Marimbana for marimba (op. 95d, 1992)
for Ney Rosauro
I. flowing, II. pulsating, III. faltering
Marimbaphon
Duration: 8 minutes
Ney Rosauro
Zimmermann Musikverlag Frankfurt ZM 31100 / ISMN: M-010-31300-9
The work - written for the Brazilian composer and soloist Ney Rosauro - consists of three contrasting movements. "Fließend" is a perpetuum mobile with a fast, uninterrupted quaver movement. Time changes, dynamics and accents play an important role here. "Pochend" is based on the repetition of a second interval (Eb-F), which runs - with one interruption - through the entire piece. This ostinato is surrounded by various short melodic interjections. "Stockend" combines both elements. Secondary intervals are used here in different pitches and rhythmic variations. The composer also adds a chorale to the motif, which is whirled with four beats. "Marimbana" is a varied concert piece that is not overly demanding.
Leander Kaiser
Marimbana was written in 1992 for the Brazilian Ney Rosauro.
The 1st movement - flowing - with its uninterrupted quaver movement represents an "African" perpetuum mobile with an imperceptible tendency towards higher frequencies. The piece with its variable metre and accentuation ends precisely 1 octave higher than it begins.
The 2nd movement - pulsating - is characterised by the repetition of a major second (e flat/f), which is played around fully chromatically - a short episode interrupts the "heartbeat", which then "throbs" 21 more times.
The 3rd movement - faltering - is decisive for the course of this rondo movement, which can be traced back to 3 elements.
Bertold Hummel