...all things hastened back to Unity uses Greek philosopher Xenophanes' quote as a basis for its structure and motivic development. From an eight measure chord progression and a single arpeggiation pattern come all melodic and rhythmic material for the work.…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
Berserker is an aggressive and heavy work written for advanced solo marimba and accompanied by a supporting ensemble of 5 percussionists. While not directly programmatic, the atmosphere, title, and challenge to the soloist are reflective of Japanese artist…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Caleb Pickering
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
The piece opens freely with a quick 32nd note pattern to be repeated ad lib with written dead strokes to be interspersed throughout. Out of this section comes a more structured multi-meter section (4/4, 7/4, 5/4, 6/4) before settling in 10/8. Independent…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
Heavily influenced by the Charles Bukowksi poem "We Must," Bright Light-Dark Shadows explores the ideas of light and dark through inventive textures and moods.Program NotesComposed in the spring of 2016, Bright Light-Dark Shadows is heavily influenced by the…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Caleb Pickering
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
After a free, improvisatory opening, Choice moves into a rhythmically exciting dance-like section in 6/8. The performer is required to play polyrhythms between the hands as if the music can’t decide whether it is in 6/8 or 2/4. It then dies down into a final…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
The title refers to the unstoppable Dreadnought model battleship that dominated naval combat in the early 20th century by the Royal Navy. While not directly programmatic, the work depicts various imagery of a Dreadnought ship moving through the Pacific Ocean…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Caleb Pickering
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
Drift is a virtuosic tour-de-force for 2-mallet unaccompanied marimba.
Grade Level: 5 Copyright: 2016 Number of Players: 1 Duration: 6:20 Publisher: C. Alan Publications Category: Solo Works
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Instrumentation
Marimba (5-octave…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
Caleb Pickering
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
with CD Accompaniment
This atmospherically driven work for marimba/vibraphone soloist and electronic accompaniment features synthetic bass-infused textures throughout while the soloist plays arpeggiated figures with melody notes that soar above the texture.…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
P. Winsor, J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
After a lyrical opening exploring independent rolls, the piece quickly moves into a perpetual motion section of running sixteenth notes. Traveling through countless meter changes, the driving accents and rhythms end up owning the performer and the audience…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
The first four etudes explore different sticking combinations (1423, 243, 321, and so on) in a musically and compositionally sound setting. Smith provides sticking indications for these four pieces. The fifth and final etude combines the techniques in the…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications