.

 

History

When Mozart was young, he and his sister Marianne played a duet of his composition at a London concert in 1765. The four-hand, described as a duet, was in many of his compositions which included five sonatas; a set of variations, two performers and one instrument, and a sonata for two pianos. The first published sonata or duet was in 1777.

In Renaissance music, a duet specifically intended as a teaching tool, to be performed by teacher and student, was called a bicinium (see Étude).

In opera

Duets have always been a part of the structure of operas. Early 16th-century operas such as L'Orfeo and L'incoronazione di Poppea involve duets throughout the performance. In 17th-century Italy duets were often used in comic scenes within serious operas. In Baroque France the duet was popular in tragedies, such as songs of vengeance and confrontation. The love duet was characterized by singing in close harmonies of 3rds and 6ths, symbolizing unity after conflict.^[3]

Famous operatic duets

• La clemenza di Tito by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• La Cenerentola by Gioachino Rossini
• The Puritans of Vincenzo Bellini
• Don Pasquale by Gaetano Donizetti
• La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi
• Aida of Giuseppe Verdi
• Mefistofele of Arrigo Boito
• Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini
• Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
• L'amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni