Stout, Gordon: Nocturnes 1-10 for Marimba Solo

Product no.: 044-584
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Nocturnes op.36 for Marimba Solo - 32 pages; 10 pieces, intermediate to advanced, 4 mallets

A collection of 10 terrific pieces for four-mallet marimba ranging in difficulty from intermediate to advanced. They are between 2 and 6 minutes each and are based on very specific musical ideas, not specific techniques. A great addition to any recital in any combination.

Musical Features

Nocturne No. 1 includes continuous rolls while moving across large intervals on the keyboard. Chords, especially in places like the 2nd measure provide a good challenge in wrist and arm position moving both wrists in opposite directions. A quintuplet section presents the challenge of sticking choice and single independent malleting.

Nocturne No. 2 is a good opportunity for playing in mixed meters, beginning in 9/8, but continuing through many quarter note and half-note meters. Slurs indicated in the score would present the performer with several interpretational and technical choices in order to be articulated. There is also a section for syncopation of the line and independence of the hands that would be a good challenge for the performer. Intervals in each hand do not exceed a 6th even in the rolled sections.

Nocturne No. 3 A chorale in 3/4 meter that’s a good practice for rolling and chord voicing. Bringing out moving quarter notes in outside mallets is a challenge.

Nocturne No. 4 is predominantly in a half note groove throughout with the melody in the right hand. There are moderately large skips of double lateral strokes in the left hand in several places.

Nocturne No. 5 “The Planets” is an excellent challenge for the hands. It could be played with only 2 mallets. The piece contains lots of octaves between the hands and includes both similar and contrary motion through the majority of the piece. A short section with descending quarter notes in the left hand and arpeggiations in the right hand is fun, but challenging.

Nocturne No. 6 is very rhythmic and includes lots of shifting meters. Beginning in 7/8 meter, it changes frequently with a single line melodic structure until half way through when there are quite a few double vertical strokes and rolled chords that move rather briskly from one to the next. Although challenging, this movement lies well for the 4-mallet technique.

Nocturne No. 7 is a good movement to work on in keeping the left hand as consistent as possible with quarter notes equaling 120-132, while phrasing and shaping the music in the right hand, which is notated clearly in the score. Since there are no 4-note chords, the work could potentially be done with 2 mallets to increase showmanship and give the performer a challenge.

Nocturne No. 8 is a good exercise for 1,2,3,4 sticking and later the opposite, 4,3,2,1. This movement includes basically all of the stroke types used in 4-mallet playing, and leaves room for performer to make lots of their own interpretations. Intervals still do not exceed a 7th in either hand.

Nocturne No. 9 in a good “groove” based piece, primarily in 5/8 meter at the beginning and end, but the center section is full of meter changes. A real challenge for an advanced high school student with counting.

Nocturne No. 10 is another excellent challenge for 2-mallet technique, though this time far more linear than #5. The range needed is less than 3 octaves, and can be played on a 4-octave marimba beginning on C3. One of the shorter movements in this collection.

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