Perpetuum mobile by Franz Ries

‘Franz Ries (1846-1932) was an outstanding violinist and composer. Unfortunately he was forced to give up his career as a violin virtuoso at the age of 27 due to inflammation of his nervous system. The present “Perpetuum mobile” was probably composed by him under the influence of Paganini’s “Moto perpetuo”. I decided to make this transcription, in order to offer to young marimba players a virtuoso work which demands and furthers primarily the technique of using two mallets. As a means to do justice to the extended interval leaps, I recommend as a kind of advance study the mastering of my Etudes in F, G and C sharp minor (ZM 2166) and the Etude in E flat major (ZM 2112). 

 The progression up to a double octave in parallel and contrary motion demands a considerable amount of flexibility and looseness of the wrists, the arms and muscles. However, the resulting success of this attractive work will reward the player for his efforts’

Wolfgang Pachla