Kalliwoda: 6 duets for 2 violins, arranged for 2 violas

I. W. Kalliwoda, the Bohemian composer and violinist born in Prague in 1801, made his debut as a violinist at the age of 14. After leaving Prague in 1821 he gave concerts in various European cities, e.g. in Donaueschingen, where Prince Karl Egon II. offered the position of court conductor, which he held until 1866. He composed, directed the court opera, performed as a soloist and taught the prince's children. For four decades he organized a rich musical life at the court of the Fürstenbergs. Not only numerous own compositions with different instruments were performed, but also works by other composers. Among others, he invited Clara and Robert Schumann as well as Franz Liszt to Donaueschingen.

In 1866 Kalliwoda retired and moved to Karlsruhe, where he died in the same year as a result of a heart attack.

Kalliwoda left 450 compositions - including 7 symphonies, operas, songs and chamber music for strings. His numerous duets for string instruments are currently the most widespread.

The 6 duets for 2 violins (AER 162) that are presented here are technically relatively simple and can be mastered without having to change to higher registers; nonetheless, for the most part it is very appealing music that loses none of its appeal in the version for 2 violas.

The technical difficulty (1-10) is between 2 and 3

Other casts

AER-163