Conversation
in Orange & Brown

Duet for Tuba & Horn
or Tuba & Euphonium or Two Horns
or Cello & Double Bass

Duration: ca. 8 minutes

Florian Dzierla: Conversation in Orange & Brown Duet for Two Horns

David Keller & Douglas Johnson: Conversation in Orange & Brown Duet for Cello & Double Bass

Joseph Alvarez & Katie Taylor: Conversation in Orange & Brown Duet for Tuba & Horn in C

Demo recording: Conversation in Orange & Brown Original Tuba & Horn Duet in D

Performance History · Purchase Sheet Music

This is an interesting work, exploring a range of colors and textures. The bass part, on the whole, uses the orchestral range of the instrument and would offer few technical problems for the good intermediate bassist. The double bass is used well, as both soloist, accompanist and equal partner, and the contrast of arco and pizzicato create new and interesting textures.
The contrasting musical ideas are effective, and the use of solos, question and answer, and unified rhythms help to maintain interest for players and audiences alike. The cello and double bass duo is a popular ensemble with bassists and this piece would fit easily into any recital and for any audience. The changing tonalities keep the piece alive and alert.
Conversation in Orange & Brown doesn't outstay its welcome and would be accessible to many musicians. The opening theme (bars 1-13) could be played successfully one octave higher, putting it into a very effective solo register, and is included as an ossia in that octave for the advanced bassist.
          — Comments of the judges of the 2010 Recital Music Double Bass Composition Competition

The duet for tuba & horn was premiered March 22, 2008, by Joseph Alvarez, tuba, and Katie Taylor, horn, at the Music Recital Hall of the University of South Florida, Tampa.

The original version is in the key of D for tuba & horn. An alternate version in the key of C is available, as well as adaptations for tuba & euphonium, for two horns, and for cello & double bass. Florian Dzierla made the above recording of the duet for two horns in his home studio.

David Keller, cello, and Douglas Johnson, double bass, recorded the arrangement for cello and double bass on Access Contemporary Music's Weekly Reading series in March 2011.

Purchase Sheet Music

Sheet music for Conversation in Orange & Brown for tuba & horn is available from Art of Sound Music.

Sheet music for Conversation in Orange & Brown for two horns is available from Art of Sound Music.

Sheet music for Conversation in Orange & Brown for cello & double bass is available from J.W.Pepper and Sheet Music Plus.

Sheet music for Conversation in Orange & Brown for euphonium & tuba is available from Sheet Music Plus.

Performance History - Tuba & Horn duet

Premiered March 22, 2008, by Joseph Alvarez, tuba, and Katie Taylor, horn, Tampa, Florida.

Performance History - Duet for Two Horns

Premiered May 23, 2014, by Benjamin Mulholland and Kristina Gannon at the German Society of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia.