El Paso Waltz
for mallet quartet
Brian Slawson’s El Paso Waltz is written for beginning mallet ensembles so that each student in the quartet provides a specific function: The vibraphone carries the melody; One of the marimba players outlines the chords while the other supplies the bass; The glockenspiel, as is typical in a variety of settings, brings color to the arrangement.
If performed in a pleasant, light-hearted way, El Paso Waltz should demonstrate a carnival-like quality. This piece helps young players develop tremolo sensitivity and encourages eye contact, body language, and musical communication during slower tempos.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
- Glockenspiel
- Vibraphone
- 2 marimbas*—(1) 4-octave, (1) low A
*If two marimbas aren’t available, both marimba parts may be played by sharing one low A marimba.
Performed by Margie Tong Student Ensemble 10 July 2011
Reviews
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Jen Fang –
This is a short keyboard quartet scored for one glockenspiel, one vibraphone, and two marimbas. The two marimba parts can share a low-A marimba when necessary. This cute and simple quartet is written in 3/4 without a key signature or accidentals. Only two mallets are needed for all the parts.
The melody line is carried by the vibraphone and is accompanied by the two marimba parts: One outlines the chords and one provides the bass. The glockenspiel gives a nice color in the ensemble. Slawson provides performance notes in the score to help players understand the feel and rhythm of the piece and includes rehearsal tips for the learning process. This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD containing an audio recording and all individual parts available for printing. This is a good learning repertoire for a beginning-level keyboard percussion ensemble.