Hot Metal

Hot Metal is a musical homage to the racing community and the composer's father, who has been both a driver and a team owner. The piece is based around different moments that occur throughout a race and the thoughts that run through the driver’s head as these moments occur.

Program Notes

Hot Metal is my musical homage to the racing community and my father, who has been both a driver and a team owner. The piece is based around different moments that occur throughout a race and the thoughts that run through the driver’s head as these moments occur.

I. Green
We begin with the start of the race, which is signaled by a green flag.

II. Drafting
The second movement depicts the close interlay that occurs between the cars as they speed by one another.

III. Caution
This is the slowest movement of the piece and represents laps that are taken after a crash, which are also at a much slower pace. It is here that the driver begins to reflect on the events of the race and becomes anxious to start again.

IV. Nerves
This leads to the final movement, which depicts both the intensity of the race as well as the driver’s anxiety about what may happen in the race’s final moments.

- Ben Daniels

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 2009
Number of Players: 4
Duration: 13:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Type: Quartet
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Marimba 1 (4-octave or 4.5-octave if available)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave or 4.5-octave if available)
Marimba 3 (4.5-octave)
Marimba 4 (5-octave)