Vocal duet in pop and jazz music: some aspects of interpretative activity

Abstract

In this article, some aspects related to the interpretive activity of vocal duets in pop and jazz music are examined. The vocal duet occupies an intermediate position between solo and ensemble performance: on the one hand, it is a collective consisting of two participants, and on the other – an association of soloists, each of whom is, as a rule, an artistic personality pursuing a career standalone stage. The authors emphasize some basic aspects of the vocal duet activity, such as the mutual coordination of the parties, the psychological compatibility of the partners, their interaction in the process of stage performance, the manifestation of artistry, without which there is no duet’s artistic dialogue. A special attention is paid to the formation of the repertoire, which in pop and jazz music has a special specificity, compared to academic music. The nominated aspects are of major importance both for singers and for teachers working with vocal duets in music education institutions. Some theoretical theses are confirmed by musical examples, taken from the repertoires of duets in the country and abroad, as well as from edited pieces.