Hall of Mirrors

for vibraphone duo

Benjamin Holmes

Level: Med-Advanced

Duration: 6:00

Personnel: 2 players

State Lists: Florida

Release Date: 2021

Product ID : TSPCD21-004

Price: $30.00

Item #: TSPCD21-004

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Description

Benjamin Holmes wrote Hall of Mirrors to showcase the many colors of a vibraphone duo, an instrumentation he finds “greatly under-utilized.” The piece is constructed of several interlocking patterns, each performer taking half of the melody at a time, constantly mirroring the other. The resulting sound is lively, delicate, and shimmering.

The piece also calls for each player to bow the vibraphone, often while playing with a mallet in the other hand, creating a truly unique and ambient effect. This simultaneous responsibility allows intermediate-advanced performers to display great control and musicianship. Holmes’ work is guaranteed to enhance any recital!

Hall of Mirrors ships as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.

Instrumentation

2 vibraphones (+ 2 bows)

Reviews

“Hall of Mirrors” requires two performers and calls for bowing as well as two-mallet technique from each player. It is nice to see a challenging two-mallet piece — an oddly underused technique in percussion solo and chamber music. As the title suggests, the two performers mirror each other in being equally responsible for creating a composite whole of melody and accompaniment.

The notation and pedaling are very clear. One of the major challenges will be achieving a unified sound between the players. Therefore, mallet choice, phrasing decisions, and pedaling nuance must be worked out. Benjamin Holmes utilizes the full range of the vibraphone, which will most likely lead to a need for consistent sticking between the two players.

Musically, “Hall of Mirrors” has an appealing minimalist quality that should make this a fine addition to an undergraduate or graduate recital.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 1, February 2022