SACRED and HOLIDAY music for Percussion Instruments

This challenging arrangement for solo marimba (four-mallets), is comprised of a four-part chorale-style exposition of the famous early American melody, followed by four variations in contrasting styles. The variations make use of performance practices of West African players of the gyil (ostinato figures in one hand against polyrhythmic melodic fragments in the other), quartel and quintal harmonies, arpeggiated textures (reminiscent of Japanese Koto performance) as well as copious use of independent rolls (single-handed). The five movements can be played as a "suite" or independently as the performance context requires. This is an ideal piece for sacred contexts as well as the recital hall. adv. high school/college.

The purpose of this edition is to provide the working percussionist with a collection of Christmas
carols, all of which are concert worthy. Appropriate for a variety of settings, these pieces can be performed as solos, duets, or with any larger number of players. Great care was taken to maintain the integrity and character of each piece. Various techniques for two and four mallets are incorporated, as well as many different styles of music from around the world. The order of the pieces as it is, can work well for a concert program. The performer should feel free to improvise his/her own ideas when musically relevant. Some pieces were arranged for a four-and-a-half octave marimba, and will need to be transposed up an octave, or into another key to be used on a smaller marimba. Reference CD included.
high school/college.

More Christmas/Holiday titles.   

Insansa Christmas - CD

Unique solo adaptations
- a combination of
contemporary performance techniques
(one-handed rolls, etc.)
with traditional hymn tunes
(Blessed Assurance, et al).
The five movements can be played in sequence as one unified selection, or individual movements can be played as separate, shorter selections. Four mallets.
adv. high school/college.

Price: $8.95

This work is an appealing treatment of various hymn tunes woven together into one continuous showcase for the solo vibist's musicality and interpretive abilities! Suitable for the recital hall or sacred settings. adv. high school/college.  

". . . offers ample opportunity for expression and sufficient technical material to impress the listener."  (Percussive Notes )

Jerusalem 1099, scored for
solo multiple percussion, sonically depicts the
crusaders’ capture
of Jerusalem in the year 1099. It may also be considered symbolic of our earthly
journey to the heavenly Jerusalem. The final section, played on ringing bowls, quotes a traditional Latin burial antiphon, “Into paradise…Jerusalem.”
. . . Brett Jones

Instrumentation:
Graduated Toms (4),
Brake Drum, Cymbal, Cowbell,
Bass Drum and Bowls (6).
adv. high school/college.

[Revised 2012]
A wonderfully accessible adaptation of this widely known piece - re-worked for solo marimba (four-mallets). This version would work equally well for sacred contexts, weddings or the
recital hall!
adv. high school/college. Duration approx: 5' 45" - requires a 5 octave marimba.
[Recorded on CD - Marimba Spiritual/Nanae Mimura - SRCR 2565, SONY Records]

Inspired by biblical passages from Isaiah and I Peter this challenging solo was commissioned by the New Mexico Music Teachers Association. Premiered by Christopher Shultis, this work displays many interesting textures and allows ample opportunity
for an advanced performer to show discerning musical finesse.
[Four mallets - 4 1/3 octave marimba]. college/professional.

"The musical vocabulary is contemporary and full of passion. Marimba players looking for advanced literature will find this work challenging and musically rewarding."
(Percussive Notes)

This is a beautiful, melodic and accessible intermediate to advanced level marimba solo that incorporates many contemporary marimba techniques. Inspired by the composer’s experience with the death of a loved one and the ensuing grieving process the work "is meant to capture death’s grief and the coping that accompanies it, while addressing very important marimba techniques. Conceptually the solo aims to bridge the gap between two poles in percussion literature - particularly advanced pieces with little accessibility, and elementary pieces that revolve around exercising certain techniques, with what seems to be little regard for the music involved. . . . I prefer to think of this more like a tone poem about the grieving process with a peaceful resolution."(BW)
[Four mallets - 4 octave marimba]. adv. high school/college.

Scored for two multi-percussionists and narrator - percussionists interpret text based on New Testament scripture. Twelve movements, can
be performed in various combinations, requires large array of percussion instruments: timpani (4), chimes, xylophone, tam tam, vibes, orchestra bells, and numerous small percussion instruments; whistles, maracas, cymbals, claves, . . .
adv. high school/college.

Price: $15.00

Scored for vibraphone
(four-mallets) and flute,
this work would be at
home in a sacred setting
or in the recital hall.
The challenging
vibraphone part offers
many opportunities for artistic expression,
while the flute part is
less complex and
easily accessible.
adv. high school/college.

This is a challenging four-mallet vibraphone solo with piano accompaniment. The work explores the rhythmic and harmonic interplay between the two instruments as each shares its responsibilities to accompany and to lead. “...and now these three remain...” could be equally at home in the recital hall or the church sanctuary. advanced high school/college.

Scored for soprano and vibraphone. The text (in English) for Come Away
draws from the Song of Solomon, in the Hebrew Scripture. The original prose is the serenade of a young man inviting his beloved to follow him
for a time of romance.
In Come Away,
the words evolve into
a ballad of unrequited love. Nice change of pace for recitals or sacred settings!
Requires 4 mallets. adv. high school/college.

Scored for mezzo-soprano
and vibraphone. This work consists of two short but challenging movements:
Kyrie and Gloria,
and makes use of Greek nd Latin texts. The vibraphone part does not serve merely as accompaniment to the soprano, but rather in many instances displays interesting rhythmic and melodic counterpoint to
the sopranos' melodic lines. The vibraphone part requires four-mallets and intermediate/advanced technique.
This piece offers a unique setting of these texts and would be appropriate both for sacred settings and the concert hall! college.

Written for Doug Walter, and scored for soprano (opt. tenor) and vibraphone, this work is based on four poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins that portray many different aspects of the Holy Trinity.
A challenging work for vibist, this work would be suitable for both the recital hall or a sacred setting. college.

This musical portrait, inspired by events in the Book of Acts, is scored for the unique pairing of harp and one multi-percussionist. Plenty of room in this one to display one's musical finesse with regard to dynamics and subtle nuance. Suitable for the recital hall or sacred settings. Percussion instrumentation: glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, tom toms (5), bass drum suspended cymbal (3), and gong. college.

A collection of well-known International Christmas songs arranged for percussion trio - vibraphone, marimba and timpani - with optional parts for percussion ensemble.
Titles: Adeste Fidelis (ENGLAND), Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (ENGLAND), Jingle Bells (USA), Kommet Ihr Hirten (BOHEMIA), Les anges dans nos campagnes (FRANCE), O Du Fröhliche (ITALY / GERMANY), Süßer die Glocken nie klingen (GERMANY).
Optional percussion parts: snare, triangle, bass drum, tambourine, cymbal, drumset, sleigh bells, guiro, cowbell, cabasa, claves, crotales, maracas, vibraslap. Score and parts: 78 pages.

Price: $29.95

Festive collection of eight titles for the holiday season. The arrangements in this collection are all part of a genre known as VILLANCICO. This is the Spanish label for a traditional popular song. Originating in medieval Spain this musical style often included dance rhythms,
and it subsequently became very popular in
Latin America.
The term now frequently refers to Christmas songs. 
Arranged for
three players
on one
4 1/3-octave marimba. 
high school/college.

Price: $22.95

This is a crowd-pleasing feature for a marimba soloist - scored for marimba trio and Bodhran (tom tom, or other drum could substitute). Great if you have at least one 5-octave instrument, but can be easily adapted to 4 1/3 octave instruments. adv. high school/college.

Scored for 11 players, this is an accessible arrangement of a holiday favorite. Instrumentation: Crotales, Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Chimes, Marimba [2-3], Drum set, Triangle/Tambourine/Cow Bell and Timpani [4].
high school/college.

Lively arrangement with a swing groove.  Scored for 8 players: bells, xylophone, vibraphone (2), marimba (3 players/two instruments, one 4 1/3 octave), and drum set.  Instantly audience recognizable, seasonal favorite, a great "opener" or "closer" for a percussion concert!
high school/college.