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Genre: Duet for Oboe & Marimba
# of Players: 2
Level: Medium | Duration: 3:40
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2019
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Tango! was premiered at the International Double Reed Society Convention in 2015. After spending time poring over the music of Astor Piazzolla, Rath composed decided that a tango would provide a lighter contrast to the repertoire.
Genre: Duet for Oboe & Marimba | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium | Duration: 3:40
Instrumentation
Oboe
Marimba (4.5-octave)
Also included: transpositions for Alto Saxophone and Clarinet/Soprano Saxophone
Program Notes
Tango! was written for the composer and his father, oboist Richard Rath to premiere at the International Double Reed Society Convention in 2015, held that year in Tokyo, Japan. In putting together their duo recital program, it was found that there was a lot of "serious" music for oboe and percussion, but there was not a lot available that was on the "lighter side." The composer had spent time previously poring over the music of Astor Piazzolla, and decided that a tango might provide some contrast to the program. The combination of those particular instruments in that specific style of music worked out so well that Tango! was consistently the best received selection on the IDRS recital and all of the "preview recitals" leading up to it.
“Tango!” is a short duet for oboe (or alto saxophone) and marimba, written in a tango style. As such, the harmonic content and formal design will be clear to most listeners. The roles of the performers are largely static, with the oboe performing linear melodic material and the marimba providing the arpeggiated tango accompaniment. The inclusion of a marimba cadenza is especially noteworthy. The composer includes material in the marimba part but affords the player the liberty of creating his or her own cadenza.
“Tango!” could be a good introduction to performing chamber music with non-percussionists. The work is light, short, and fun; it would work well as a palette cleanser or as a fun closer to an otherwise heavy program.
Jamie Wind Whitmarsh
PERCUSSIVE NOTES
VO. 59, NO. 2, APRIL 2021 Jamie Wind Whitmarsh on Jun 29th 2022