Palindrome
Marimba - Sheet Music

Marimba quartet Marimba Quartet (4 marimbas (4 octave))

SKU: IP.E-JB-PAL

Composed by Joe Beam. Score and set of parts. Duration 9 minutes. Innovative Percussion #E-JB-PAL. Published by Innovative Percussion (IP.E-JB-PAL).

8.5x11 inches.

Composer's notes: Measures 1-21: Each player plays a 4 note ostinato. Measures 23-54: The same 5 basic notes are used for each player - C, C#, Eb, F, G. There are a couple variations of accidentals including an E-natural and an F#. Measures 55-66: A new 7 note ostinato enters in each voice in the same octave. Because each player enters a measure apart, the unison notes and rhythm never become unison. Measures 71-117: Each part is similar but juxtaposed by several beats. Each voice should balance with the others. The changes in rhythm should create interesting melodic lines to emerge from the others. The "chaos" finally aligns and becomes unison but only for a measure and a half. The unison then quickly breaks down into simplistic quarter notes. Measure 118-143: This the transitional roll section. It serves as a "palette cleanser-. After the non-stop rhythms so far, this section is meant to be a complete contrast. Marimba 1 is basically a soloist with a simple melody, accompanied by simple chords. This section humorously and appropriately ends with a plagal cadence. Measures 144-the end: The piece starts again with a complete retrograde of the beginning.

-Palindrome" is basically through-composed for the first half of the piece. After the transitional roll section, the piece is in complete retrograde, thus creating the palindrome. "Palindrome" remains the same tempo throughout; however, the syncopation and time signature changes create a sense of changing pulse. There is also a minimalistic approach to the piece. Each player is responsible for a certain rhythmic idea and a certain grouping of notes in each section.