Veranda
for solo marimba
As the title suggests, Jesse Monkman’s intermediate-level marimba solo Veranda depicts an uplifting and peaceful reflection in an open aired porch. The piece resembles a rondo song form with four distinct themes. The performer should do their best to separate all four themes from the simultaneous accompaniment and, as the composer recommends, “apply musical phrasing, dynamic contract, and voicing throughout.’’
Monkman also recommends a set of medium-soft, graduated mallets that will further help the performer separate the melody and accompaniment. As the piece is largely in F-sharp major, this is a perfect opportunity for young marimbists to expand their music theory abilities while learning an accessible and heartwarming piece.
This piece ships as a fully bound score or as an instant PDF download for printing or tablet viewing.
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- Marimba (4-octave)*
*If a 5-octave (low C) instrument is available, this piece may be performed an octave lower in its entirety.
Reviews
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Joe Millea –
“Veranda” is a splendid addition to Jesse Monkman’s already sterling solo marimba repertoire, providing both technical and musical challenges. As the title suggests, Monkman’s intermediate-level marimba solo “Veranda” de- picts an uplifting and peaceful reflection in an open-aired porch. The piece resembles a rondo song form with four distinct themes. Performers should do their best to separate all four themes from the simultaneous accompaniment and, as the composer recommends, “apply musical phrasing, dynamic contract, and voicing throughout.’’
The description of “Veranda” depicting an “uplifting and peaceful reflection” is quite apt. It is a joy to both play and hear, and it is a lovely escape from the stress of the world. As I was reading through it, I found it very meditative and calming while still maintaining musical depth. However, “Veranda” is by no means a technical picnic. The piece challenges the performer to make a clear distinction between its thematic and accompanying material. It also provides some sticking challenges that would be a good opportunity for performers looking to improve their single alternating and single independent strokes. This would also be a great piece for students who are looking to focus on musicality, as it is essential to a quality and successful performance.
Overall, “Veranda” is another welcome addition from Jesse Monkman to the marimba repertoire. It is easy enough for an intermediate performer or beginning four-mallet student who is looking to take that next step. It also has the musical depth to keep professionals satisfied. As always is the case with Tapspace, the publishing and manuscript are terrific.