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This contrasting pair of solo jazz vibraphone pieces from the inimitable Jon Metzger cleverly includes a lead sheet before each begins. This will allow the soloist to embellish the tune further as he or she becomes more comfortable. It will also allow the soloist to invite a rhythm section and any other instruments to the tune. Just ask!
Genre: Vibraphone (4-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 5:30
Instrumentation
Vibraphone
IMAGERIES
Commissioned by Lisa Rogers at Texas Tech University, Imageries is an effective marriage of jazz and classical styles. It is in three movements: Minister of Grace, The Sunnier Side of Doubt, and A Glorious Secret. Very clear indications of mallet and pedal dampening are provided throughout the score.
Genre: Vibraphone (4-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 4:15
Instrumentation
Vibraphone (3-octave)
FOUR FLIGHTS
Each movement of Four Flights depicts what could be a simple childhood song. First Steps is set up somewhat like a two-part invention between flute and marimba. Josh’s New Bag, opens with a simple rudimental snare drum solo that continues when the flute enters with the bluesy melody. Play Something Pretty, features sustained chords in the marimba while the flute plays something pretty above. I Could Have Played the Flute, utilizes the rest of the percussion instruments that have been neglected up to this point. This is the longest movement and gives both players opportunities for cadenzas.
Genre: Duet for Flute & Percussion | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium | Duration: 10:00
Instrumentation
Flute
Percussion (Marimba, snare drum, bass drum, bells, 4 toms, bongos, 2 suspended cymbals)
ELEPHANT WALK
After a brief free introduction, the marimba enters with a Latin groove before the vibraphone enters with the head. The entire piece is infused with jazz flavors from the talents of jazz vibraphonist Jon Metzger. Toward the end of the piece, there are opportunities for both players to improvise on provided chord changes.
Genre: Duet for Vibraphone & Marimba (4-mallet) | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium | Duration: 6:25
Instrumentation
Vibraphone (3-octave)
Marimba (4.3-octave)
MORAL COMPASS
In Moral Compass, Metzger conveys Twain’s time-honored and meaningful text in a new light, blending jazz and classical styles. Throughout every movement of the piece, the saxophone and voice are woven together to create beautiful lyrical lines that soar over the backdrop of the colorful rhythms and rich harmonies in the percussion ensemble.
Genre: Chamber Ensemble | # of Players: 5
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 9:00
Instrumentation
Soprano Voice
Alto Saxophone
Vibraphone (3-octave)
Marimba (5-octave)
Percussion (high and low cymbal, 2 triangles, low tom, 2 hand drums, tambourine, hi-hat, crotales, wind chimes)
STEP TO STEP
Originally three separate books, Jon Metzger's Five Easy Pieces for Two-Mallet Marimba, Five Pieces for Timpani and Five Pieces for Vibraphone are now available in one convenient collection –Step to Step: Collected Solos for the Developing Percussionist.
Genre: Marimba, Timpani, Vibraphone | # of Players:
Level: Easy to Medium | Duration: 35:00
Instrumentation
Marimba (4.3-octave)
Timpani (2-4 drums)
Vibraphone (3-octave)
ZORASTRIAN THUNDER
Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 7+
Level: Medium
Instrumentation
Percussion 1 (4.3-octave marimba, vibraphone)
Percussion 2 (4.3-octavemarimba, crotales)
Percussion 3 (vibraphone, bells, 4.5-octave marimba)
Percussion 4 (cymbal, triangle, hand drum, castanets, tom-tom)
Percussion 5 (cymbal, hand drum, tambourine, triangle, woodblock, slapstick)
Percussion 6 (low tom, high brake drum, tambourine, finger cymbals, wind chimes, claves)
Percussion 7 (low tom, high brake drum, 4 timpani, tom-tom, bass drum)
Tenor Saxophone
Piano
Double Bass
Drum Set
Program Notes
I. Sage Departed
II. Future Tense
III. Shadowy Way
DOUBLE EAST
Read the grand staff and improve your musical skills. A perky piece filled with unique changes and styles. A FUN piece for mallets.
Genre: Marimba (2-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium Easy | Duration: 3:30
Instrumentation
Solo Marimba (4.3-octave)
STORIES
This six-movement work uses four percussionists, piano, and baritone voice to create a very unique piece of music. Instrumentation includes traditional instruments such as marimba, bells, timpani, and cymbals along with some different instruments like log drum, one-shot shakers and frame drum. For the serious percussionist and musician, this will work well for any recital program.
Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 4 + Baritone & Piano
Level: Medium | Duration: 30:00
Instrumentation
Baritone
Percussion 1 (4.3-octave Marimba, Bells, Chinese Cymbal, Triangle, Tambourine, Log Drum)
Percussion 2 (4.3-octave Marimba, Vibraphone, 4 Concert Toms, Woodblock, Bongos, Cymbal)
Percussion 3 (4.3-octave Marimba, Crotales, Congas, One Shot Shakers, Flexatone, Slapstick, Vibraslap, Castanets, Bass Drum, Bongos, Woodblock, Cymbal, Wind Chimes, Triangle)
Percussion 4 (4.3-octave Marimba, Suspended Cymbal, Bells, Timpani, Frame Drum, Triangle, Claves, Cowbell, Shaker, Slapstick, Woodblock, 4 Concert Toms)
Piano
JAZZ BIS
With the ensemble forming a rhythm section, you can bring in a guest artist or even showcase the talents of one of your students on vibes.
Genre: Solo with Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 5 + Solo Vibraphone & Optional Bass
Level: Medium | Duration:
Instrumentation
Featured Vibraphone
Vibraphone
Marimba 1–2 (4 octaves)
Bass Marimba (or bass guitar)
Drum Set
Program Notes
Chromatic Blue Affair (swing style)
More Blues (bossa nova feel)
Monty’s Line (fast samba)
The ensemble forms a rhythm section with the marimbas and vibraphone comping chords, the bass marimba playing a bass line, and the drum set keeping time. Bring in a guest artist or showcase the talents of one of your students.
RIVERSONG SUITE
Riversong was originally composed for solo vibraphone and was presented in lead sheet format (for an improvising musician’s use) and in a completely written-out version. Spelled here for piano, the original flow and lure of a river’s pull is augmented by two additional vignettes –Water Catcher and Terra Firma – that depict both an unexpected outing and the satisfaction of a completed trip.
Genre: Solo Piano | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium | Duration: 4:30
Instrumentation
Solo Piano
SPIRAL PASSAGES
Metzger’s jazz background helps to infuse the improvisatory elements in the piece, while his keen sense of musical form and direction round out the classical side. The moods of the composition range from sweet to playful to angry to serene and back again. Recorded by Nathan Daughtrey.
Genre: Marimba (4-mallet) | # of Players: 1
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 9:00
Instrumentation
Marimba (4.5-octave)
BLACK ELK
Inspired by the book "Black Elk Speaks" by John Neihardt (an oral history of Black Elk, a Sioux medicine man or Shaman), this dramatic work for 11 percussionists culminates in narrator reciting a passage from the book.
Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 11 + Narrator
Level: Medium | Duration: 8:00
Instrumentation
Narrator
Marimba 1 (5-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Xylophone (High Suspended Cymbal, Chimes)
Vibraphone (Low Suspended Cymbal)
Crotales (Tambourine)
Bells (Snare Drum
Timpani (Bongos)
Percussion 1 (Tambourine, Suspended Cymbal, Slapstick, Bass Drum, Medium Tom)
Percussion 2 (2 Low Toms, Flexatone)
Percussion 3 (2 Low Toms, Ratchet, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Tenor Drum)
Percussion 4 (4 Toms, Castanets, Triangle, Frame Drum, Bass Drum)
ON VERCHIEL'S WINGS
4 movements: “Shadows Appearing” (slow and improvisatory), “Turn A Stone” (jazz waltz), “Angels Unawares” (solo vibraphone with no ensemble – ballad), “Upward Soaring” (quick Latin groove). Written by a jazz vibraphonist so you know it works!
Genre: Solo with Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 3 + Solo Vibraphone
Level: Medium | Duration: 15:00
Instrumentation
Solo Vibraphone, 3 Percussion
