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On the Other Side of the Looking Glass
On the Other Side of the Looking Glass by Robert Clayson is a reflective and dynamic medium-level solo for marimba. In addition to a warm and touching opening chorale, the piece features technical passages that focus on a variety of permutations, requiring an awareness of balance between all of the various stroke types. There are also a variety of complex meter changes, ranging from 6/8 and 9/8 to 7/16 and 13/16. With a variety of techniques, this solo is perfectly suited for an intermediate performer looking for more mature musical material.
On the Other Side of the Looking Glass ships in a printed, professionally bound folio with a full color cover.
• Solo marimba (4.3-octave, low A)
This intermediate solo uses the range of the 4.3-octave marimba well. It follows the form of many marimba solos: beginning with a choral section, moving to a rubato linear melody, increasing the rhythmic intensity, reprising the chorale, and ending with an expressive coda.
The piece calls for standard four-mallet technique, and sticking recommendations are provided. There is plenty of room for musical expression, so the piece can be made unique to each player. The harmonic movement is simple, and would be a good exercise for students learning harmonic analysis to practice their music theory skills while learning the piece.
“On the Other Side of the Looking Glass” is a pretty piece that fits the bill for an intermediate marimba solo. At six minutes long this would be a good addition to a junior recital, or an accessible addition to a public concert.
—Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 1, February 2021
On the Other Side of the Looking Glass by Robert Clayson is a reflective and dynamic medium-level solo for marimba. In addition to a warm and touching opening chorale, the piece features technical passages that focus on a variety of permutations, requiring an awareness of balance between all of the various stroke types. There are also a variety of complex meter changes, ranging from 6/8 and 9/8 to 7/16 and 13/16. With a variety of techniques, this solo is perfectly suited for an intermediate performer looking for more mature musical material.
On the Other Side of the Looking Glass ships in a printed, professionally bound folio with a full color cover.
• Solo marimba (4.3-octave, low A)
This intermediate solo uses the range of the 4.3-octave marimba well. It follows the form of many marimba solos: beginning with a choral section, moving to a rubato linear melody, increasing the rhythmic intensity, reprising the chorale, and ending with an expressive coda.
The piece calls for standard four-mallet technique, and sticking recommendations are provided. There is plenty of room for musical expression, so the piece can be made unique to each player. The harmonic movement is simple, and would be a good exercise for students learning harmonic analysis to practice their music theory skills while learning the piece.
“On the Other Side of the Looking Glass” is a pretty piece that fits the bill for an intermediate marimba solo. At six minutes long this would be a good addition to a junior recital, or an accessible addition to a public concert.
—Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 1, February 2021
