Treespeak (Perc Ens 13)

The four movements of Treespeak, Spring(ing), Summer, Fall(ing), and Winter, are a cycle: a cycle of the seasons, or the “seasons” of a tree’s life span, which even parallels the life span of a human. The voice of the tree is spoken through the vibraphone, which brings this performer to the musical forefront throughout the work’s duration. The marimbas and xylophone are the bark, branches, and trunk; the timpani, chimes, and glockenspiel color the soul behind the vibraphone’s voice as the tree’s roots; and the percussion represent leaves: ever changing, falling, and blooming until the tree speaks no more.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 13
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 12:00

Instrumentation
Glockenspiel
Chimes
Vibraphone
Xylophone (or Marimba 8va)
Marimba 1 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 3 (5-octave)
Timpani (4 drums)

Percussion 1: Mark Tree/Wind Chimes/Glass Chimes, Sizzle Cymbal, 4 Concert Toms, Woodblock (high), Rainstick, Concert Bass Drum
Percussion 2: Mark Tree/Wind Chimes/Glass Chimes, Sizzle Cymbal, Large Triangle, Woodblock (medium high), Ride Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine
Percussion 3: Wind Gong, Cabasa or Shekere, Ocean Drum, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, 2 Brake Drums, Hi-Hat
Percussion 4: Mark Tree/Wind Chimes/Glass Chimes, Sizzle Cymbal, Woodblock (medium low), China Cymbal, Cowbell, Sleigh Bells, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Snare Drum
Percussion 5: Mark Tree/Wind Chimes/Glass Chimes, Sizzle Cymbal, Bongos, Rainstick, Woodblock (low), Tam-Tam, Suspended Cymbal

Program Notes
The four movements of Treespeak, Spring(ing), Summer, Fall(ing), and Winter, are a cycle: a cycle of the seasons, or the “seasons” of a tree’s life span, which even parallels the life span of a human. The voice of the tree is spoken through the vibraphone, which brings this performer to the musical forefront throughout the work’s duration. The marimbas and xylophone are the bark, branches, and trunk; the timpani, chimes, and glockenspiel color the soul behind the vibraphone’s voice as the tree’s roots; and the percussion represent leaves: ever changing, falling, and blooming until the tree speaks no more.

Treespeak was commissioned by Wilbrand van Norel to be used as a required piece in the 2019 Open Nederlandse Slagwerk Kampioenschappen (ONSK) in The Netherlands.