Difference between revisions of "Mallet Quartet"

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== Instrumentation ==
 
== Instrumentation ==
Player I: [[Marimba]] or [[Vibraphone]]<br>
+
Player I: [[Vibraphone]]<br>
Player II: Marimba or Vibraphone<br>
+
Player II: Vibraphone<br>
 
Player III: Marimba<br>
 
Player III: Marimba<br>
 
Player IV: Marimba<br>
 
Player IV: Marimba<br>
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Solo Percussionist and [[with Tape]]<br>
 
Solo Percussionist and [[with Tape]]<br>
 
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<!-- Use the above format for entering instrumentation for chamber works or pieces with multiple performers. Make sure you use a line break <nowiki>( <br /> )</nowiki> at the end of each line to achieve the desired effect (a vertical list, view any composition page for an example). If you do not know the instrumentation, you can enter {{help}} instead. You may delete this text once this is done.-->
 
  
 
== Errata ==
 
== Errata ==

Revision as of 22:34, 16 October 2013

Steve Reich


General Info

Year: 2009
Duration: c. 14:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: B&H
Cost: Parts - $46.77   |   Score Only - $29.61

Movements

1. Fast
2. Slow
3. Fast


Instrumentation

Player I: Vibraphone
Player II: Vibraphone
Player III: Marimba
Player IV: Marimba

Solo Percussionist and with Tape

Errata

Program Notes

Mallet Quartet (2009) is scored for two vibraphones and two five octave marimbas. I had never written for five octave marimbas extending down to cello C. On the one hand I was delighted to have the possibility of a low bass and on the other hand apprehensive since just slightly too hard a mallet that low can produce noise instead of pitch. Eventually, after a bit of experimentation, this was well worked out.

The piece is in three movements, fast, slow, fast. In the two outer fast movements the marimbas set the harmonic background which remains rather static compared to recent pieces of mine like Double Sextet (2007). The marimbas interlock in canon, also a procedure I have used in many other works. The vibes present the melodic material first solo and then in canon. However, in the central slow movement the texture changes into a thinner more transparent one with very spare use of notes, particularly in the marimbas. I was originally concerned this movement might just be ‘too thin’, but I think it ends up being the most striking, and certainly the least expected, of the piece.

Mallet Quartet is about 15 minutes in duration. It was co-commissioned by the Amadinda Quartet in Budapest, on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary, Nexus in Toronto, So Percussion in New York, Synergy Percussion in Australia, and Soundstreams in Canada. The world Premiere was given by the Amadinda Quartet in Bela Bartók National Concert Hall on December 6, 2009. The American Premiere was given by So Percussion at Stanford University Lively Arts in California on January 9, 2010.[1]


Awards

Commercial Discography

Recent Performances

To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database


Works for Percussion by this Composer

Drumming - Percussion Ensemble (9); Voice; Piccolo
Mallet Quartet - Percussion Quartet, Mallet Ensemble
Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ - Percussion Quartet; Voices; Organ
Music for Pieces of Wood - Percussion Quintet
Nagoya Marimbas - Marimba Duo
Piano Phase - Marimba Duo
Sextet - Percussion Quartet; Piano (2)
Six Marimbas - Percussion Sextet

Additional Resources

References