Back in medieval times, woodwind players carried bags full of recorders, shawms and anything else that they could get a tune out of(!) and the first doublers were born. Today, due to a combination of the ever-increasing popularity of musical theatre and an ever-decreasing budget for music, multi-instrumentation has become the norm.
Music colleges that have traditionally placed their focus on single instrument study have recently introduced multi-instrumental degrees and masters courses. Teaching posts are demanding ‘woodwind’ teachers as opposed to just Clarinet or Flute and interest continues to grow.
This collection of six duets presents players with opportunities to play in a variety of commercial styles, with realistically timed instrument changes. Each duet is designed to work as a standalone piece for the two woodwind players, but equally you may choose to add the piano accompaniment or backing track.
Alongside the included demos, you will find several “Play Along With Paul” options which allow you to perform on either part as my duet partner with the backing track.
Instrumentation
Top part (Reed 1) Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Lower part (Reed 2) Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet.
N.B. The third duet “Chance Dance” uses Piccolo on both parts but either or both can be replaced by Flutes.
Contents
1. Walk the Walk
2. Fake Blues News
3. The Chance Dance
4. Waltz Up Doc?
5. Out and About
6. Two Show Day
Listen to…
A short excerpt from
No.1 Walk the Walk (demo track)
Optional free backing tracks are available to download here:
Review
New woodwind doubling duets from Gene Kaplan and Paul Saunders
June 24, 2026 by Bret Pimentel
A couple of new books of duets for woodwind doublers hit my inbox recently. (I received complimentary copies without any promise of a review.) Gene Kaplan has published a second volume of his Duos for Doublers, following up the volume I reviewed previously. And Paul Saunders, whose other doubling publications I’ve reviewed, has written Six Duets for Woodwind Doublers.
As I noted in previous reviews, (solo) etudes for woodwind doublers have an issue: it’s too easy to take extra time during instrument changes, a luxury that doesn’t exist in musical theater or many other doubling scenarios. Kaplan’s two volumes solve this by pairing the player with another doubler. Saunders’s previous works provided piano accompaniment (including downloadable backing tracks). Either solution keeps the woodwind doubler accountable to another musician (at least a virtual one) to execute the quick changes without disrupting the tempo.
Saunders’s new publication expands on his previous offerings by introducing a duet format with piano or backing track. The backing tracks include versions with just accompaniment (piano plus a virtual rhythm section), or with accompaniment plus Saunders ably playing the first woodwind part, or with accompaniment plus the second part.
Kaplan’s solution of course requires a duet partner with skills on three instruments, but also provides some flexibility in rehearsal with tempos or repeating problem sections. With two volumes available, each with a dozen 2-3 page duets, this would be a great resource for a sight reading session with a friend or student. (This new volume has well-placed page turns.)
Saunders’s approach lends itself well to solo practice, and since you can play either part with Saunders covering the other, the six duets amount to twelve parts to work on. The included piano score also raises some possibilities for a polished public performance. (The introduction also indicates that the duets are composed to work without the accompaniment.)
The books are similar in instrumentation, for flute/clarinet/saxophone doublers, with the first part using alto saxophone and the second using tenor. Saunders’s book has one duet with optional piccolos. I’ve been clear that I think the flute/clarinet/saxophone doubling paradigm is outdated in the 21st century, and while the market for such things is admittedly probably small, I’d like to see more resources available that incorporate double reeds.
Both books publish the duets as separate parts, which is probably a closer match to the musical theater doubling experience, but I do prefer seeing both lines on the same page. With Saunders’s book, the additional piano score does show both parts, which could be helpful for perusal or rehearsal.
I’ve updated my Music for woodwind doublers page to include these new publications. Keep me posted if you are aware of additional ones.