The Marimba-Vibe: music for one performer at two instruments
After decades of using this setup in small ensembles, I decided to undertake a PhD in 2019, studying and developing a solo repertoire for the ‘marimba-vibe’ (my term for the marimba and vibraphone, arranged side-by-side in a ‘V formation’).
Recording Symmetries #3 at Crank Recording.
Percussionists who have written marimba-vibe solos include Ney Rosauro (1985), Thad Anderson (2010 & 2014), Emmanuel Séjourné (2017), Michael Burritt (2019), David Pye (2019), Leonard Waltersdorfer (2020) and myself (2020 & 2021). You can find the complete YouTube playlist of marimba-vibe solos HERE. If you know of any I’ve missed, please let me know! My recordings of the 8 works written for my PhD research, plus Thad Anderson’s ‘OPEN/shut’ (2010) and Roger Smalley’s ‘Music for an Imaginary Ballet’ (1993) can be heard HERE.
Information for composers and performers can be found below and my thesis is HERE (guides have been removed, but are available below).
Composing for the M-V?
In an effort to encourage the development of this repertoire, I produced A Guide to Composing works for the Marimba-Vibe for my composer friends. It includes a brief intro; playlist; setup options (‘stacked’, ‘reverse stacked’, ‘V-formation’ and ‘reverse V-formation’); detailed advice on V-formation notation; general 4-mallet tips; and technical possibilities and effects that have been used or are waiting to be explored in future compositions. The guide includes a link to an online resource, demonstrating the sound of the various techniques and effects discussed.
Available in 'Downloadable Scores (pdf)' .
The V-formation
with foot cajon, glock and bells (needed for Symmetries #3…to Nigel)
Performing an M-V piece?
In an effort to encourage future performers, I produced A Guide to Performing works for the Marimba-Vibe. It includes a complete playlist; setup options (‘stacked’, ‘reverse stacked’, ‘V-formation’ and ‘reverse V-formation’); detailed advice on V-formation set-up; my mallet choices for the entire V-formation repertoire; technical advice; reproducible left-foot and body positions; and specific advice for each piece.
Available in 'Downloadable Scores (pdf)' .
Page 11 of the performers’ guide.
Marimba-Vibe videos
The pieces in the videos below were composed for my PhD study (2019-2022). A complete playlist of marimba-vibe solos, including works by Ney Rosauro, Emmanuel Séjourné, Michael Burritt and Leonard Waltersdorfer may be found HERE .