Hornaningo

Based around an Afro-Cuban rhythm called the Naningo, Hornaningo is in a 6/8 groove, mostly present in the marimba part. The piece begins with the introduction of the groove and base melodic and harmonic material in the marimba, colored by the horn. The main melody actually enters about halfway through the piece, with low chords in the marimba and a soaringly poignant melody in the horn part. The piece’s dark nature is surprising, but it ends triumphantly with an amalgamation of the motives before it.

Program Notes

Hornaningo was written for a dear friend’s senior horn recital. I wanted to do something a little different, so I based the piece around an Afro-Cuban rhythm called the Naningo (which at the time was perpetually playing in my head). It is a 6/8 groove, mostly present in the marimba part. The piece begins with the introduction of the groove and base melodic and harmonic material in the marimba, colored by the horn. The main melody actually enters about halfway through the piece, with low chords in the marimba and a soaringly poignant melody in the horn part. From there, a sparse interlude leads to the final statement of the melody in the home key of D minor. The piece’s dark nature is surprising, but it ends triumphantly with an amalgamation of the motives before it.

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 2010
Number of Players: 3
Duration: 4:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Type: Trio
Category: Percussion; Brass

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Instrumentation

Horn in F
Marimba (5-octave)
Percussion (Congas, Bongos, Temple Blocks, Hi-Hat)