...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
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
from Quatre Pièces Caractéristiques, Op. 5, No. 2
Caprice à la Boléro combines a driving rhythmic undercurrent with lyrical melodicism, and as a marimba duet allows the performers to have a turn at each. Despite the division of labor, the virtuosity of the…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Clara Schumann, Martin Blessinger
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
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
with CD Accompaniment
In Light of Three is a two-movement work that features a lyrical first movement and odd-meter, funk-derived second movement. Marimba used in first movement and vibraphone in second. High register in clarinet part requires advanced player…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
with Spoken Voice
The percussion lay down a groove for this work with solo voice that can also stand alone as a great ensemble work.Program NotesText by M.B. Hanrahan Invitation stands. Driven to a foreign land and dropped from the sky, through a hole in your…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
J.B. Smith, Hanrahan
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
The five movements are not programmatic in a literal sense but are suggestive of the tableaux and natural drama one might encounter in a mountain environment. Although the piece was written to be performed in its complete form without breaks between movements…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
J.B. Smith
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications