FourHanded

Fourhanded is an adjective describing something performed or created by four hands, typically two people working together. In music, the term is most often associated with piano four-hands, a standard format in which two pianists share a single keyboard to perform a piece. There is also repertoire for two pianos played by four hands, where two players sit at each instrument. In piano four-hands pieces, one player usually takes the upper part (primo) and the other the lower part (secondo), with close coordination required to align rhythm, tonal balance, and phrasing.

The four-handed form has a long history in Western classical music. It emerged in the late 18th century and became a popular means of chamber collaboration for students, families, and professional ensembles alike. The repertoire spans educational pieces designed to teach technique and ensemble playing, as well as substantial works for concert performance. Composers from the Classical and Romantic periods contributed to the canons of four-hand music, and the format continues to be explored by modern composers.

Beyond its musical uses, the term fourhanded can appear in other collaborative contexts where four hands are involved in a performance or activity, though this usage is far less common. In contemporary English, fourhanded is often written with a hyphen as four-handed, but it may also appear without a hyphen in some sources.