Prelude for Marimba by Christopher Swist

Prelude for Marimba was written in late 2006 and premiered in February of 2007 in New Hampshire. Having written a great deal of material for solo marimba from 1996-2001 I had taken a 5-year break from marimba solos. The most obvious development after this hiatus was that this was my first piece to encompass a 5-octave marimba. Given this extended range, it is not a surprise that much of the piece focuses on the low-end of the instrument. The prelude uses a pair of 6-note modes that form the 12-tone aggregate. The form is A-B-A with the driving rhythmic “A” sections framing an open abstract “B” section that incorporates an alternative tone row. Tempo alterations and dynamic contours are scored to encourage the performer to play expressively and with great finesse. As well, the abstract “B” section allows for a certain degree of rhythmic and dynamic embellishment on behalf of the performer.