Composition for Marimba, Six Hands, includes one score.
Want it now? Click here to purchase a digital copy of this product.
Review from Percussive Notes (2021):
Composition for Marimba, Six Hands
Charles Lipp
“Composition for Marimba, Six Hands” is a bit of a mystery. The piece is written for three players on one instrument—complete with choreography—but the players often play on the same note. Playing the piece as written would be extremely difficult, and likely would be more possible to perform on three separate instruments.
The parts each use two mallets, but often involve large register jumps, so the technique calls for dexterity in moving around the keyboard. The three parts together form complex polyrhythms, and the players need to have excellent rhythmic precision and ensemble playing skills. The score is hand written and does not include individual parts. It is likely intended that the three players read off of a single score.
There are no performance notes included with the score, but the notation calls for extended techniques like dead strokes, something called “notched sticks,” and the addition of castanets and maracas. There are numerous dynamics, tempo changes, and time signature changes.
“Composition for Marimba, Six Hands” would be an interesting project for a graduate percussion trio or professional group. If played on a single instrument the players frequently change positions, and even without that choreography the ensemble playing skills involved are formidable. The total playing time is just under ten minutes, and it would be an exciting adventure for an audience, both aurally and visually.
—Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Demo:
