Reminiscence (Briggs)

Thomas Briggs

General Info

Year: 1990
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Pioneer
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Movements

I. Forceful
II. Tonal Succession
III. Fugue
IV. Ballad
V. Light and Airy

Instrumentation

Vibraphone

Program Notes

(second place 1990 Percussive Arts Society composition contest)

Reminiscence for Solo Vibraphone by Thomas Briggs is a four-mallet piece in four movements, each requiring something different out of the performer. This piece won 2nd place in the 1990 PAS composition contest.

The first movement, Forceful, is bombastic and uses a rhythmic figure in one hand and long tones in the other.

The second movement, Tonal Succession, is more rubato in style. A motor is required for this movement, as well as mallet dampening technique.

Fugue clearly explains the third movement, which is essentially two lines playing over each other with a delay. Mentally this is quite challenging.

The jazzy fourth movement, Ballad, uses the motor once again and has a different tonal structure than the rest of the movements.

The last movement, Light and Airy, is nearly perpetual in motion, with running sixteenth-note lines flying all over the place.

Review

Reminiscence is a vibraphone solo by Thomas Briggs Written in five movements, Reminiscence represents the second place winner in the 1990 PAS composition Contest. This four mallet work reflects a variety of compositional styles with each of the movements in a different character. Briggs keeps these sections unified to create a strong directed work. The first movement entitled forceful is built on a driving rhythmic ostinato. The broad accented theme acts as an opening fanfare as the movement builds with dramatic development to an unexpected abrupt ending. Tonal Succession, the second movement, finds contrast in a moderately slow binary form with a free introduction and codetta. Briggs indicates regular tempo shifts as the piece breathes through phrases. The third movement, Fugue, is written in two voices. The mutation and counterpoint is not technically difficult, but creates a progressive scenario that is pleasant to the ear. Surprisingly, the fourth movement is a bluesy jazz ballad. Briggs sets up a call and response motive that continues throughout the movement. No improvisation is called for, but the player will have benefited from performing other jazz selections on the vibraphone to make this piece successful. The final movement, Light and Airy, centers around a syncopated sixteenth note ostinato. The melody floats above the multi-metered running line as Briggs inserts variations and key changes. Reminiscence is an attractive vibraphone solo which is enjoyable to play. It would be a fine choice for a senior or graduate college level recital. By the nature of its diverse movements, some players may pick and choose movements to be performed separately for various concerts settings. However it is performed, Reminiscence is a welcome addition to the concert vibraphone literature. - Mark Ford, August 1992

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

Concerto for Marimba and Band (Briggs) - Marimba; Band
Concerto for Vibraphone and Band (Briggs) - Vibraphone; Band
Duo for Marimba and Piano - Marimba; Piano
Duo for Marimba and Vibraphone - Marimba; Vibraphone
Festival - Marimba; Saxophone
Interplay for two percussionists - Percussion Duo
Montage - Vibraphone; Saxophone
Motions - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Pastoral Music - Marimba
Percussion Quartet No.1 - Percussion Quartet
Reminiscence (Briggs) - Vibraphone
Sketches for Mallet Percussion - Percussion Trio
Sonata for Trombone and Timpani - Multiple Percussion; Trombone