Prime Numbers
General Info
Year: 2019
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Duration: 00:04:15
Difficulty: Intermediate
Commissioned by: Dr. Matthew Holm
Cost: $32.00
Overview
An intriguing work for three players on each side of a 5.0-octave marimba, Prime Numbers is a complex, yet approachable piece that is sure to make a splash on a percussion ensemble concert.
Instrumentation
5-octave Marimba (6 player on the same instrument)
Program Notes
A commissioned work for three players on each side of a 5.0-octave marimba, Prime Numbers is titled as such based on a few distinctive numeric characteristics. The initial idea for this title drew from the fact that the instrument itself is comprised five octaves (five being a prime number) and a total of 61 individual bars (a prime number). Of those 61, the composition utilizes 53 specific pitches (also a prime number), performed with three players (prime number) on each side of the marimba. Within each player’s individual measures (excusing those in which they do not play), you will find either one note (one being the factor common to all prime numbers) or a quantity of notes equal to a prime number (either two, three, five, seven, or eleven). Finally, the time signatures used in this piece feature a prime number collection of pulses (either three or seven). With two brief exceptions that bookend the 7/8 section, players one, three, and five are responsible to play only the upper manual (sharps and flats) of the marimba, while players two, four, and six are responsible to play only the lower manual (naturals) of the instrument. At times, pitches may overlap slightly between neighboring players, but at no time does any player switch position with another individual.
Recent Performance
Kent State Percussion Ensemble 2019
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Solo Works
Solo Works with Orchestra
Solo Works with Wind Ensemble
Solo Works with Percussion Ensemble
Percussion Ensemble
DUETS
- All Hands on Deck
- COLORING SHEET
- IN TANDEM
- KLEPTOMANIA
- MINOR PLOT
- MUTUAL INTEREST
- OUTSIDE THE BOX
- SUITE MARIMBA
- THANKS FOR LISTENING
- THIS ONE DAY
TRIOS
- All Hands on Deck
- BASIC GEOMETRY
- BULK TRASH
- CC'D
- CHRISTMAS THREE
- Conversations for Percussion Trio
- DUET TRIO
- Hands Up
- LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
- ROUNDABOUT
- TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA
- Wood, Metal, Skin
- XEROSIS
QUARTETS
- ALL HANDS ON DECK
- CHIPBOARD
- FRAMED
- INSTITUTIONALIZED
- LEAVES FELL PLAYFULLY
- OF HANUKKAH
- PADS IN ISOLATION
- SILHOUETTE
- SMALL BOX
- TIGHT QUARTERS
- TING
- ZEUG
QUINTETS
MEDIUM ENSEMBLE
- 120 DEGREES
- BOY OH BOY
- BUBBLEGUM
- BUMP IN THE NIGHT
- CC'D
- CHA-CHA BLUES
- Deck Park Tunnel
- From This Viewpoint
- Hole In The Wall
- Joy of Every Heart
- The Juggler
- LANCERAN SATU SLENDRO
- Northern Workshop
- O Come, O Come, EMMANUEL
- OF HANUKKAH
- Pliplets
- plusFIVE
- Prime Numbers
- Puzzle Pieces
- Shifting Waves
- SOCA-ING WET
- SOME PEOPLE'S KIDS
- STELLER'S JAY
- Tight Quarters
- Tubz
- UNSETTLED SURFACE
- Ups And Downs
- VENN DIAGRAM
- Villanesca
LARGE ENSEMBLE
- Bump in the Night
- Clouds make Songo Away
- Combo Meal
- Danse Macabre
- Molto Vivace
- Spare Change
- Strawberry Blonde
- Unintended Consequence
- Whatcha Baion?
- Northern Workshop