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Robert Schumann composed his Arabeske during a time of forced separation from his soon to be wife, Clara, in 1839. It contains sweet melodies of love and longing for Clara as well as melodies of frustration and depression from both his professional life and romance. Daniel Lesieur’s arrangement for two marimbas, captures the wistful longing Schumann experienced while composing his original work and brings these emotions to the world of percussion.
Since the success of the performance of Arabeske relies on solid communication between the two performers, Lesieur recommends both players use a common reference recording of the original piano versions to ensure a unified familiarization with expression, rubato, rhythm, and dynamics. If done effectively, the two marimbists should interpret the music as how a solo pianist would perform it.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• 2 marimbas—(1) 4-octave, (1) low C
This marimba duet is a unique transcription of one of Robert Schumann’s piano masterpieces, “Arabeske in C Major,” Opus 18. Composed in 1839. Schumann’s original composition was dedicated to his soon-to-be wife, Clara. Structurally, in a modified rondo (ABACA) with a brief coda, Daniel Lesieur captures the whimsical, satisfying melodies of happiness contrasted with Schumann’s minor melodies, reflecting Schumann’s personal frustration of not being with Clara as well as his introspective outlook on his own life.
Technically, both marimbists must be conscious of blending as one unified sound through careful mallet selection and tasteful dynamic control to achieve balance between the two parts. There should be a comprehensive approach of the performers toward emulating Schumann’s transcendent blend and style in their four-mallet technique. This duet is for two mature marimba performers. A superb recording is available on the Tapspace website.
—Jim Lambert
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 6, December 2020
Robert Schumann composed his Arabeske during a time of forced separation from his soon to be wife, Clara, in 1839. It contains sweet melodies of love and longing for Clara as well as melodies of frustration and depression from both his professional life and romance. Daniel Lesieur’s arrangement for two marimbas, captures the wistful longing Schumann experienced while composing his original work and brings these emotions to the world of percussion.
Since the success of the performance of Arabeske relies on solid communication between the two performers, Lesieur recommends both players use a common reference recording of the original piano versions to ensure a unified familiarization with expression, rubato, rhythm, and dynamics. If done effectively, the two marimbists should interpret the music as how a solo pianist would perform it.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• 2 marimbas—(1) 4-octave, (1) low C
This marimba duet is a unique transcription of one of Robert Schumann’s piano masterpieces, “Arabeske in C Major,” Opus 18. Composed in 1839. Schumann’s original composition was dedicated to his soon-to-be wife, Clara. Structurally, in a modified rondo (ABACA) with a brief coda, Daniel Lesieur captures the whimsical, satisfying melodies of happiness contrasted with Schumann’s minor melodies, reflecting Schumann’s personal frustration of not being with Clara as well as his introspective outlook on his own life.
Technically, both marimbists must be conscious of blending as one unified sound through careful mallet selection and tasteful dynamic control to achieve balance between the two parts. There should be a comprehensive approach of the performers toward emulating Schumann’s transcendent blend and style in their four-mallet technique. This duet is for two mature marimba performers. A superb recording is available on the Tapspace website.
—Jim Lambert
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 6, December 2020
