Songs of Venus: 8 Pieces for Solo Vibraphone

Songs of Venus was created to celebrate several of the women in the composer's immediate and extended family. Represented are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and nieces, each having a unique and meaningful impact on his life. He has captured the essence of each of these wonderful people through simple, memorable melodies and textures. From a technical standpoint, each of the intermediate four-mallet solos stand alone as concert solos or may be paired with others in the collection to create a suite. However, the entire collection is not intended to be performed in one setting as a long 30-minute suite. All of the solos are written for a 3.5-octave vibraphone, but cue notes make it possible to perform on a 3-octave instrument.

Genre: Vibraphone | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium to Medium Difficult | Duration: 30:00 total

Instrumentation
Vibraphone (3.5-octave)
*Cue notes make all of the solos playabale on a 3-octave instrument.

Program Notes
Songs of Venus was created to celebrate several of the women in my immediate and extended family. Represented are grandmothers, mothers, sisters, and nieces, each having a unique and meaningful impact on my life. I tried my best to capture the essence of each of these wonderful people through simple, memorable melodies and textures. From a technical standpoint, each of the intermediate four-mallet solos stand alone as concert solos or may be paired with others in the collection to create a suite. However, the entire collection is not intended to be performed in one setting as a long 30-minute suite. All of the solos are written for a 3.5-octave vibraphone, but cue notes make it possible to perform on a 3-octave instrument.

– ND

Unconditional... (for KKD)
Dedicated to my wife, I tried to capture her selfless sweetness in a lovely little waltz. While pedaling and dampening are not indicated, strive for a clean melodic line without much bleedover. For much of the piece, you can simply use the phrase markings as a guide. At m. 26, position the left hand mallets in the center of the bars with your elbow out. This will allow you to use the indicated sticking in m. 27, which at first might look like a mistake.

Blackberries & Chamomile (for MJD)
This solo celebrates the life of my mom, who passed away on January 1, 2008. She had a love for bunnies, exemplified by her sizable collection of stuffed animals, figures, and wall hangings, especially those of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit (the inspiration for the title). This is the only piece in the collection to require a bass bow. I have the most success bowing from the tip to the frog (where you hold the bow), trying to keep it perpendicular to the edge of the bar. To crescendo, simply apply more pressure and move the bow faster.

Sunrise Snapshots (for MHR)
Ever since her daughters came into this world, my sister has had a love of photography, whether portraits or landscapes. For me, some of her most memorable photos have been of fiery sunrises and sunsets at the beach with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. Use the phrase markings throughout as a guide for pedaling and dampening.

Yin & Yang (for JBR & CMR)
At the time of writing this collection, my two nieces (my sister’s daughters) were 16 and 14 years old. From birth, these two amazing girls could not have been more different from one another. The older niece has always been quiet, thoughtful, and introspective while the younger has been a sociable ball of energy. Regardless of their differences, they are extremely close and completely balance one another. This solo captures the energy, introspection, and angst of two teenage girls navigating their way through high school. Carefully follow the indicated pedal markings throughout.

Flour & Thread (for FSHD)
Some of my favorite childhood memories are from spending a week in summer with my grandparents in rural southern Virginia. My grandpa & I would go fishing with bamboo poles in their backyard pond. My grandma & I would spend time baking in the kitchen and sewing in the sunroom. She instilled in me a love of all things cooking, which I’ve carried with me into my adult life. As indicated in the second measure, you can successfully perform this piece by pedaling each measure.

Swirls of Decadence (for CKE)
My sister-in-law throws the most amazing themed birthday parties for her little girls. These parties are always accompanied by gorgeous & intricate cakes that she has made from scratch. I used tonalities that I explored in my vibraphone concerto throughout, mostly keeping one hand over the accidentals and one over the natural bars. Please take careful note of the recommended stickings and decide whether or not they will work for you.

Rosemary & Thyme (for EWT)
My mother-in-law is the embodiment of nurture – whether dealing with her mother, siblings, daughters, grandchildren, nieces & nephews, or friends. She is also one of the most calming forces in my life. My favorite time spent with her so far has been in the kitchen at the beach, preparing & cooking meals for our family. Additionally, she has this enviable garden of vegetables & herbs that served as the inspiration for the title of this solo. Embrace the slow tempo and contemplative spatial qualities of the music.

Boundless Vivacity (for SRE & LNE)
My other two nieces (sister-in-law’s daughters) were 7 & 5 years old at the time of writing this collection. The title perfectly captures their energy & spirit, as does the uplifting music. Be careful not to let this piece be too “ringy.” Half-pedal each beat throughout to accomplish this goal.