Preconception by Robert Zolnowski

Robert Zolnowski’s marimba solo, Preconception, relates to the preconceived ideas people have about life’s biggest milestones. He writes: “While composing this piece, I reflected on the excitement of transitioning to college, planning a wedding, buying a house, and starting a family, but I also contemplated the numerous other emotions that come with these events – impatience, nervousness, trepidation, or fear.”

The work embodies these mixed emotions with a range of moods. It remains rhythmic and forward-leaning throughout, but calm reflectiveness is interspersed with moments of dissonance, silence, and aggression. All four mallets are consistently used, usually switching between repeated double vertical strokes and simple permutations. This piece works great as a technical study or recital piece for the intermediate player, and offers plenty of opportunity to express complex feelings through performance!