Marimba Solos and Xylophone Solos

This piece features closely "stacked" chords moving gracefully and rhythmically through multiple meters and tempi. The central section is a flowing chorale full of opportunities for musical nuance. Requires four mallets - 4.5 octave marimba. adv. high school/college.

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.

A very expressive marimba solo, Angle of Repose portrays the sadness, struggle and resolution of losing someone. A large majority of this piece is derived from a single melodic theme, used in both chorale and melodically independent settings. Requires 4 1/2-octave marimba.  adv. high school/college.

Price: $35.00

Challenging, contemporary Argentinean work scored for marimba soloist with percussion quartet accompaniment - in three short movements. Quartet instrumentation: xylophone, bells, vibraphone, snare and bass drum. Version for marimba duo with quartet accompaniment also available. college/professional.

Price: $10.00

Playable on a 4 1/3 octave marimba, Atrium Dance makes use of fun, flashy, repeating figures that allow the performer to concentrate on technique and phrasing without vast numbers of ever changing intervals. A short piece with wide audience accessibility, this piece would be appropriate for marimbists with intermediate level 4-mallet technique. A unique feature is the cadenza, which gives the marimbist an opportunity to improvise using a limited number of pitches. The piece would work equally well as an opening/closing or encore selection for recitals. high school/college.

Price: $19.95

Scored for Marimba/Vibraphone
and Piano.  Five short movements - several lyrical and a couple raging!.
adv. high school/college.

Inspired by a visit to Taiwan and it's beautiful landscape, flora and fauna, this challenging and unique
marimba solo
would make a great addition to a
recital program! 
Scored for 5-octave marimba, four mallets.  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

Cliffs of Moher is a challenging four-mallet composition that utilizes contrary motion between the hands and fast technical passages throughout. It is meant to elicit the beauty of Ireland’s landscape and shoreline.  Requires 5-octave marimba.  adv. high school/college.

Lively, three-movement, rhythmic showcase for marimba. In movements I and III, the player uses two mallets; in movement II - four mallets. With it's lilting melodies, this will be a very audience-friendly addition to any concert line-up! Duration ca. 11' - requires a 5-octave marimba. adv. high school/college.

[Orchestra Parts: Rental]

SEE ALSO:
DANCE for Marimba and Piano and Eastern Fantasia for Solo Marimba.

Marimba and Piano:
$25.95

Orchestra Score:
$25.95

Challenging three movement work for band/orchestra and the accomplished marimba soloist!
Concerto for Marimba
was commissioned by marimbist Drew Lang.
He premiered the orchestral version of the work at the
prestigious
International Festival Institute
at Round Top,
under the direction of
Edwin Outwater.  college/professional.   

[Band and Orchestra Parts: Rental]

Marimba Solo: $17.95

Marimba Solo and Piano Reduction: $35.95

Band Score: $60.00

Orchestra Score: $60.00

Commissioned and premiered by Drew Lang, A Cross On Wood makes use of contemporary marimba techniques which include displaced octaves, fast scale passages, and poly-rhythms. While there is an extended passage of rolled notes (four-mallets) at the outset and a brief return to this material at the end, overall this is an energetic and very rhythmic piece. The key scheme follows the pattern D-Ab-B-F-D. When this pattern is placed on a "circle of fifths" chart, it forms a cross, hence the title of the piece. adv. high school/college.

Second place winner
in the 2003 PAS composition contest! Scored for Marimba and Soundscape. Unique intermediate level marimba solo that incorporates contemporary marimba techniques.
[Four mallets - 4 1/3 octave marimba]. Performance score and CD included.

Lively, very rhythmic feature for marimba - requires four mallets throughout. Great musical interaction between the piano and marimba - a versatile work, well suited for advanced recitals as well as a variety of public performance settings. Duration ca. 6' - requires a 5-octave marimba. college/professional.

 Interlocking melo-rhythmic patterns make this a challenge for the discerning marimbist.
Scored for 4 1/3-octave marimba, ca. 4'. adv. high school/college.

This is a highly rhythmic and driving marimba solo that conveys the "columns of sound" carried in an urban setting. This challenging four-mallet work would be a great choice for the advanced level percussionist looking for a platform that will display his/her well-developed sense of musicality and finesse. [Requires low E] college/professional.

Deu me Alegria
for
Marimba/Vibraphone
Jessica Muñiz
Price: $11.50

Scored for marimba and vibraphone (one player), this work was inspired by a visit to Northeastern Brazil, and in particular the rhythmic configuration known as Baião, prevalent in the region.  Requires four mallets, 4 1/3 octave marimba.  adv. high school/college.

Lively feature for solo xylophonist and band.
adv. high school/college.

This is a challenging, rhythm-driven recital piece which makes use of many unique melodic and harmonic elements. The central, subtle, and more ethereal sections require the performer to display a great deal of musical nuance, before returning to driving, interlocking, melo-rhythmic patterns to close the piece.  Well suited for advanced recitals as well as a variety of public performance settings.  Duration ca. 5' 50" - requires a 4 1/3-octave marimba.  college/professional. 
SEE ALSO: Concertino for Marimba and Orch. and DANCE for Marimba and Piano.

Audience friendly, yet challenging for the performer, this marimba solo requires
well developed four-mallet technique.  Written in two parts, the first section is a relaxed chorale, while part
two is very rhythmic with interlocking and fast-moving melodic lines.  college. 
SEE ALSO:
Life's Questions
and
Rosebush.

Ensemble for One is dedicated to Japan, in remembrance of the tragedy of 11 March 2011. This piece, in a single movement requires four-mallets, a 5-octave marimba and a multiple percussion set-up consisting of bass drum,
3 temple blocks,
4 tom toms and a
Chinese cymbal.

[A version for soloist and orchestra is also available.]
college/ professional.

Inspired by impressions
of Sakurajima
(the renowned volcano
in Japan), this is a challenging four-mallet marimba solo that offers both, challenges for the performer, and a very appealing aural experience for the listener!  Requires a 4 1/3 octave marimba and the technical ability for independent mallet movement.  adv. high school/college.

Alexander Scriabin
Arr. for Solo Marimba
Pablo Blanco Cordero
Price: $17.95

Special Prize -
2023 PAS Italy
Composition Contest. Challenging, yet wonderfully adapted for Solo Marimba [4-mallets]. This piece would make an impressive addition to any recital or concert program!

Video Sample

Digital Download Version

A challenging work for the experienced marimbist and pianist. Scored in a manner that allows for much intricate melodic and rhythmic interaction between the parts - relying extensively on the performer's interpretive abilities. college/professional.

An audience friendly work with an accessible marimba solo that would be a great way to feature a performer with intermediate to advanced level performance abilities. This piece would make a unique contribution to any recital program! adv. high school/college.

SEE ALSO:
Silence of Sirens

Frederick Chopin
Arr. for Solo Marimba
Pablo Blanco Cordero
Price: $17.95

Special Prize -
2021 PAS Italy
Composition Contest. Challenging, yet wonderfully adapted for Solo Marimba [4-mallets], this piece would make a welcome, audience friendly addition to any concert program!

Accessible contemporary piece for solo marimba in three sections (ABA'). Requires intermediate level four-mallet skills - interlocking rhythms and polyrhythms between hands (3:2). adv high school/college.

Appealing recital collection of five works for solo marimba, contemporary yet lyrical, four mallets. adv. high school/college.

SEE ALSO:
Suite for Marimba,

Two Impressions
 and
Invention for Two Marimbas.

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.

Lively feature for solo xylophonist and band. adv. high school/college.

Four short works for solo marimba that are accessible to younger, as well as more advanced, performers. Collection requires basic four-mallet techniques (marimba), but pieces could also be adapted/played by two players on one instrument. jr. high-college.

A challenging four-movement work for solo marimba - for the intermediate/advanced performer - requires well-developed four-mallet marimba technique. Each movement has a different feel and corresponding challenges, yet the main thematic material flows loosely through each.
ca.12’ duration.
adv. high school/college