Marimba Spiritual

Minoru Miki

General Info

Year: 1984
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Norsk
Cost: Score and Parts - $26.95   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Soloist: 5 Octave Marimba
Percussionists: High/Medium/Low Drums, Gongs, Gankogui, Piccolo Woodblocks, Log Drums

Program Notes

Marimba Spiritual by Minoru Miki is one of the most well-known, widely performed, and historically important pieces for marimba ever written. This piece of music gained even wider fame when it was highlighted on Broadway with the show Blast! Written as a response to the starvation and famine happening in Africa during the 1980's, this solo is written in two distinct sections: a slow, static requiem followed by a lively resurrection. The second section is often performed by itself. This original version of Marimba Spiritual is written for solo marimba accompanied by three percussionists on traditional Japanese instruments, and is the recommended way to perform the piece to gain the maximum intended effect. More easily attainable percussion instruments can be substituted. The opening requiem is accompanied by ethereal metallic and wooden sounds that are reminiscent of a Japanese temple, and the lively resurrection features traditional drumming (including a drum solo that demands serious single stroke chops). Getting every body to play together - especially in the nebulous opening - can be a challenge. Marimbists playing this piece should definitely be prepared to burn through blistering single-independent and single-alternating strokes in the second section. It's fast, incredibly energetic, and will certainly make an exciting and virtuosic closer for any recital.

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In late 1983, Minoru MIKI received the request from Ms. Keiko Abe to compose new marimba piece with three percussionists. She had a chance to perform new piece with Dutch percussionists in next year.

Miki composed "Time for Marimba" in 1968, and "Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra" in 1969. However in 1964 he founded "Pro Musica Nipponia", a historically initial ensemble consisting of all sort of Japanese traditional instruments. Over the next twenty years he worked hard to compose many different types of pieces for them and to produce them not only in Japan but all over the world. He sought to realize new possibilities for this musical style. Also in 1975, he began to compose opera series along Japanese long history since 5th Century to 19th Century. So he did not resume composing for the marimba until 1983.

During that year, he decided to retire from Pro Musica Nipponia to concentrate on the creation of operas, as he felt that he had completed his present aim in expanding the repertoire for traditional Japanese instruments.

When Miki completed the vocal score of the 1st Act of his third opera "Joruri", Ms. Abe just asked him to compose a new marimba piece with three percussionists. For him, it was rare opportunity to compose his third marimba piece. He started thinking about the piece on Christmas day in 1983, and completed it on January 13th, 1984. A NHK producer agreed to commission the piece at Ms. Abe's request.

This was also the year that many people died in Africa from starvation. As a person who had experienced similar suffering before and after the end of World War II, Miki could not be silent. Rather he felt that he must express his condolences and anger for that situation. He therefore composed the first slow section as a static requiem, and the second fast section as lively resurrection. The title "Marimba Spiritual" is as expression of the total process.

Many performers and listeners have been curious about the mode of the first section, wondering whether or not the composer was consciously combining a number of different scales. Although Miki has welcomed such interpretation and analysis, he insists he had no specific model in mind when composing the piece, but rather that he gave his imagination free reign over the harmonic and melodic material.

The rhythm and note patterns are strictly noted throughout the piece, but as for the three percussion parts, only the relative pitches and tone qualities (for the first part, metal and wood percussion instruments; for the second part, skin drums) are noted. There is some freedom, but the performers should pay much attention to balance between each section. The rhythmic patterns for the second part are taken from the festival drumming of the Chichibu area northwest of Tokyo.

The total duration is approximately 14 minutes.

The world premiere was given on March 18, 1984 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam with Ms. Abe and the Nieuwe Slagwek Groep Amsterdam. After the premiere, Ms. Abe premiered the piece in many countries in Europe and America, each time with different percussion ensembles. After its publication by Ongaku No Tomo Sha, Tokyo in 1989 (Since 2009, the original publisher moved to "Zen-On Music Co., Ltd.") countless groups performed the piece probably several thousand times. Also, many CDs of this piece exist in the world (for example, see Discography in this URL). In 1988, the Safri Duo played the piece with only two people. The recording was so excellent that Miki gave them permission to arrange the piece and named the result "Marimba Spiritual 2" (see www.amazingmusicworld.com). The Safri Duo performed the piece more than 700 times all over the world throughout the 1990's. Both the original piece and "Marimba Spiritual 2" have frequently appeared in many different venues, from TV CM to numerous contemporary music festivals

Premiere Details

The piece was commissioned by NHK, but marimba player Keiko Abe requested the particular arrangement for marimba. The first performance was on March 18, 1984 in Amsterdam with Ms. Keiko Abe and the Nieuwe Slagwek Groep Amsterdam.

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

Cassiopeia Marimbana - Marimba Quintet
Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra (Miki) - Marimba, Orchestra
Dotoh - Percussion Duo
East Arc - pipa, violin, cello and marimba/percussions
Kincho Daiko - Marimba, Percussion Quartet
Marim Dan-Dan - Marimba and Matsuri-Daiko
Marimba Spiritual - Marimba, Percussion Trio
Requiem 99 - Marimba and Japanese Instruments
Sohmon III - Voice - soprano, Marimba and Piano
Time for Marimba - Marimba
Yoshitsune Daiko - Vibraphone, Percussion Quartet
"Z Concerto" for Marimba, Percussion and Orchestra - Marimba, Orchestra
Z Conversion - Percussion Octet