Winterludes for Two
4 holiday duets for vibraphone and marimba
Winterludes for Two is a collection of four classic Christmas carols, creatively arranged for vibraphone and marimba duet. Through the arrangements, Brian Blume brings spirit and exuberance that will surely bring joy to both sacred and secular settings. Each piece includes a brief history, a few personal thoughts behind Blume’s arrangement, and lyrics to the carols.
The pieces are designed to be played on a standard 3.0-octave vibraphone and a 5.0-octave marimba (though some may be cleverly adapted to fit onto smaller keyboards if necessary). Experienced players will find these arrangements very accommodating while audiences will delight in the way they deliver a joyful warmth to the season.
Included in the collection:
- WE THREE KINGS
- CAROL OF THE BELLS (also includes optional parts for glockenspiel and chimes)
- SILENT NIGHT
- ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (with optional percussion accompaniment audio track)
Also, check out WINTERLUDES – a collection of 7 holiday arrangements for solo marimba. Purchase Brian Blume’s holiday CD Let it Snow, which includes each one of these arrangements, performed by Blume.
The pieces are designed to be played on a standard 3.0-octave vibraphone and a 5.0-octave marimba (though some may be cleverly adapted to fit onto smaller keyboards if necessary). Also, “Angels We Have Heard on High” comes with an optional percussion audio track that may be used as accompaniment. If choosing to do this, an audio playback and amplification system would be required. “Carol of the Bells” includes two optional parts (chimes and glockenspiel) that may be used to embellish the primary duet.
Reviews
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Darin Olson –
These unique, high-quality arrangements are a great addition to the holiday repertoire. Thoughtfully crafted, these selections will set themselves apart from the available literature. Although the pieces are holiday favorites, Brian Blume opts for a unique perspective on each of the traditional tunes.
Of the four pieces in the collection, “We Three Kings” is my favorite. Blume’s dance-like approach makes for a lively arrangement. He cleverly includes the theme in various ways. The passing runs between both parts will definitely challenge the performers. “Carol of the Bells” is his most straightforward arrangement. It is actually scored for mallet quartet, but can be performed as a duet for marimba and vibraphone. A peaceful setting of “Silent Night” opens with solo passages for each performer. Blume intends for this selection to be performed with a sense of freedom. The chordal selections and voicings enhance the expressive undertone. The energetic quality of “Angels We have Heard on High” would be a great way to end a holiday concert. A pre-recorded percussion accompaniment is included; however, it would be most effective to incorporate live instruments.
The holiday performance season is a busy time of year. This collection will provide advanced performers with enough material to make the preparation interesting without being overwhelming. Each part requires four mallets and uses intervals up to an octave. This collection is a breath of fresh air, and I hope that Blume is inspired to create a second volume in the near future.