...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
This collection of three solos for marimba explores three distinctive moods and characters. They may be performed as a set or as individual solos.Program NotesPrelude: Aggressively Happy was written to serve as a “high octane,” aggressive opener to concerts.…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Robert Clayson
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
Cloudburst is a percussion ensemble with flexible instrumentation that is playable with as few as 4 players or as many as 12. It portrays images of soaring over skylines with dazzling sunlight and flurries of clouds spread out across the bright blue sky.…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Robert Clayson
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
Robert Clayson's new piece Dance of the Music Box Figurines is scored for 4.3-octave marimba solo and is a musical portrayal of a ballerina dancing gracefully to music played by an antique music box. This piece gives the performer many opportunities to…
Style:
Solo Works
Composer:
Robert Clayson
Publisher:
C. Alan Publications
Dissonant Oscillations is a percussion quartet centered around dissonant intervals moving throughout the ensemble. Each player has a portion of the piece where they play a mallet instrument and a drum, so there is something for every percussionist to enjoy.…
Style:
Percussion
Composer:
Robert Clayson
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