Three Character Waltzes (Solo 5-octave Marimba)

Inspired by the children’s piano suites written by Schumann, Khachaturian, and Tchaikovsky, Three Character Waltzes is a trio of short pieces written in a neo-Romantic style. Playful and programmatic, each short piece evokes a singular character while remaining idiomatic to the marimba in a technical sense.

Genre: Marimba (4-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium | Duration: 4:15

Instrumentation
Marimba (5-octave)

Program Notes
Inspired by the children’s piano suites written by Schumann, Khachaturian, and Tchaikovsky, Three Character Waltzes is a trio of short pieces written in a neo-Romantic style. Playful and programmatic, each short piece evokes a singular character while remaining idiomatic to the marimba in a technical sense.

I. Pelican’s Waltz
While graceful in the air, this pelican is careful to keep its balance when waltzing on the beach. It’s a bit goofy, however. An expressive sense of rubato should be used to group each of the phrases and exaggerate the character.

II. Julian’s Waltz
This waltz has a more serene nature and can be played in a relaxed style. The piece is written for the composer’s son, Isaiah Julian Haynes, shortly after his birth.

III. Specter’s Waltz
This final character is more haunting and dances with precipitous, yet elegant movements. Mysterious in all respects, the specter arrives quickly, moves gracefully, then vanishes back into the mist.