Marimba

A beautiful transcription of the ever popular second movement of Beethoven’s piano sonata. Complete with varied roll notation and stickings, Legendre’s work makes this piece easily accessible to the accomplished four-mallet marimbist. A 5.0 octave instrument and versatile technique are required.

Bahr’s highly idiomatic writing simultaneously exploits both the marimba’s articulate and resonant capabilities. The player needs a 5.0 octave instrument and strong technique. (Intermediate to Advanced)

Composed in 1950, Fissinger’s “Suite” is the first polyphonic work for unaccompanied marimba, combining both traditional tertian and quartal/quintal harmonies to evoke introspection, anticipation, panic, and serenity.

This energetic piece gives marimbists the opportunity to show off their octaves, as they permeate the wild and sometimes “raucous” texture. There are also plenty of opportunities to exercise musical expression, especially during the chorale.

This single-movement programmatic work for solo marimba is a depiction of “the daily activities in the precarious life of the kudu”, a type of antelope which dwells on the plains of Africa. From serene rubatos to panicked obligatos and running ostinatos, this piece promises adventure.