Composed as a tribute to a departed friend, Evergreen by Benjamin Finley is a marimba solo rife with challenges for the experienced 4-mallet player. Rapid mallet permutations, mixed time signatures, and the opportunity to explore a myriad of roll techniques make this a great vehicle for virtuosic solo expression.
Performed by Benjamin Finley
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Dedicated to a lost friend, this work portrays the feelings encountered when dealing with the absence of a loved one. The harmonic content of the opening choral emotes a somber tone. Loosely using this tonal scheme, the next section is more rhythmic. With constant articulations on each sixteenth note, the composer moves through several time signatures including 6/4, 7/16, 21/16, 6/16, 3/8, 4/4, and 3/4. Reflecting on the personality and memories of the lost one, the strong driving quality eventually reaches a reflective tone, realizing the loved one is truly gone. Venturing back into a rhythmic quality, the piece ends with "a high-register fade-out, a ghostly echo of an abbreviated life."
This well constructed work will provide several challenges for collegiate marimbists. Encompassing the entire range of a 5.0-octave marimba, the lateral movement of the body increases the difficulty of the technical elements in the work. Motivic ideas are largely determined by permutations; however, there are several scalar passages that link the ideas. During these moments the composer suggests stickings that combine single independent and double lateral strokes. Through the various character changes, one must be able to execute double vertical strokes at the interval of an octave and double lateral strokes at the interval of a second.
Making programming for a senior recital easy, the stylistic diversity of this piece will complement a variety of repertoire choices.
–Darin Olson
Percussive Notes
Vol. 50, No. 4, July 2012
Composed as a tribute to a departed friend, Evergreen by Benjamin Finley is a marimba solo rife with challenges for the experienced 4-mallet player. Rapid mallet permutations, mixed time signatures, and the opportunity to explore a myriad of roll techniques make this a great vehicle for virtuosic solo expression.
Performed by Benjamin Finley
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Dedicated to a lost friend, this work portrays the feelings encountered when dealing with the absence of a loved one. The harmonic content of the opening choral emotes a somber tone. Loosely using this tonal scheme, the next section is more rhythmic. With constant articulations on each sixteenth note, the composer moves through several time signatures including 6/4, 7/16, 21/16, 6/16, 3/8, 4/4, and 3/4. Reflecting on the personality and memories of the lost one, the strong driving quality eventually reaches a reflective tone, realizing the loved one is truly gone. Venturing back into a rhythmic quality, the piece ends with "a high-register fade-out, a ghostly echo of an abbreviated life."
This well constructed work will provide several challenges for collegiate marimbists. Encompassing the entire range of a 5.0-octave marimba, the lateral movement of the body increases the difficulty of the technical elements in the work. Motivic ideas are largely determined by permutations; however, there are several scalar passages that link the ideas. During these moments the composer suggests stickings that combine single independent and double lateral strokes. Through the various character changes, one must be able to execute double vertical strokes at the interval of an octave and double lateral strokes at the interval of a second.
Making programming for a senior recital easy, the stylistic diversity of this piece will complement a variety of repertoire choices.
–Darin Olson
Percussive Notes
Vol. 50, No. 4, July 2012