Music Sound

The duet, by Hendrik ter Brugghen

A duet is a musical composition or piece for two performers, most often used for a vocal or piano duet. For other instruments, the word duo is often used. Two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as piano duet or piano four hands. Two pianists performing together on separate pianos is referred to as piano duo.

The word duet is generally used in any of the following ways:

• a pair of musicians playing the same musical instrument,
• with the exception of pianists, a pair of musicians playing different instruments,
• the performance of a song by two people,
• a piece of music that can be performed by two people,
• as a general term for any activity done by two people.

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

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