Duet For Horn & Marimba by Angela Kepley

Angela Kepley’s Duet for Horn & Marimba embodies the epic horn playing that is characteristic of the instrument. The marimba has lyrical melodic lines and provides harmonic and rhythmic structure to provide a foundation for the horn melodies.

When Angela set out to write for Horn and Marimba, she wanted to embody the epic horn playing that is characteristic of the instrument. The marimba provides harmonic and rhythmic structure as a foundation for the horn melodies and soars through some lyrical melodic lines of its own. The marimba part lies nicely on the instrument but requires significant control of 4-mallet technique. She says Thank you to my horn-playing husband for editing the horn articulations.

After a gentle opening, the instruments move into a darker melodic interplay. The marimba then lays down a foundation of arpeggio figures to allow the horn to begin to soar. The horn briefly takes a couple of moments throughout the piece to provide background while offering an opportunity for the marimba to share a melody. Following a brief groove section, the main horn melody returns, the instruments then expound on some previously stated themes before entering in the final section of epic horn melody and full accompaniment from the marimba.