February 16, 1984

Date: February 16, 1984

Time: 19:00 

Venue: Oberlin, OH

World Premiere

Marimba Music (1983)

commissioned by Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen, marimba

Solo Part (1983)(18 min.)
Item Number: 144-40201
Number of Pages: 20
Duration: 0:18:00

Scoring

Recording

Album Title: Solo Works of Daniel Asia

Label Summit Records [product id: DCD 422]

Commissioned by

Michael Rosen

Performances

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1984
OBERLIN, OH
WORLD PREMIERE
Michael Rosen, marimba

Program Notes

This composition is a set of variations based on a three-part theme. The variations are gathered together in three movements, each with its own distinct shape and mood.

The first movement presents the theme and a few variations. The general character of these variations are improvisatory and probing. The final variation is a presto that brings the first movement to a breathless finish. The second movement is somewhat of a continuation of the last variation of the previous movement. It moves quite quickly in steady sixteenth notes (although with a bit of rubato). This gives way to a collage cadenza. Here the musical movement is again somewhat hesitant and pondering. It is characterized by quick changes of mood, from very pensive to slightly mad! This section gives way to a return of the sixteenth note motion of the opening variation. The final movement is marked majestic, and includes a dance-like section, that has almost a Renaissance quality to it. These dance-like sections always give way to the variation material. A final reference is made to the very first variation, then a short coda brings this twenty minute work to a close.

The work is meant to provide a substantial piece for the marimba literature, which is generally composed of works under 10 minutes in duration. The work was commissioned by Michael Rosen of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

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