Chamber Symphony No. 1 for Marimba

The title Chamber Symphony indicates that the wind ensemble is more intimately involved (musically speaking) with the soloist than an accompaniment as in a concerto. In this regard, the single winds and marimba are treated integrally although the marimba is the featured instrument.

Genre: Solo Marimba & Chamber Winds | # of Players: 12
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 14:30

Instrumentation
Solo Marimba (5-octave)

Flute
Oboe
B-flat Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Bassoon
B-flat Trumpet
F Horn
Trombone
Tuba

Percussion (snare drum, low tom, woodblock, low temple block, claves, afuche, bongos, suspended cymbal, gong, castanets)

Program Notes

This piece was commissioned by Cort McClaren, president of C. Alan Publications and the School of Music at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. The piece was premiered at the Southeast chapter of the Music Educators National Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina in the fall of 1994 with the American Marimba soloist Michael Burritt, professor of percussion studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

The lush outdoors of northwestern Michigan's lower peninsula directly inspired the first and third movements, respectively "Deer Hunting in Michigan" and "The Stuff of Adventure." McCarthy developed a strong attachment to this region, being born in Onekoma, Michigan, growing up in Bay City, Michigan, and attending the Interlochen Art Academy during his High School years. While at the Interlochen Arts Academy he studied trumpet and piano for four years. McCarthy dedicated this composition to his trumpet teacher at Interlochen, John Lindenau. Recorded by The University of North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Corporon, conductor, Mark Ford, marimba soloist.