Eric Ewazen's Concerto for Marimba, Orchestrated for Chamber Ensemble: A Performance Edition

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Michael Lee Lasley (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Cort McClaren

Abstract: Numerous concertos have been written for the marimba since 1940, the year that the first marimba concerto was written by Paul Creston. Some of these concertos are available with multiple accompaniments. The most frequently performed marimba concerto, Ney Rosauro's Concerto for Marimba, has been documented as having more than half of the performances with piano and percussion ensemble over that of the original string orchestra accompaniment. One may infer that the increased availability of various accompaniments encourages more performances of marimba concertos. Performers may have more opportunities to perform with smaller ensembles rather than orchestras, the traditional venue for concerto performance. Although piano reductions are often an accepted alternative, such a venue may yield a loss of the original intent of the composition. Accompaniments including wind ensemble, reduced strings, and chamber settings may provide options that convey the original intent of the composer more closely than a piano reduction. American composer Eric Ewazen has a vast output of concertos for a number of different instruments and instrument combinations. Most of Ewazen's concertos are available with multiple accompaniments. Ewazen composed the Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra in 1999 for marimbist She-e Wu. The concerto has several published accompaniments scored by Ewazen and others. A variety of orchestrations of Ewazen's marimba concerto may create additional performance opportunities outside of those with orchestral accompaniment. The result of this study is a chamber ensemble orchestration of Eric Ewazen's Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra scored for nine wind players and one contrabass. The study offers detailed information regarding the procedures used for arranging the concerto. Conclusions include suggestions for additional orchestration projects and suggestions for further research.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2008
Keywords
Eric Ewazen, concerto, marimba, Concerto for Marimba, Orchestrated for Chamber Ensemble: A Performance Edition Chamber Ensemble: A Performance Edition, Paul Creston, Ney Rosauro, Concerto for Marimba, Eric Ewazen, She-e Wu,
Subjects
Ewazen, Eric, $d 1954-
Creston, Paul, $d 1906-1985
Rosauro, Ney, $d 1952-
Wu, She-e
Concertos (Marimba)
Marimba music.

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