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Vestiges by Eric Rath is an atonal, minimalist work for four percussionists scored for two vibraphones and two 4.3-octave (low A) marimbas. Composed with hints and flavors of the works of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and the band Radiohead, Rath has crafted an accessible entry point into minimalist music for intermediate-level players.
The piece employs non-standard techniques such as bowed vibraphone bars, muffled strokes on marimba bars, and even a custom-made marimba technique the composer has called a “thwop.” The keyboards are configured in a square shape, facing inward, and the players are required to move between the instruments as well as occasionally play from the accidentals side.
Vestiges ships as a fully bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for either printing or tablet viewing.
2 Vibraphones (w/ bows)
2 Marimbas — (2) low A
As an educator, I have long valued Eric Rath’s compositional output. Whether it is his contributions to the Beyond Basic Percussion and Golden Age of Ragtime collections or the classroom routines Five Minute Drill and Nine Minute Drill, I have often turned to his music to help my students grow. While “Vestiges” is different from many of his other works, the musical and educational benefits remain. Scored for keyboard quartet using standard-range instruments, it is most appropriate for high school ensembles.
This piece was written when Rath was reading the memoirs of Philip Glass and Steve Reich. As a result, “Vestiges” takes on a variety of minimalist characteristics, seen mostly in the harmonic and rhythmic material. All players are required to use four mallets, though the figures are not so complex as to over challenge beginners. The piece also explores a variety of extended techniques for marimba and vibraphone. More common techniques such as bowed vibraphone, striking keys with the mallet shafts, and dead strokes are used throughout the work. The most interesting of these techniques is the aptly named “thwop,” which requires the player to slide the shaft of the mallet across the bar while striking the key using a dead stroke. These colors add so much to the textures of the piece and provide a unique outlet for students to learn new approaches to the instrument.
“Vestiges” is a great addition to the repertoire for intermediate-level players. It serves as an excellent entry point into minimalist music while providing educators and students with a plethora of musical and technical benefits.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 62, No. 4, August 2024
Vestiges by Eric Rath is an atonal, minimalist work for four percussionists scored for two vibraphones and two 4.3-octave (low A) marimbas. Composed with hints and flavors of the works of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and the band Radiohead, Rath has crafted an accessible entry point into minimalist music for intermediate-level players.
The piece employs non-standard techniques such as bowed vibraphone bars, muffled strokes on marimba bars, and even a custom-made marimba technique the composer has called a “thwop.” The keyboards are configured in a square shape, facing inward, and the players are required to move between the instruments as well as occasionally play from the accidentals side.
Vestiges ships as a fully bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for either printing or tablet viewing.
2 Vibraphones (w/ bows)
2 Marimbas — (2) low A
As an educator, I have long valued Eric Rath’s compositional output. Whether it is his contributions to the Beyond Basic Percussion and Golden Age of Ragtime collections or the classroom routines Five Minute Drill and Nine Minute Drill, I have often turned to his music to help my students grow. While “Vestiges” is different from many of his other works, the musical and educational benefits remain. Scored for keyboard quartet using standard-range instruments, it is most appropriate for high school ensembles.
This piece was written when Rath was reading the memoirs of Philip Glass and Steve Reich. As a result, “Vestiges” takes on a variety of minimalist characteristics, seen mostly in the harmonic and rhythmic material. All players are required to use four mallets, though the figures are not so complex as to over challenge beginners. The piece also explores a variety of extended techniques for marimba and vibraphone. More common techniques such as bowed vibraphone, striking keys with the mallet shafts, and dead strokes are used throughout the work. The most interesting of these techniques is the aptly named “thwop,” which requires the player to slide the shaft of the mallet across the bar while striking the key using a dead stroke. These colors add so much to the textures of the piece and provide a unique outlet for students to learn new approaches to the instrument.
“Vestiges” is a great addition to the repertoire for intermediate-level players. It serves as an excellent entry point into minimalist music while providing educators and students with a plethora of musical and technical benefits.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 62, No. 4, August 2024
