Length of Variable Echo (2002)
Sumi Otoemon-ayahiro
PUBLISHER: HoneyRock Publications
RECORDINGS: Marimba Spiritual, Nanae Mimura (Sony Music Japan)
RANGE: 5.0 octaves
DURATION: 8:45
MOVEMENTS: Single movement
TYPE OF ACCOMPANIMENT: Fixed
MUSICAL OVERVIEW: The soundscape is always secondary to the marimba. The composition is divided into seven sections. Most of the sections are based upon a continuous triplet rhythm introduced in the second section. The composition changes key areas frequently but each section is deeply rooted in particular harmonies. The writing takes advantage of the resonant space of the marimba. Within rhythmic activity, repetition of notes creates a written out resonance.
ACCOMPANIMENT OVERVIEW: Synthesized and sampled sounds under effect processing. The operation of the accompaniment requires a second person. Activation of the soundscape program opens a web browser window. Within the browser window, several buttons are presented. The operator must follow along with the score and activate each button at the indicated point to change to soundscape. The soundscape is continuous and provides a noise background for the marimba.
TECHNIQUE OVERVIEW: SI, SIA, DV, and DL. Complete independence of the hands is required. Large space between the hands and one-handed rolls are included. Intervals in one hand vary from seconds to octaves and change often. The composition utilizes a rhythmically active writing style. The key signatures and mallet positions increase the technical challenge of performing the work. Bowing the bars is required for the first section.
COMPOSER'S NOTE: The following text by Sumi Otoemon-ayahiro was taken from the score:
It was on a night of a lunar eclipse in Japan when I was asked to commission a piece by Ms. [Nanae] Mimura. As we were talking on the phone, I looked up at the moon, which was the source of inspiration for colors of various sounds, a structure and ideas for soundscape [sic]. The key structure of the entire piece is governed by the "moon." To perform this piece, the player is to recreate the image of a lunar eclipse by [sic] sounds.