The challenges of this quartet (rhythmical,
melodic, and harmonic) should appeal to advanced mallet
players and audiences alike. - John
Baldwin Printed by permission of the Percussive Arts Society, inc.
J.S.
Bach is quite possibly the greatest composer in the history of
music. His chorales are studied by first-year music majors as a
model for four-part writing.His works have been frequently
transcribed and performed by percussionists looking to extend the
history of our literature. Conversely,
minimalism only recently became formalized in the mid-1900s but immediately had a willing
foothold in the field of percussion. Its rhythmically driven melodic
and harmonic fragments can be sustained without break on percussion
instruments, and the syncopated figures and complex time signatures
are ideal for study and performance by percussionists. Small Box, quite simply, is a combination of these two
historically and musically significant elements into a short, but
challenging marimba quartet. Every harmonic and melodic element was
derived from the chorale Jesu, wahres Brot des Lebens from
Bach's BWV 180 - Schmuke dich, o liebe Seele, including the
initial statement of the chorale in its original form.
This work is
rhythmically demanding, melodically and harmonically intriguing, and
extremely interesting and enjoyable for any audience.
click on the
cover page to view an excerpt of the piece
