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First Steps in a New Direction, The (Download)
Michael Charles Smith composed The First Steps in a New Direction during his early years of study at the University of Oregon. As a young performer with a newfound passion for the marimba, the central motive in this piece was one of the first ideas he ever composed. After spending some time developing this idea, Smith found himself with a fully fleshed out composition and thus took his music career in a new direction.
• Marimba—4.3-octave, (low A)
Michael Charles Smith originally composed/adapted “First Steps in a New Direction” from a series of improvisations he played as a first-year student at the University of Oregon. Based in A minor, the work is built around two specific permutations that rhythmically drive the piece throughout; however, they also handcuff Smith’s ability to build in his composition somewhat because of the incessant sixteenth-note drive throughout.
This piece is an excellent exercise for a beginning four-mallet student who is working on developing flexibility shifting between permutations and phrase construction through simple melodic themes. It is notated clearly, and all musical markings are clear throughout. This would be a great piece for part of a warm-up routine or a first-year four-mallet student to play on a collage-type concert or even as a segue piece to a larger work in a percussion ensemble concert.
—Marcus D. Reddick
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 1, March 2019
Michael Charles Smith composed The First Steps in a New Direction during his early years of study at the University of Oregon. As a young performer with a newfound passion for the marimba, the central motive in this piece was one of the first ideas he ever composed. After spending some time developing this idea, Smith found himself with a fully fleshed out composition and thus took his music career in a new direction.
• Marimba—4.3-octave, (low A)
Michael Charles Smith originally composed/adapted “First Steps in a New Direction” from a series of improvisations he played as a first-year student at the University of Oregon. Based in A minor, the work is built around two specific permutations that rhythmically drive the piece throughout; however, they also handcuff Smith’s ability to build in his composition somewhat because of the incessant sixteenth-note drive throughout.
This piece is an excellent exercise for a beginning four-mallet student who is working on developing flexibility shifting between permutations and phrase construction through simple melodic themes. It is notated clearly, and all musical markings are clear throughout. This would be a great piece for part of a warm-up routine or a first-year four-mallet student to play on a collage-type concert or even as a segue piece to a larger work in a percussion ensemble concert.
—Marcus D. Reddick
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 1, March 2019
