Satellite
duet for vibraphone and marimba
Satellite by Benjamin Holmes is an advanced level mallet duo with swirling marimba and vibraphone patterns and colors. Driving triplets throughout the work create a sense of momentum that mimics the rotation of the earth and its orbiting satellites. The triplets are occasionally altered through various metric modulations, representing a satellite’s revolution around the planet. Performers’ abilities are challenged through sharp dynamic changes, quick timbre shifts, and interesting color combinations. Satellite is a whirlwind duo that will challenge even the most advanced players and enthrall audiences.
Satellite ships as a printed, professionally bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or tablet viewing.
- Vibraphone
- Marimba — 5-octave
Reviews
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Kyle Cherwinski –
One of the most impressive skills a musician can develop is metric modulation. Benjamin Holmes employs this technique masterfully in “Satellite,” his new duet for marimba and vibraphone. It is an exciting work that will show off several aspects of a duo’s musical abilities, while keeping the audience awestruck.
The glaringly obvious element of this piece that any listener, player, or reviewer will notice is Holmes’ treatment of rhythm. Most of the piece is felt in driving triplets, but the occasional set of sixteenth notes are snuck in, either played in unison between the duo or split between them, to build tension in a crescendo or to lead to an arrival. Most impressively, though, are the moments where the piece changes tempo by simply shifting where the emphasis is in a repeated rhythm