A duet (Italian: duo or duetto) is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo section rather than performing simultaneously. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is a "piano duet" or "piano four hands". A piece for two pianists performing together on separate pianos is 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.
A musical ensemble with more than two solo instruments or voices is called a trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octet, etc.
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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.
In pop music
Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, duets have been common in the popular music of their respective eras. In addition to a standard vocal duet, some songs have been written to be heard as conversations; for example, "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Other songs are performed around a theme; for example, New York City in "Empire State of Mind". Occasionally, duets are an improvisation between artists; for example, "Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie. Bowie and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury reportedly composed the lyrics in a day by improvising together. Duets are also common in musical movies and musical theatre; "Fit as a Fiddle" for the 1952 movie Singin' in the Rain and its corresponding play of the same name.
Notable pop duets
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" – Ricardo Montalbán and Esther Williams, and with roles reversed, Red Skelton and Betty Garrett, 1948
"Dream a Little Dream of Me" – Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, 1950
"Chaplin and Keaton Violin and Piano Duet" – Limelight, 1952
"I Got You Babe" – Sonny & Cher, 1965
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, 1967
"Jackson" – Johnny Cash and June Carter, 1967
"Somethin' Stupid" – Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra, 1967
"Waters of March" – Elis Regina and Antonio Carlos Jobim, 1972
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – Elton John and Kiki Dee, 1976
"You're The One That I Want" – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, 1978
"Endless Love" – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, 1981
"Under Pressure" – Queen and David Bowie, 1981
"Up Where We Belong" – Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes, 1982
"Ebony and Ivory" – Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, 1982
"Islands in the Stream" – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, 1983
"Say Say Say" – Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson, 1983
Virtual duets
In addition to traditional duets performed live—either in front of an audience or recorded in a studio—a so-called virtual duet can be created by having a singer (or musician) perform over the top of a pre-existing recording. Such a duet is a form of overdubbing. A virtual duet is sometimes done when the singer (or musician) of the original recording is deceased; for example, a live performance by Paul McCartney on "I've Got a Feeling" with an isolated vocal recording of John Lennon from The Beatles' famous rooftop performance, or a recording of Judy Garland being dubbed over by her daughter Lorna Luft on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". It can also be done with an earlier version of oneself (such as Yusuf / Cat Stevens on "Father And Son"); incidentally, Ronan Keating did his own virtual duet with Yusuf on the same song. Virtual duets may also be done live via video link (such as Shaun Escoffery duetting with the late Eva Cassidy's videotaped performance of "Over the Rainbow" in honour of the late Sir Terry Wogan) or be constructed manually from two pre-existing recordings, generally where each singer/musician can have their own isolated audio channel in the form of a stem.
Entire albums of virtual duets have been created, including albums by Frank Sinatra (Duets and Duets II).