Jasmine Flower (Solo 4-Mallet Marimba)

"Mō Lì Huā" (Jasmine Flower) is a beloved Chinese folk song often sung during holidays and festive gatherings. Yin incorporated ornaments inspired by traditional Chinese music, such as a gradual transition from slow to fast trills in the introduction and lively, rapid three-note trills that mimic the sound of the zhudi (Chinese bamboo flute). Additionally, dotted rhythms and quick, graceful slides reflect the expressive qualities of various Chinese instruments.

Genre: Marimba (4-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Series: N/A
Level: Intermediate | Duration: 6:00

Instrumentation
Marimba (4.3 or 4.5-octave)

Program Notes
This marimba arrangement of Mō Lì Huā (茉莉花, Jasmine Flower) was completed in Fall 2024. The idea for the arrangement began to take shape during the Moon Festival, a time when I found myself reflecting on home, and it was finalized during an unexpected period of downtime at Western Carolina due to Hurricane Helene.

Mō Lì Huā is a beloved Chinese folk song that I grew up with, often sung during holidays and festive gatherings. It has woven itself deeply into my life, evoking memories of home and the warmth of family traditions. Inspired by these memories during the Moon Festival of 2024, I envisioned how this beautiful melody might sound on the marimba, blending the song’s rich cultural heritage with the expressive range of the instrument.

In this arrangement, I aimed to capture the essence of Mō Lì Huā through the unique voice of the marimba, giving it a distinctly Chinese flavor. I incorporated ornaments inspired by traditional Chinese music, such as a gradual transition from slow to fast trills in the introduction and lively, rapid three-note trills that mimic the sound of the zhudi (Chinese bamboo flute). Additionally, dotted rhythms and quick, graceful slides reflect the expressive qualities of various Chinese instruments.

Through these elements, I hope to share the timeless beauty of Mō Lì Huā, re-imagining its familiar melody to bridge my cultural roots with the contemporary sounds of the marimba.

– Amy Xin Yin