R$30
Tourdion – Tin Whistle Duet Study Edition
Composer credit: Anonymous
First publication: Paris, 1530
Publisher: Pierre Attaingnant (1494–1552)
Key / tonal center: B minor
Time signature: 3/4
Arrangement: Tin Whistle Duet — Tin Whistle 1 + Tin Whistle 2
Arranger / Edition: Maiko Thomé de Araujo
Period: Renaissance – 16th century
Region / Culture: France / French Renaissance
Type: Renaissance song / Tin Whistle duet arrangement
Special features: two independent Tin Whistle parts, fingering diagrams for both voices, note names, chord symbols, standard notation and reference MP3
Format: Digital download (PDF + MP3) — 2 files (3.5MB)
Musical material: 2 useful pages of sheet music
“Tourdion” is one of the best-known melodies associated with the French Renaissance.
The piece is anonymous and was published in Paris in 1530 by Pierre Attaingnant, one of the most important French music printers of the early 16th century. Attaingnant is therefore identified as the publisher of the historical source rather than its composer.
Historically, the tourdion was a lively dance in triple meter, and the familiar melody also became associated with the French song “Quand je bois du vin clairet.”
Its clear rhythmic profile, short melodic phrases and folk-like character make it particularly effective for recorders, whistles and other small acoustic ensembles.
This edition by Maiko Thomé de Araujo presents Tourdion in B minor for two Tin Whistles.
Unlike a simple melody arrangement, this is a genuine duet with two independent musical lines. Tin Whistle 1 carries the principal melodic material while Tin Whistle 2 provides a complementary lower voice, creating a fuller two-part texture.
Both parts receive the same didactic treatment.
Throughout the two-page score, players will find:
This allows both musicians to connect:
written note → note name → fingering → sound
directly from the score.
The B minor setting lies naturally within the pitch environment familiar to players of the standard D Tin Whistle, making it a practical key for whistle ensemble playing.
The arrangement also contains modal harmonic colors that suit the historical and folk-like character of the melody while keeping B minor as the clearest tonal identification for the edition.
The resulting sonority is slightly darker than some of the other Tourdion editions in the catalog and works particularly well with the clear timbre of two whistles.
Chord symbols are included throughout the duet, giving the edition additional flexibility.
They can support accompaniment with:
This means the material can be performed as a simple whistle duet or expanded into a richer folk or Renaissance-inspired arrangement.
Keep the 3/4 pulse light and buoyant, with both players matching articulation and phrase endings closely. The lower whistle line should remain clearly audible rather than becoming only background support. Once the notes are secure, try gradually relying less on the fingering diagrams so the edition also helps develop fluent standard-notation reading.
Especially suitable for Tin Whistle duos, students and teachers, Celtic/folk players exploring Renaissance repertoire, school or ensemble study and medieval/Renaissance-themed performances. The two fully annotated parts also make it particularly useful for developing ensemble timing, fingering fluency, note reading, intonation and independent-part playing.