White Knight and Beaver (1984)
Martin Wesley-Smith
PUBLISHER: Australian Music Centre
RECORDINGS: Australian Percussion, Michael Askill (Vox Australius)
RANGE: 4.3 octaves
DURATION: 9:15
MOVEMENTS: Single movement
TYPE OF ACCOMPANIMENT: Fixed
MUSICAL OVERVIEW: Clear tonality and traditional harmonic writing throughout. Material is reworked over the course of the composition creating clear threads for the performer and audience. The marimba and tape intertwine closely and maintain equal importance. Although there are some sections of rapid, mixed-meter changes, the writing is not complicated to grasp and the tape clearly provides the pulse to the performer. Compared to Wesley-Smith’s “For marimba and tape,” this composition is much less demanding from the performer and easier to learn and perform.
TECHNIQUE OVERVIEW: This work may be performed with two mallets. Stickings are simple and straightforward. There are few large leaps, most likely because the marimba part was originally scored for trombone.
ACCOMPANIMENT OVERVIEW: Synthesized sounds created on a Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument. The accompaniment contains a synthesized high string sound as the original work was written for trombone, violin/viola, and tape. Because of the inclusion of the viola line in the accompaniment, the marimba and tape are equal partners throughout.