Caravan

A comfortable groove with various musical interjections creates the groundwork for Larry Lawless’s newest marimba solo. “Caravan” features a frequently repeating pattern with interesting fills used to create melodic motion and musical direction throughout this short work. As a companion piece to his work “Escape,” this particular piece relies less on melodies and focuses more on the interest within the interruptions as the main musical material. Lawless’s use of octatonic scales and chromaticism creates some exciting non-traditional sonorities within a developmental piece.

The piece plugs along smoothly with constant forward motion, intending to create an image of a pacing camel, with various interjections that serve as the real meat of the material. The opening theme reminds me of a slower version of “Spanish Dance” by Kai Stensgaard, using a major second in the right hand against a slightly varied left-hand bass motion. Many of the figures used as fill material are designed for single independent technique growth using various scales, including octatonic, major, and minor variations. One repeating idea incorporates some quick double laterals, but the motion is simple and chromatic with comfortable intervals, creating an idiomatic phrase that should be playable by most developing four-mallet marimbists.

“Caravan” is well suited as a teaching piece for many developing percussionists. With the frequency of interval changes and various rhythmic variations, it is more challenging than a true beginner piece for four mallets, but fits well in a four-mallet curriculum working on double stops, groove with variations, and independent strokes. This fun, catchy two-minute groove can help players develop as they prepare for lengthier repertoire.

—Matthew Geiger
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 1, February 2023