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LifeSongs (for Singing Marimbist)
Genre: Marimba (4-mallet) + Voice
# of Players: 1-2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 15:45 total
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2020
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Rating:
Price:
$24.00
Item #:
27300
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Notes & Instrumentation
Imagine a singer/songwriter that doesn’t use a guitar or piano to accompany themselves, but a marimba! That’s what these three songs explore, but with some added metric twists indicative of a percussionist’s rhythmic mind. With poignant lyrics from Josh Oxford, Jessie Linden, and Valerie and Grace Asuncion, LifeSongs captures several aspects of the human spirit – regret, hope, angst, love, peace, and more. The songs may be performed as a full set or individually. If you are uncomfortable singing while playing the marimba, feel free to invite the talents of another performer to join you.
Genre: Marimba (4-mallet) + Voice | # of Players: 1-2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 15:45 total
Instrumentation
Marimba (5-octave)
Voice -
Video
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Afterwards... - Josh Oxford, performed by Yun Ju Alice Pan
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Come get together by Josh Oxford, performed by Yun Ju Alice Pan
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Grace Asuncion - Heart In Hand
Hi. I’m Grace. This is the first ever music video / art piece that I’ve recorded, filmed, and edited myself. I’d like to thank Josh Oxford, the composer, for asking me to perform this piece for marimba and voice back in November. Mallets used: Kana Omori’s line with Encore! This video is dedicated to my Grandma…who loved marimba and hearts. Soundcloud : https://soundcloud.com/grace-asuncion-913572701 Enjoy :)
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Product Reviews
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Percussive Notes New Literature Review
Josh Oxford’s “LifeSongs” is proof that the earthy marimba sound is versatile enough to fit into most any context. Far from the first piece to pair percussion and voice, “LifeSongs” fits handily into a growing movement of percussionists bringing attention to this expressive medium.
“LifeSongs” is a song cycle of three independent songs discussing a different component of the lived experience. While the various songs have different levels of lyrical success, they each feature a haunting, well-thought-out melody that fits beautifully against the timbre of the 5-octave marimba. Each piece features a unique four-mallet texture that is rhythmic enough to feel like a marimba solo, while the arpeggiations are familiar enough to remind you of the more traditional piano or guitar accompaniment commonplace in this style. The vocal part can be sung by a male or female, and it may even be outsourced to another musician for those who may feel less assured playing and singing simultaneously.
“LifeSongs” is a great piece of music that would fit as comfortably on an advanced percussion recital as it would in an offbeat coffee shop. Kudos to Josh Oxford on this unique and important contribution to the literature!
Quintin Mallette
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 4, August 2021 Quintin Mallette on Jun 30th 2022
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