Temple
for solo marimba
Price range: $19.00 through $24.00
Temple by Isaac Harari is a virtuosic work for solo marimba that centers around a six-note motif. While contemplative in nature, the piece requires a superior command of four-mallet technique and strong hand-to-hand independence to create a collage of colorful textures.
This piece ships as a fully bound score or as an instant PDF download for printing or tablet viewing.
- Marimba — 5-octave
Reviews
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Brian Graiser –
“Temple” will fit right in on many recital programs that seek to balance audience accessibility with technical showmanship. At seven minutes in length (or a little less, if the performer has eaten their Wheaties), this physically challenging marimba solo borrows heavily from minimalist techniques used by Reich and Takemitsu (there is a clear link between the opening material of “Temple” and Takemitsu’s “Cross-Hatch”) to patiently build and then explore various textures that develop a recurring melodic motive. The piece is unapologetically episodic, weaving through moments of breathless activity as well as stretches of tidal patience.
I was struck by the fact that this piece heavily incorporates minimalism as a developmental de- vice, but it is not itself a wholly minimalist work. Sitting at the crests and peaks of the different minimalist episodes are pockets of dazzling virtuosic material that are, in my opinion, the highlights of the work from both a compositional and performance perspective. Were it not for these moments, this might be considered an intermediate four-mallet solo, but a solid mastery of polyrhythmic independence and lateral mallet strokes are necessary to perform this piece in its entirety. The work requires the use of a 5-octave marimba, but there is little enough material below the low F that performers who have a 4.5-octave marimba should be able to adapt the piece with little difficulty.
For performers seeking a challenging yet audience-friendly marimba solo that blends elements of minimalism, groove, and flashes of virtuosity, I recommend giving “Temple” a look.
—Brian Graiser
Percussive Notes
Vol. 62, No. 6, December 2024