Concerto for Marimba (Eight Hands) and Wind Ensemble (Mobberley)

From Wind Repertory Project
James Mobberley

James Mobberley


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General Info

Year: 1996 / 1998
Duration: c. 20:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Marimba and orchestra
Publisher: Cautious Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown


Movements

1. Preludio y Danzas
2. Tapiz para el Kapitan
3. Finale: Tarantella/Bolero


Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Marimba I-II-III-IV
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II (II doubling English horn)
English Horn
Bassoon I-II (II doubling Contrabassoon)
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano
Harp/Synthesizer
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

(percussion detail desired)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This work was written for Laurence Kaptain and Marimba Yajalon, an ensemble of four percussionists who perform on an authentic folk instrument indigenous to Chiapas, the southernmost state in Mexico. The most unusual and characteristic quality of this instrument is the "buzzing" sound created by a kazoo-like membrane at the bottom of each resonator, creating a sound unlike that of any other mallet instrument. The unique range, timbre, and tradition of this instrument played an important role in the writing of the music. Mobberley describes his music as follows:

I wanted to capture the spirit of the instrument without simply arranging existing folk tunes. However, I also wanted to put my individual stamp on the composition without carrying the music completely beyond the instrument's roots. As a result, each movement draws on some pre-existing traditions. Each diverges, in varying degrees, from these sources. Movement I takes Spanish guitar harmonies as a point of departure, but the two dances that result are obviously for dancers with an unusual number of feet(!). Movement II begins without reference to traditional Chiapan music, but as the tempo increases, more and more melodic fragments of eight tunes are woven into the musical fabric (the Spanish word "tapiz" or "tapestry") until two complete tunes emerge. I chose tunes that are very common in Chiapas, and in particular are favorites of Laurence Kaptain. The last movement draws on two traditional dance forms, tarantella and bolero, but the result is not quite either one. It also uses a Chiapan folk tune as its melodic basis, but the harmonizations are distinctly non-traditional.

- Program Note from score, orchestral version


Re-orchestration from the original concerto (with orchestra) commissioned by Eric Rombach-Kendall for the University of New Mexico Wind Ensemble.

- Program Note from publisher


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • James Mobberley website Accessed 22 December 2021
  • Mobberley, J. (1998). Concerto for Marimba (Eight Hands) and Wind Ensemble [score]. Cautious Music: [Kansas City, Mo.].
  • Perusal score
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