"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." - Edmund Burke

One of the most enjoyable, fulfilling things I've ever done is be one half of a duet. I've had the opportunity to do both vocal and instrumental duets, one-timers and numbers that were repeated as part of a concert program in different venues. Each was a unique experience and each satisfying in a way I've never found paralleled elsewhere.

It begins with the proper pairing. If it's vocal the two singers need to blend well, neither overpowering the other.  They can both have perfectly fine voices, but not make a good duo. When they do blend it can almost feel like a single person singing. After hours spent in rehearsal working through all the elements critical to a good performance the moment comes. And if as a result of their practice they've come together well they will be incredibly attuned to each other, aware of the other's smallest inflection or variation, and adjusting on the fly. A duet is not just two people singing the same song at the same time. It's organic in a way I can't explain, dynamic and vital.

The same is true of instrumental duets; it all begins with the right pairing. It could be two string instruments, or two woodwinds, but some of the most beautiful duets combine instruments you wouldn't expect to work well together. I was part of a handbell & cello duet that, in my opinion, made for wonderful music. The higher pitched, percussive, and relatively short-lived sound of the handbell worked perfectly with the mellow, legato sound of the cello.

That was a duet we did repeatedly in various settings, and each performance was unique. Sometimes it went smoothly, both of us in touch with the other and hitting every note spot on. But it wasn't uncommon for one of us to have an off night. For no apparent reason - we never knew it was coming - one of us would miss a note, or flub a phrase, or even...heaven forbid...get momentarily lost. But when that happened the other found a way to carry it through, giving the other time to regroup and get back on track. I suspect most often the audience never knew.

When I'm working on the truck I typically have Pandora playing, and often on my classical opera channel. Mostly arias. But my favorite is the rare duet. Yes, the music is beautiful, but two professionals coming together to sing that music perfectly is unparalleled.

I hope you get to be part of a duet, an organic pairing of two perhaps disparate individuals or instruments that makes beautiful music in a way that can't be described, only experienced.

And what made me think of that dynamic...
maybe you should go back up and reread this...
was reflecting during her absence this week on our marriage.