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Over the Rainbow
As one of the most famous songs of all time, Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz is a timeless treasure. In this arrangement for solo marimba, Robert Oetomo combines jazzy harmonies, quasi improvisation, and classical romantic influences to create a rendition that is mysterious, lyrical, and remains as heartwarming as the original.
Note: Due to licensing limitations, this piece is not available to sell in Europe or Australia. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The ability to create something beautiful and complex from source material that is well known and unpretentious is truly an artistic feat. Robert Oetomo’s arrangement of “Over the Rainbow” retains the transparent simplicity of the original melody, but decorates it in such a way that the end result seems less like an arrangement and more of an exquisite new work for marimba solo.
After the opening nine-measure introduction featuring various roll notations over a chordal passage, Harold Arlen’s recognizable tune is presented in a relatively predictable progression. Consistently, however, Oetomo decorates this melody with tasteful arpeggiations, a few chromatic connecting lines, and an occasional harmonic substitution. The final eight measures serve as a coda that allows the work to end in a similar manner as it began.
The interpretation is quite rubato throughout, but frequently contains rhythmic divisions of seven, 10, 11, 12, etc. that lose their effectiveness if not performed with respect for the general tempo context. In addition, a variety of sequenced and traditional rolls are required, and the soloist should be comfortable bringing out the simple melody within a much more active accompaniment texture.
Oetomo’s musically and technically sophisticated arrangement of this well-known melody is a tremendous vehicle for accomplished marimbists to bring the instrument to a broader audience in a way that both demonstrates the marimba’s status as a prominent solo instrument, while also reaching new listeners with something quite familiar.
—Josh Gottry
Percussive Notes
Vol. 53, No. 1, March 2015
As one of the most famous songs of all time, Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz is a timeless treasure. In this arrangement for solo marimba, Robert Oetomo combines jazzy harmonies, quasi improvisation, and classical romantic influences to create a rendition that is mysterious, lyrical, and remains as heartwarming as the original.
Note: Due to licensing limitations, this piece is not available to sell in Europe or Australia. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The ability to create something beautiful and complex from source material that is well known and unpretentious is truly an artistic feat. Robert Oetomo’s arrangement of “Over the Rainbow” retains the transparent simplicity of the original melody, but decorates it in such a way that the end result seems less like an arrangement and more of an exquisite new work for marimba solo.
After the opening nine-measure introduction featuring various roll notations over a chordal passage, Harold Arlen’s recognizable tune is presented in a relatively predictable progression. Consistently, however, Oetomo decorates this melody with tasteful arpeggiations, a few chromatic connecting lines, and an occasional harmonic substitution. The final eight measures serve as a coda that allows the work to end in a similar manner as it began.
The interpretation is quite rubato throughout, but frequently contains rhythmic divisions of seven, 10, 11, 12, etc. that lose their effectiveness if not performed with respect for the general tempo context. In addition, a variety of sequenced and traditional rolls are required, and the soloist should be comfortable bringing out the simple melody within a much more active accompaniment texture.
Oetomo’s musically and technically sophisticated arrangement of this well-known melody is a tremendous vehicle for accomplished marimbists to bring the instrument to a broader audience in a way that both demonstrates the marimba’s status as a prominent solo instrument, while also reaching new listeners with something quite familiar.
—Josh Gottry
Percussive Notes
Vol. 53, No. 1, March 2015
