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Genre: Duet for 2 Marimbas
# of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2017
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Full of colorful harmonies and beautiful melodic passages, Insomnia is a challenging, yet rewarding addition to any percussion recital.
Genre: Duet for 2 Marimbas | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:30
Instrumentation
Marimba 1 (5-octave)
Marimba 2 (5-octave)
Program Notes
Insomnia is a challenging duet consisting of colorful harmonies meant to portray the free and flowing nature of the human spirit. The challenge in performing the piece lies in lining up fast permutations and phrasing a rubato melody that at times is played in tandem with the fast permutations. When executing these musical ideas at a high level, an enjoyable experience is created for the performers and audience. Insomnia was written in dedication to Cody’s late father, Ben Holmes.
“Insomnia” is a challenging 7-minute work for two marimbists that demands technical prowess and acute chamber music skills to realize beautiful harmonies and melodic lines throughout. The piece is dedicated to the composer’s late father and is intended to “portray the free and flowing nature of the human spirit.” The work is set in a large three-part form (A-B-A), delineated by characteristic rhythms and texture. The opening and closing sections use quick sextuplet permutations, both in unison and as accompaniment against more spacious statements in the other player’s part. The unison statements are especially effective, as Cody Holmes exploits the large range between the two instruments and rich possibilities of harmonization. The melody/accompaniment phrases evoke an almost improvisatory effect, as a variety of rhythms (some non-linear) are juxtaposed by the melody part. The middle section is slower and is characterized by interlocking eighth- and sixteenth-note rhythms, with a strong emphasis on groove. Subtle quotations of material from the first section are used before sextuplet permutations begin to appear, issuing in the return of the A section.
Although the publisher lists the difficulty level as “Medium Difficult,” the numerous technical and communicative challenges presented certainly qualify it as “Difficult.” Everything is idiomatically written and well-conceived for the instruments, but the piece will require players who have certainly “been around the block” before. While the permutation used in the opening and closing sections (1-2-3-4-3-2) is repetitive and not altogether difficult at a slower tempo, when presented as a sextuplet rhythm at quarter note equaling 120 it certainly requires a high level of ability and stamina. This is a beautiful and captivating work, enjoyable for both the performers and audience, and could be a standout selection on an advanced college or professional duo concert.
Jason Baker
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 4, September 2019 Jason Baker on Jul 15th 2022