Duration: 9'15"
Instrumentation: Solo Marimba and two percussion (Perc. 1: 16" susp. cym., hi-hat, finger cymbals, bonogs, low tom, bass drum w/ kick pedal. Perc. 2: splash cym., shaker, temple blocks, rain stick)
Notes:
Sky Dancer is the culmination of what began as a "riff" that felt and sounded Marimba-esque. I decided to use the riff to compose a piece that would not only express the desired contours, harmony, and melody, but also feel natural on the marimba. Although there are some complex sections that stray a bit from the aim of naturalness, the piece is in general idiomatic. After a successful solo marimba version of this piece and an offer of performances by renowned percussionist Amy Putnam, I added two non-pitched percussion parts into the mix, intensifying the feelings of each section.
The first section is made up of themes derived from the opening motif, all possessing a rhythmic, bouncing quality and energetic spurts of mixed meter. As the transition is made to the weighty middle section, more dissonance creeps into the music, preparing for the developmental chaos that is to ensue. Following a slow, chorale-like section ending on a roaring fortississimo chord, the first section returns, with slight changes, and ends with a small coda.
This piece may be performed with one player (solo marimba), two players (solo marimba and Percussion 1), or three players.
Listen to excerpt
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