Wooden Timepiece (Marimba Quartet)

Wooden Timepiece is a captivating marimba quartet that explores the concept of time through its rhythmic patterns and musical themes. Designed to be played on two marimbas, the performers are constantly interacting and trading rhythms while exploring different time signatures. Engaging ensemble cohesion, along with recognizable source material from the “Dies Irae” and “Westminster Chimes,” results in a piece that performers and audiences will enjoy!

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 4
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 6:30

Instrumentation
Player 1: 4-octave Marimba, High Woodblock
Player 2: 5-octave Marimba
Player 3: 4-octave Marimba, Low Woodblock
Player 4: 5-octave Marimba

Only two 5-octave marimbas are required for performance if Players 1 & 2 and Player 3 & 4 share instruments.

Program Notes
Wooden Timepiece is a captivating marimba quartet that explores the concept of time through its rhythmic patterns and musical themes. The piece features a unique element of two woodblocks that imitate the sound of a ticking clock, providing a consistent pulse that drives the piece forward. The quartet incorporates two famous musical themes: "Dies Irae," a medieval chant that represents the Day of Judgment, and the "Westminster Chimes," a series of four notes used in the famous clock tower of the Palace of Westminster in London. These themes are woven throughout the piece, adding to its haunting and suspenseful quality. Wooden Timepiece was commissioned by OU Graduate Percussion Quartet in 2021.

Texas Tech University Percussion Ensemble