Hyperbole by Robert Sanderl was originally composed in 2012 and has since gone through several iterations. As Sanderl describes, “this piece has no deep meaning or programmatic element, it is simply meant for fun.” It consists of four main sections in the beginning, then an optional solo section, followed by a recap and a coda. The optional solo section can be adapted to fit the skills of the soloist and can be performed on any instrument. Built on the stylistic elements of jazz and prog-rock, this ensemble piece would be a perfect fit for any collegiate recital.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Crotales (2 octaves)
• Vibraphone
• Marimba—low C
• Drums (5 concert toms, snare drum, concert bass drum, mounted kick drum, bongos)
• Cymbals & gongs (sizzle cymbal, splash cymbal, hi-hat, 2 ride cymbals)
• Accessories (maracas, cowbell, shaker, triangle, cajón)
“Hyperbole” is scored for four players, featuring a marimba soloist with one other optional instrument of the soloist’s choice (the composer/ performer used drum set). It is a 7- to 10-minute single-movement composition that utilizes advanced four-mallet marimba technique with continuous changing meters (e.g., 5/8, 2/4, 3/8) and a groove pattern (with syncopated rhythms) in the marimba. The marimba part provides energy from the opening statement to the ending. The accompanying trio provide integral, substantive back-up rhythms that complement the soloist’s accent patterns. In the optional second instrument solo section, the percussion trio vamps a 4/4 metric groove while the soloist improvises above their accompaniment. The composition then repeats from the opening and transitions to a very conclusively satisfying coda.
A downloadable set of parts and audio performance greatly enhance the learning curve of this piece. The middle section of “Hyperbole” provides the marimba soloist with an opportunity to solo on a second instrument of the player’s choice, or the option to omit this section (hence, the difference in the time length, depending on whether the marimba soloist transitions to a second solo instrument).
Consequently, this composition is truly flexible to feature primarily a marimba soloist, augmented by an opportunity to permit the soloist to take the piece to a higher level (or “hyperbole”). This composition would be appropriate for a mature set of four percussionists with the featured opportunity for a stunning marimba soloist.
—Jim Lambert
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 5, October 2020
Hyperbole by Robert Sanderl was originally composed in 2012 and has since gone through several iterations. As Sanderl describes, “this piece has no deep meaning or programmatic element, it is simply meant for fun.” It consists of four main sections in the beginning, then an optional solo section, followed by a recap and a coda. The optional solo section can be adapted to fit the skills of the soloist and can be performed on any instrument. Built on the stylistic elements of jazz and prog-rock, this ensemble piece would be a perfect fit for any collegiate recital.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Crotales (2 octaves)
• Vibraphone
• Marimba—low C
• Drums (5 concert toms, snare drum, concert bass drum, mounted kick drum, bongos)
• Cymbals & gongs (sizzle cymbal, splash cymbal, hi-hat, 2 ride cymbals)
• Accessories (maracas, cowbell, shaker, triangle, cajón)
“Hyperbole” is scored for four players, featuring a marimba soloist with one other optional instrument of the soloist’s choice (the composer/ performer used drum set). It is a 7- to 10-minute single-movement composition that utilizes advanced four-mallet marimba technique with continuous changing meters (e.g., 5/8, 2/4, 3/8) and a groove pattern (with syncopated rhythms) in the marimba. The marimba part provides energy from the opening statement to the ending. The accompanying trio provide integral, substantive back-up rhythms that complement the soloist’s accent patterns. In the optional second instrument solo section, the percussion trio vamps a 4/4 metric groove while the soloist improvises above their accompaniment. The composition then repeats from the opening and transitions to a very conclusively satisfying coda.
A downloadable set of parts and audio performance greatly enhance the learning curve of this piece. The middle section of “Hyperbole” provides the marimba soloist with an opportunity to solo on a second instrument of the player’s choice, or the option to omit this section (hence, the difference in the time length, depending on whether the marimba soloist transitions to a second solo instrument).
Consequently, this composition is truly flexible to feature primarily a marimba soloist, augmented by an opportunity to permit the soloist to take the piece to a higher level (or “hyperbole”). This composition would be appropriate for a mature set of four percussionists with the featured opportunity for a stunning marimba soloist.
—Jim Lambert
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 5, October 2020