Possible Clues:

• Male or female start for half a dozen, partly
• Son, given scope, rejects new composition
• Enough parts there for male or female to begin it
• As you were about the former half-dozen parts of it
• Parts of half a dozen there for male or female
• A matter of six from a start of only two kinds
• May its parts be male or female to start with?
• Group of six instruments or voices
• Numerous parts - both male and female
• That's two more than 24 across for the male and female at first