Meditation (Macbride)

David Macbride

General Info

Year: 2009
Publisher: Media Press Music
Difficulty:
Duration: 00:04:00
Cost: $8.00

Instrumentation

Glockenspiel

Description

A relaxing yet slightly haunting work that requires a good time feel to play at a slow tempo and make the voices in either hand alternately blend and stand apart. Use this on a recital where a quiet interlude is needed.

Review

I have a soft spot for solo works that feature glockenspiel. Somewhere between the simplicity of the setup and the cathartic nature of the glistening metal I find myself enamored with David Macbride’s “Meditation.” This single-movement work embodies a sense of simplicity. It features an ostinato on the pitch C that moves throughout the range of the bells. Embellishing this is a series of dyads that reharmonize the C, taking the listener on a sonic journey. It is notable that two quarter-note quintuplets introduce the second half of the piece. However, the manageable tempo and comfort created by the ostinato make this a small obstacle to overcome and worth the investment of time. While “Meditation” calls for four mallets, its slow tempo and relative stasis make it technically accessible for the intermediate performer while still being musically appropriate for the professional recitalist looking for an encore piece.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Mallet Solo

A Special Light – Glockenspiel; with Piano
As Before – Marimba Solo
Ever-Inward – Vibraphone
Find meat on Bones – Marimba
Peterborough Chorale – Marimba
Meditation (Macbride) - Glockenspiel
Triptych(Macbride) – Marimba

Snare Drum Solo

Full Circle

Timpani Solo

Three Timpani Pieces

Multiple Percussion Solo

Chamber Field
Envelop
Music for Pot Lids
Point Lobos Shore Trail
Not Cooking
Trinity

Percussion Ensemble

AMANAPLANACANALPANAMA – Percussion 11
Face – Percussion Duet
Flam - 8 Players
For Four – Percussion Quartet
Inside the Ring – Percussion Quartet; with Piano
Nothing in Tow – Percussion Duet
One on Five – Percussion Quintet
Quadrumane – Percussion Quartet
Quiet – Percussion Septet
Split – Percussion Trio
Timing – Percussion Duet
Track Three – Percussion Trio
XYWAYZ – Percussion Duet; with Piano

With Other Instrument

Americanisms – Percussion Duet; with Narrators
Gageego – Multiple Percussion Solo; with Flute; with Piano
IOIO – Percussion Duet; with Orchestra
Murder – Multiple Percussion Solo; with Flute
Shape Notes – Percussion Duet; with Flute
Ssh... – Percussion Quartet; with Audience
To___ – Percussion Solo(Piano); with Voice