Rhythm X Ballads

“Touch of Light” is the ballad from the 2009 gold medal production “Touch”.  It is original piece of music by Andrew Markworth.  It features some expressive playing as well as some quick permutations for the marimbas at the end.

This is from the famous 18th variation from Rachmaninoff’s “Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini”.  It was used in the 2015 production “When One Door Closes”.  It features a middle section with some tough marimba patterns and has a grandiose finish that requires a lot of double vertical accuracy!

This is from the second movement of Rachmaninoff’s “Piano Concerto No. 2”.  It was the ballad from the 2013 gold medal production “The Man In The Arena”.  It begins with a very advanced cadenza for the marimbas!

“Lost in the Wind” is the ballad from the 2008 gold medal production “Gone”.  It is original piece of music by Andrew Markworth.  It features some expressive playing as well as some quick permutations for the marimbas at the end.  This has some fast permutations for both marimbas and vibes and is capped off with a demonstration of musical space.

This is from Erik Satie’s “Tres Gymnopédies” and it was the ballad from the 2014 bronze medal production “The Razor’s Edge”.  This piece begins with a lot of space and works its way to some faster material in the middle including a nice triple-lateral lick for the marimbas.

“Flex” is from the 2019 production “Alinea” and is centered around the concept of bending pitches. This is achieved in the vibraphones by holding a short hard rubber mallet in the palm and pressing across the bar after each pitch. This is supported with pitch bends in the synths and different sample effects.

A masterpiece by Claude Debussy, “Clair de Lune” was the ballad from the 2006 silver medal production “Lunaria”.  This piece begins with beautiful piano solo and gradually layers in voices.  There is a lot of moving tempo in this piece and it ends with a great flowing marimba line that everyone will recognize!

This is from the Frédéric Chopin’s “Nocturne No.2”.  It was the ballad from the 2010 silver medal production “Inspired”.  This piece begins with a wonderfully musical piano solo and continues with beautiful vibraphone melodies and marimba arpeggio patterns.