Bassoon,Instrumental Duet - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1095121 Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven. Arranged by Ray Thompson. Classical,Comedy. 5 pages. RayThompsonMusic #699179. Published by RayThompsonMusic (A0.1095121). Translated as (Duet with Two Obligato Eyeglasses) often k/a The Obligato Eyeglass Duo. Originally written for viola and cello, here it is arranged for a bassoon duet. This is arrangement of ONLY the minuetto and trio This duet for viola and cello from 1796-1797 is believed to have been written for Beethoven's longtime frind, Baron Nikolaus Zmeskall. The Baron was an accomplished cellist, and Beethoven had played the viola back in Bonn. Both men wore spectacles at times, which is believed to be the genesis of the curious name. Apparently Beethoven wrote Zmeskall a letter containing these lines: Dearest Baron Garbage-truck driver, I am obliged to you for the weakness of your eyes. Perhaps Zmeskall lent Beethven his eyeglasses. Who knows? One thing is certain: the piece exudes a sense of sheer playfulness, similar in spirit (if not style) to Mozart's Duo for Violin and Viola in B-Flat. Arranged here for bassoon duet. I have changed the octaves in some cases to suit the bassoon's range, and to avoid overlap. I have obviously removed the chords in the original viola part, which is now bsn 1, and somerimes given the lower note in the chord to bsn 2 to give a better balance. It suits the bassoon duet.
