Amidst by John Ling

There is an Aristotelian notion that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”—a concept known as emergence. In his quintet, Amidst, John Ling has taken this concept to heart, creating a landscape of sound formed by the collective rather than the traditional construct of melody and accompaniment. The sparse moving lines of Amidst convey little individually but create context and purpose for one another when heard together.

In addition to the four marimba parts that thread together the musical fabric, a fifth player adds color and momentum with a multipercussion setup consisting of various drums and cymbals. All marimba parts require only two mallets. This would be a great ensemble from which to teach ensemble listening skills and balance while providing a meditative, accessible experience for listeners.