Marimba Solos and Xylophone Solos

Inspired by a trip to the Galapagos Islands, this is an accessible five-movement suite for the intermediate to advanced level performer. Requires 4 mallets and a 4.5-octave marimba.
adv. high school/college.

This work for solo marimba was inspired by a dried-up riverbed, resulting from the deadly drought in Central Texas during the summer of 2000. Written in an ABA form, the opening section depicts the flow of the river, from small droplets, to a flowing, active river. The middle chorale section is a lamentation over the death of the river. The ending section looks forward to the river coming back to life, flowing with water once again. Intermediate level, four-mallet solo, great for recitals or contests.
adv. high school/college.

Price: $27.95

This collection of eight solos, offers a diverse set of pieces - each with  different  character -  melodious, rhythmical, odd-time signatures, etc.

 Challenging for the intermediate level player who is seeking to enhance his/her four-mallet skills. Fun to play and very audience accessible.
adv. high school/college.

These two etudes are dedicated to Clair Omar Musser as homage to his enduring legacy which helped establish the marimba as a legitimate concert instrument. Harmonically, the etudes follow progressions derived from Musser’s published etudes and preludes, which can be described as late Romantic Era harmonies.  The etudes make use of a variety of stroke types such as independent single verticals, double verticals & double laterals. Challenging for the intermediate level player who is seeking to enhance his/her four-mallet skills. 
adv. high school/college.

Price: $21.00

Impromptu op. 90 N. 4 in A/b Major, requires four mallets and a 5-octave marimba. This piece is one of the most beautiful of Schubert's Impromptu - here skillfully transcribed for marimba. college/professional.
Premiere:
Claudio Santangelo
Grotte di Frasassi (Italy)
24 July 2012.

Inspired by NEXUS' first concert tour of Japan.
Solo xylophone w/mallet ensemble and/or piano accompaniment.
adv. high school/college.
[Recorded on The Solo Percussionist/The Music of William L. Cahn - CD 10339/NEXUS]
[Version for solo percussion and symphony orchestra is also available on a rental basis]

Two-mallet piece for solo marimba - for experienced performers. This piece is a flurry of notes from beginning to end!
college.

Marimba solo composed in three sections with introduction. Introduction utilizes one-handed independent rolls followed by a polyrhythmic melody, unfolding into a beautiful, slow middle section. After a brief transition, the recap explores various roll types and contemporary marimba techniques. college.

A fun piece for solo marimba in five short movements: G. Hopp, Ballad of C Roach, Ant Invasion, Bness and Romance of the Moths - duration ca. 6'.  Each movement attempts to convey physical motions or images of the insect represented in the title.  Scored for 5-octave marimba, four mallets. 
adv. high school/college.

Bodine's second concerto for marimba is a challenging, yet accessible work for the accomplished marimbist!  Recorded by Pedro Carneiro and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra - CD. 

[Orchestra/Band parts available on a rental basis]

Marimba Solo: $18.00

Orchestra Score: $48.00

Marimba Solo and Orchestra Score: $60.00

Band Score: $48.00

Marimba Solo and Band Score: $60.00

Short four-mallet solo for marimba in a chorale-style.
high school/college.

Price: $17.95

A suite in four short movements (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter) - two scored for marimba and two scored for vibraphone. A fine composition for the performer who is just starting to develop his/her 4-mallet playing - nice melodies and interesting compositional techniques. A very accessible and useful piece for both pedagogical purposes
and performance.
jr. high-college.

A collection of charming Latin tunes for the marimba soloist - all require four-mallets and some can be played with small percussion instruments as accompaniment. Titles: Perfume De Gardenias, Natalia, Yacambú,
¡No Me Toques!, Almendra and Misionera.
A CD is included with performances by Cotto. adv. high school/college.

Price: $17.95

Originally scored for marimba and soundscape (sounds created by computer) this challenging solo has been revised to be played by solo marimba (four-mallets and bow). Inspired by a lunar eclipse, the piece moves through a number of different textures and while overall it is very rhythmic, does also offer the advanced performer amble opportunity to display his/her musical finesse and ability at subtle expression. college/professional. Duration approx: 8' 40". [Recorded on CD - Marimba Spiritual/Nanae Mimura - SRCR 2565/SONY Records]

Appealing two-movement marimba
solo for the intermediate/advanced player. The first movement is in a slow chorale style (four-mallets) and the second, more lengthy movement, offers up-tempo, interlocking melo-rhythmic figures. An audience pleasing choice for recitals. adv. high school/college.
 ". . . excellent for an advanced high school or college recital."
((Percussive Notes,
April '01)
SEE ALSO:
Echo Rhythm
and Rosebush. 

Lily Pads is a challenging
four-mallet composition that demands great rhythmic, melodic and dynamic independence. This composition for solo marimba has an impressionistic sound, resulting from a blend of both strict and gently stretched lines between the hands.
Requires 4 1/2-octave marimba. 
adv. high school/college.

Challenging, yet accessible audience friendly collection of six titles for solo marimba. Two titles are scored for two mallets while the other four require intermediate/advanced four-mallet technique. This collection would work well as a "concert suite" or titles could be played separately for recitals, contests, etc. Requires 4 1/3-octave marimba. adv. high school/college.

SEE ALSO:
PRISMS for B-Flat Clarinet and Marimba
and
PRISMS for Flute and Marimba.

Unique solo scored for marimba and vibraphone - one player. The piece starts with driving rhythms on the marimba, moves seamlessly to a ballad like section on vibraphone, and ends with interlocking melo-rhythmic patterns performed simultaneously between the two instruments. Something a bit different for the developing 4-mallet player and an interesting choice for recitals given the visual aspects of one player utilizing two instruments simultaneously!
high school-college.

Price: $12.95

A challenging four-mallet
solo, that utilizes traditional as well as "mandolin" style rolls, intricate rhythms and contemporary yet accessible tonalities. Marimba Fantasy is constructed in a roughly palindromic arc, drawing its melodic and harmonic materials from a superimposition of the keys of F# major and D minor. Though continually shifting, the meters used in the opening and ending, as well as frequently throughout, are also palindromes (ex.: the opening bars, in 11/16 time signature,
are in a metric pattern of 3+2+1+2+3). It is overall a somewhat eclectic piece, with sudden transitions from light, lilting dances to furious statements of the opening motives; and from sharp angular figures to gentle chorales. This would make a great addition to any marimba soloist's repertoire!
adv high school/college.

Price: $15.95

2nd place winner - 2011 PAS Italy Composition Contest.  Accessible four-mallet solo, appealing to performers and audiences alike.

Price: $22.95

A challenging solo, originally composed for
Nancy Zeltsman. This is a single movement work scored for marimba (low A) and electronic sounds (a subtle blend of synthesizer timbres and acoustic sounds - CD included). Four-mallets required. college/professional.

THIS collection of etudes is intended for marimbists at all performance levels - beginner through graduate student, the book offers approaches and challenges appropriate for any student of the marimba. The initial etudes, such as Gentle Angles, are accessible to a novice marimba player, whereas the final etudes will challenge accomplished performers.

EACH etude is preceded by a description of the primary technical and musical issues to be encountered, as well as suggested exercise progressions which will assist in preparation of the etude. In addition, the etudes are purposefully brief, to assist memorization and accessibility. However, much care was taken to make each etude a complete composition in its own right.

THIS book may be used effectively in conjunction with/or as a supplement to numerous mallet texts, including Leigh Steven's Method of Movement,
as well as Luigi Morleo's
120 Progressive Four-Mallet Studies for Marimba
and
60 Advanced Four-Mallet Studies for Marimba.

A challenging work
- approx. 9 minutes in length. Commissioned by New Music Marimba
and performed by
William Moersch
at PASIC 2000,
this a stimulating
addition to the advanced recital repertoire!
Although originally written for a 5-octave instrument, this piece can be readily adapted so as to be performed on a 4 and 1/2 or
4 and 1/3 octave marimba.
At times intense, at times expressive, this work for solo marimba will allow the performer an amble opportunity to display his/her musical finesse! college/professional.

[Recorded on Mindscape - CD Bridge 9204]

Price: $19.95

A great recital suite for the intermediate/advanced performer - technically challenging, yet audience friendly! Three movements, requires a 5-octave marimba - ca. 11'.

~

Dedicated to Momoko Kamiya, this work requires four mallets and a 5-octave marimba.
The piece is the first movement of Santangelo's Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra. Because of it's beautiful melodies, it is possible to play this piece without Orchestra or Piano. While this work presents significant technical difficulties for the player, it can be easily appreciated by both percussionists and
concert audiences alike.
college/professional.

A Challenging new title from G. Bradly Bodine, scored for marimba soloist with percussion ensemble college/professional.

In Preparation.

Nasty Roach is a solo marimba piece that is challenging, yet enjoyable to perform. This composition is designed
to build four-mallet technique, and music interpretation skills.
Nasty Roach is a jazzy
(post be-bop) mallet piece that is fast and furious,
yet subtle and graceful. This piece urges the percussionist to exhibit lightning chops as well as insightful musical depth.
A perfect encore piece
for any recital!
college.

Playable on a 4 1/2 octave instrument (low Ab), this three movement set for solo marimba will challenge even the most experienced performers! This work requires a high degree of mallet independence and musical finesse as many passages make use of subtle changes in roll speeds and textures. college/professional.

For solo marimba - opens with a brief chorale-like section and then moves into lively interlocking rhythms. Great piece for the intermediate level player wanting to strengthen his/her four-mallet skills.
high school/college.

Great collection of musical etudes that will enhance any performer’s four-mallet technique. This book can stand alone as a four-mallet text for those students just beginning four-mallet studies, or it can be utilized in conjunction with other methods for more advanced players. Each section focuses on a particular
"stroke type" (Double Vertical,
Single Independent,
Single Alternating, et al).
A very worthwhile addition
to currently available pedagogical materials.
 
SEE ALSO:
MARIMBA-SYNTHESIS
and
60 Advanced Four-Mallet
 Studies for Marimba.

A challenging work for the accomplished marimbist!  A great choice for an advanced level recital program.
5-octave marimba. college/professional.

Another accessible marimba solo from Luigi Morleo that will aid in
the development
of four-mallet technique - featuring interlocking
melo-rhythmic patterns
between the hands. Fun to play and interesting
adv. high school/college.

"This composition fulfills a dual function - serving as an excellent practice etude while also meeting the criteria of a solo work."
(Percussive Notes,
April "01)

Spacial melodic lines build out of a fast moving, highly energetic rhythmic mix. Great for developing today's contemporary mallet technique on marimba. college/professional.

Explores four-mallet independence - one-handed rolls, an excellent addition to the college level repertoire for solo marimba.