Watch the Melting Glaciers is an intermediate level composition for two-mallet marimba and piano. It utilizes the polyrhythm of four over three, which is also found in the speech cadence of the title itself.
Delineated in seven sections, Glaciers is a programmatic composition loosely constructed around the subject of global warming. Built on a major/minor tonality, it has a sound that is both accessible and contemporary. The element of improvisation is employed in one section, and improvisational suggestions are offered in the performance notes.
This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD-Rom containing a video of the piece being performed, an audio recording for reference, and both the solo and accompaniment parts available for printing.
Performed by Gary Fieldman (marimba)
and Maxim Lubarski (piano)
Glaciers Reviews
Joshua D. Smith
Reviewed in Percussive Notes July 2010
“This two-mallet solo for 4.0-octave marimba and piano is a seven-section work that lasts approximately 5½ minutes. Written in a through-composed style, both instruments share the responsibility of communicating the character of this programmatic piece that is “loosely constructed around the subject of global warming.” There is a balanced give-and-take narrative between both players and refreshingly smooth transitions between each section.
This piece will expose a marimbist to technical aspects such as unison runs with the piano player, single-note melodic ideas spread across the range of the marimba, and an extensive use of a 4:3 polyrhythm. While the 4:3 polythythm is used throughout the work, the music never gets stale, as Fieldman treats the polyrhythm as a vehicle to facilitate continuity, communication of a variety of musical moods, and even a metric modulation. Harmonically, there is a strong jazz foundation to the work reminiscent of Dave Brubeck and Vince Guaraldi. For each instrument’s 16-bar improv section, Fieldman includes transcriptions of solos heard on the enclosed audio and video recordings.
This piece is appropriate for an intermediate marimba player who is ready for the challenges that come with performing with another instrument in a solo and ensemble setting, master class, or recital.”
