The Contributions of Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright to Piano Duet Performance and Literature

Abstract

Dallas Weekley (b. 1933) and Nancy Arganbright (b. 1936) are a husband and wife team who has dedicated their careers to the performance and study of the four-hand piano duet. Following their 1964 Carnegie Hall debut they performed up to 50 engagements annually throughout the country and abroad, including such important venues as Brahms Hall in Vienna, Wigmore Hall in London, and the Kennedy Center. In addition to their performing they also contributed over 50 volumes to the canon of duet literature, including both new scholarly editions of literature by standard composers and original compositions with a pedagogical focus. This document examines their successes in the context of their lives, work, and unprecedented commitment to the piano duet that led to their being considered responsible for a renaissance of the genre in the late 20th century.

Weekley and Arganbright promoted the performance duet literature of standard composers that was largely unavailable and unknown in the middle of the 20th century. They employed several unique performance practice decisions in their recitals, including performing from memory, primo control of the sustaining pedal, and only performing standard literature originally composed for piano duet.

In 1980 they released the first of many publications that incorporated the adaptations they made in their personal scores, including note redistributions, choreography indications for solving the logistical difficulties of close physical interaction between the inner hands of the pianists, and printing the music in score form. In addition to their performing editions of standard literature, Weekley and Arganbright also composed educational duets with Kjos Publishing Company, including the Kjos Piano Duet Repertoire Series, an 11-level series of graded duets that corresponds to the graded series of solo literature.

Weekley and Arganbright are also the co-authors of two unique books. Schubert's Music for Piano Four-Hands, published in 1990, is amended from Weekley's doctoral dissertation from Indiana University, examining Schubert's duet compositions from within the context of his life and entire output. The Piano Duet: A Learning Guide is a guide for duet performers and documents many of the logistical recommendations Weekley and Arganbright have gleaned from their years of performance.

Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright have contributed substantially to piano duet literature in the late 20th century through their performing and publications. This document examines their life and works as they pertain to their success in these areas through an examination of published materials and interviews with Dallas Weekley, Nancy Arganbright, and their former students and colleagues.