Ones Who Helped to Set the Sun, The

This is a solo concert piece composed in the virtuoso tradition. The work is composed in a tonal and improvisatory manner. Many intricate techniques are employed by the soloist, including the use of 6 mallets in the opening section. The work calls for immense technical and music prowess and demands great endurance from the soloist. This results in a grand show piece to be enjoyed by all.

Program Notes

The Ones Who Helped to Set the Sun is a solo marimba work that was composed in the summer of 2005 for marimbist Brenton Dunnington. It is a solo concert piece composed in the virtuoso tradition. The concert piece is the first in a set of six rhapsodies for solo marimba.

The work is composed in a tonal and improvisatory manner. Many intricate techniques are employed by the soloist, including the use of 6 mallets in the opening section. The work calls for immense technical and music prowess and demands great endurance from the soloist. This results in a grand show piece to be enjoyed by all.

Titled The Ones Who Helped to Set the Sun, it is written in the old-fashioned style of bravura fantasy, where a slow section - which commonly contains nothing of the theme that is to come - is followed by a cadenza. A theme and variations follows with a pseudo-orchestral ritornelli and concludes with a grand coda.

The Ones Who Helped to Set the Sun is dedicated to Paul Watkins and all who helped through his final days.

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 2009
Number of Players: 1
Duration: 8:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Solo Works

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Instrumentation

Solo Marimba (5-octave)