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Geampara lui Petrescu by Czech composer Petr Pavlinec was originally written for a Taiwanese bamboo marimba called the zhuqin accompanied by two cimbalom players. Here in Erin Duke’s arrangement, which is reminiscent of classic xylophone rags, the zhuqin is replaced with a western xylophone and is accompanied by marimbas instead of cimbaloms. The music itself is very fast and incessant, with a contagious 7/8 feel throughout and features traditional Romanian scales.
Clocking in as just over two minutes, Geampara would be a flashy “encore” piece, or as an exciting concert piece to feature the xylophonist and requiring minimal stage setup.
This arrangement is playable with all 3 marimba parts sharing one 5-octave (low C) marimba. If available, two instruments can be used with Marimba players 1 & 3 sharing a 5-octave (low C) instrument and Marimba 2 using a 4.3-octave (low A).
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
• Xylophone
• 1 marimba—(low C, shared by 3 players)
OR
• Xylophone
• 2 marimbas—(1) low A, (1) low C
Based on the spirited Romanian dance known as the Geampara, “Geampara lei Petrescu” is an arrangement for solo xylophone with marimba accompaniment. The piece explores classic styles of Romanian cimbalom playing, as well as the most popular traditional Balkan and Turkish rhythmic patterns. While the work was originally intended for cimbalom, it was quickly adapted for the Taiwanese bamboo marimba known as zhuqin and cimbalom accompaniment, which serves as the inspiration for this setting. Classified as medium-advanced by the publisher, it is an excellent piece for an advanced high-school percussionist and rhythmically confident players to support the soloist.
Program notes are historically informative, practical, and thorough, something I find very important when considering content. The composer provides two diagrams for stage setup depending on the total number of instruments. While it is possible to perform all three marimba parts on one 5-octave instrument, I would find this a bit cramped and suggest using two marimbas. Note that either option requires a 5-octave marimba, a drawback for programs without one. The material itself consists of only the score with an access code for digital download for individual parts.
“Geampara lui Petrescu” is full of idiomatic writing for our instruments. It is evident that the xylophone is the solo voice, as it is the most rhythmically intense and musically demanding part. Marimba 1 and 2 are slightly less challenging and contain a mixture of similar melodic lines and dance-like supportive gestures. Marimba 3 acts as the bass line and is very attainable for a high school player. The predominant time signature is 7/8, with a duple-duple-triple division, providing extensive opportunity for students to learn this meter. While four-mallet playing is not required, techniques such as glissandi, dead strokes, grace notes, and rolls at a very fast tempo make it a worthwhile endeavor for any ensemble.
“Geampara lei Petrescu” is an exceptional addition to the repertoire for this ability level. It offers a festive and historical outlet for educators and players to explore, and pays homage to both traditional Romanian dance music and classic xylophone rags.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 4, August 2021
Geampara lui Petrescu by Czech composer Petr Pavlinec was originally written for a Taiwanese bamboo marimba called the zhuqin accompanied by two cimbalom players. Here in Erin Duke’s arrangement, which is reminiscent of classic xylophone rags, the zhuqin is replaced with a western xylophone and is accompanied by marimbas instead of cimbaloms. The music itself is very fast and incessant, with a contagious 7/8 feel throughout and features traditional Romanian scales.
Clocking in as just over two minutes, Geampara would be a flashy “encore” piece, or as an exciting concert piece to feature the xylophonist and requiring minimal stage setup.
This arrangement is playable with all 3 marimba parts sharing one 5-octave (low C) marimba. If available, two instruments can be used with Marimba players 1 & 3 sharing a 5-octave (low C) instrument and Marimba 2 using a 4.3-octave (low A).
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
• Xylophone
• 1 marimba—(low C, shared by 3 players)
OR
• Xylophone
• 2 marimbas—(1) low A, (1) low C
Based on the spirited Romanian dance known as the Geampara, “Geampara lei Petrescu” is an arrangement for solo xylophone with marimba accompaniment. The piece explores classic styles of Romanian cimbalom playing, as well as the most popular traditional Balkan and Turkish rhythmic patterns. While the work was originally intended for cimbalom, it was quickly adapted for the Taiwanese bamboo marimba known as zhuqin and cimbalom accompaniment, which serves as the inspiration for this setting. Classified as medium-advanced by the publisher, it is an excellent piece for an advanced high-school percussionist and rhythmically confident players to support the soloist.
Program notes are historically informative, practical, and thorough, something I find very important when considering content. The composer provides two diagrams for stage setup depending on the total number of instruments. While it is possible to perform all three marimba parts on one 5-octave instrument, I would find this a bit cramped and suggest using two marimbas. Note that either option requires a 5-octave marimba, a drawback for programs without one. The material itself consists of only the score with an access code for digital download for individual parts.
“Geampara lui Petrescu” is full of idiomatic writing for our instruments. It is evident that the xylophone is the solo voice, as it is the most rhythmically intense and musically demanding part. Marimba 1 and 2 are slightly less challenging and contain a mixture of similar melodic lines and dance-like supportive gestures. Marimba 3 acts as the bass line and is very attainable for a high school player. The predominant time signature is 7/8, with a duple-duple-triple division, providing extensive opportunity for students to learn this meter. While four-mallet playing is not required, techniques such as glissandi, dead strokes, grace notes, and rolls at a very fast tempo make it a worthwhile endeavor for any ensemble.
“Geampara lei Petrescu” is an exceptional addition to the repertoire for this ability level. It offers a festive and historical outlet for educators and players to explore, and pays homage to both traditional Romanian dance music and classic xylophone rags.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 4, August 2021
