Piece For Two Marimbas by Marcin Blazewicz

Review (Percussive Notes, May 2013)

As an enthusiast of Eckhard Kopetzki’s compositions, I was immediately struck by the opening of this work by Marcin Blazewicz. Intense, arpeggiated octaves begin in unison. While maintaining the same rhythmic identity, the parts are eventually separated by a specific interval, first a minor third, then a tritone. The rhythmic unison eventually gives way to a homophonic texture, where an ominous melody is presented. The second large section, a Valse, provides a nice contrast to the aggressive, persistent nature of the opening. Suddenly transitioning to the original character, sixteenth notes are always present in one voice while the other blocks out highly chromatic octave figures at either quarterpercussive notes 65 MAY 2013 note or eighth-note durations. Building to the climatic ending, an eighth-note triplet run in octaves is passed from one player to the next before reaching a punctuating unison at fortissimo to conclude. 

Requiring four-mallet technique from both performers, there is an extensive use of octave intervals mainly executed through double vertical and double lateral strokes. With the difficulties lying in the individual parts, advanced performers will face many challenges with the ensemble. With one performer providing a steady pulse throughout most of the piece, balance and style will likely be a favorite topic of discussion.

—Darin Olson