Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra (Basta)

James Basta

General Info

Year: 1956
Duration: c. 14:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Range: 4.0 Octave Range C3-C7
Publisher: MFP
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Marimba

Orchestra

Program Notes

written for/dedicated to/premiered by: James R. Dotson, 1956, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, Eastman-Rochester Orchestra, Howard Hanson, cond.

Review

This work, long a favorite of marimbists, but rather hard to obtain in manuscript form, is finally available in a clean, readable printing. Although it has a style entirely its own, it is technical on about the same level as the more often performed Creston CONCERTINO FOR MARIMBA AND ORCHESTRA. The rhythms, while developed within traditional meters, require accurate and secure transitions from eighth notes to triplets of eighths to sixteenth notes in all sorts of arrangements. Other technical problems include rapid double strokes, some contrapuntal movement between hands, some fairly intricate interval maneuvers in the four mallet section, double stops, octaves, and some tricky leaps. Although the work is not divided into movements, it is comprised of sections with a variety of tempi and styles. The piano accompaniment requires a pianist with agile technical facilities. All interpretive marks are clear and appropriate. - Linda Pimentel, Fall 1978

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra (Basta) - Marimba, Orchestra