Lighthouse (Download)

for solo vibraphone

Jesse Monkman

Level: Medium

Duration: 5:00

State Lists: Missouri | Texas | Florida

Release Date: 2021

Product ID : TSPCS21-001DL

Price: $16.00

Item #: TSPCS21-001DL

Formats Available:

About delivery methods

Download Audio

Description

Lighthouse by Jesse Monkman is a dreamy and delicate piece for solo vibraphone. Based on the magical chords of the “Tarnhelm” theme from Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, the piece creates a lulling and mesmerizing effect on the listener.

Because the music is reflective and quaint, it requires a light touch and should be approached with sensitivity. The musical material features a consistent eighth-note pulse that wanders through different meter changes with moments of space interspersed throughout. Much of what makes Monkman’s other solo music popular is at play here. This solo is perfect for an intimate concert setting!

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Instrumentation

• Solo Vibraphone

Reviews

This work for solo vibraphone was inspired by the “Tarnhelm” progression used by Wagner in the Ring cycle. The piece uses this chord progression to export the listener to an otherworldly place. The opening ostinato is occasionally interrupted by a short burst of notes, but it lulls the listener into another world. The middle section explores the chords themselves through sustain and arpeggiations. The following section utilizes mixed meters and remnants of the short bursts to explore the ethereal world we have been taken to. It ends with a repeat of the opening section and a short coda.

This piece requires a percussionist who is comfortable with four mallets on vibraphone, as well as being adept at pedaling and occasional mallet dampening. The player should be comfortable covering large intervals on the instrument as well.

Jesse Monkman has provided a wonderful piece for the percussion repertoire. This work would go well on an undergraduate or advanced high school recital.

—Josh Armstrong
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 4, August 2021