Atmospheric Study No. 2 (Duet for Vibraphone & Piano)

Atmospheric Study No. 2 for vibraphone and piano, titled “Extempore,” draws influence from jazz, especially the music of Gary Burton, Chick Corea, and Tigran Himasyan.

Genre: Vibraphone (4-mallet) + Piano | # of Players: 2
Series:
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 6:40

Instrumentation
Vibraphone (3-octave)
Piano

Program Notes
Atmospheric Study No. 2 for vibraphone and piano, titled “Extempore,” draws influence from jazz, especially the music of Gary Burton, Chick Corea, and Tigran Himasyan. The slow ‘A’ section harkens back to the spirit of the first, with a piercing melody in the highest register of the piano drifting over a background of quintuplets in which the harmony patiently unfolds. The vibraphone colors the melodic line with polyrhythmic gestures, trills, and grace notes. The energetic ‘B’ section follows, abruptly breaking into a fast groove with asymmetric meters, virtuosic flourishes, and jazz-inspired harmonies. The whole section builds up to the climax of the piece, where the players arrive together at a jubilant C-major seventh chord, temporarily breaking from the asymmetric groove to an expansive 4/4. The ‘B’ section concludes with aggressive interjections which ascend to a peak and lead into the recapitulation of the ‘A' section.