Marimba Concertino No. 2 (Chin Cheng Lin)

Lin Chin Cheng

General Info

Year of Published: 2014
Publisher: Edition Svitzer
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:13:00
Cost: €35.00

Instrumentation

Soloist

Marimba

Ensemble

Player 1: Wind Chimes & Tambourine & Zarb & Vibraphone & Bongos
Player 2: China Cymbal & Tarabuka & Glockenspiel & Congas
Player 3: Thunder sheet & Cajon & Chimes
Player 4: Tam-Tam & Djembe & Crotales & Super ball & String bowl

Description

World Premiere by Naoko Takada & Los Angeles Percussion Quartet at the Southern California International Marimba Competition on 30 May 2014 at the Waltmar Theater, USA. Performance suggestions: For Zarb, Tarabuka, Cajon & Symbals, I indicated sometimes with many different pitches on ONE instruments, because I want to have different pitches or different colors. That is the reason why I indicated the score in this way. At the same time, there is no perfect way to notate the score, so I was thinking in this way might be easier to understand. Unless there is specific sound I really want, then I indicated on the score.

The percussionists may improvise a little bit based on the written rhythm, of course you may add flams or grace notes … etc. Such as: Rehearsal Mark A, B, C.

Also the percussionists are welcome to add more different background colors at the following sections: Intro, E, F, by using different instruments such as cymbals, tam-tam, thunder sheet, wind chime.

For rehearsal mark H, the first two times of repeating the percussionists may improvise in 1) all together (you never know what atmosphere can be created) or 2) individually – means every percussionist has four bars to improvise. At the 3rd & 4th time, marimba will improvise. While the marimba plays improvisation, the percussionists can also improvise, but not too loud or over the marimba!

For rehearsal mark I until 2 bars before J, the percussionists may once again play the suggested rhythm, or little improvisation within four measures/adding notes.

Review

Michael Overman

“Concertino No. 2” is a fine contribution to the marimba-solo-plus-percussion genre. Notable in this work is that all the drumming is on hand percussion instruments, which goes a long way toward alleviating the perennial problem of balance between solo and ensemble that these works always bring. The hand drums represent a rather global mix of instruments—in fact, substitutions for all but the largest inventories will likely prove necessary. Indeed, in the premiere performance by Naoko Takada and the Los Angeles Percussion Quartet in 2014, easily found on YouTube, the ensemble replaced the darabukka with a second djembe, the zarb with a large frame drum, and the chimes, apparently, with triangles.

The work follows a fairly predictable form: slow intro, groovy mixed-meter first section, slow chorale-like middle section, short cadenza, and flat-out jam to the end. The slow section, a chorale in the marimba accompanied by vibes, glockenspiel, and bowed crotales, is particularly beautiful. Performance suggestions in the score recommend improvisation on the part of the ensemble in a number of passages, and from the marimbist in one brief section. Players are even encouraged to select new and different instruments for several sections.

Though by no means easy, the solo should be playable by upper-class college students. Ensemble parts are a bit easier. This 13-minute work would make a fine conclusion for a college recital.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Marimba Concerto

Marimba Concerto N°1
Marimba Concerto N°2
Marimba Concerto N°3
Marimba Concerto N°4
Marimba Concerto N°5
Marimba Concerto N°6
Marimba Concerto N°7

Marimba album for the Youth

Constellations (Lin Chin Cheng)
Year (Lin Chin Cheng)

Marimba Solo

Noriyoune
The Ocean

Percussion Ensemble

Flyscape - Percussion Duo
Angel and Demon - Percussion Duo
Wind 2 - Marimba Duo
Flying V - Marimba Quintet
Splendor Stars - Marimba Quartet