Heartland Marimba Quartet is Supported by:

The Heartland Marimba Quartet The 91st Annual Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference 2018

Des Moines, IA

• AboutHMQ •

TheHEARTLANDMARIMBAQUARTETiscomprisedofMatthewColey,AbbyFisher,MichaelJ.Jones,andAndrewVeit.TheperformersofHMQshowcasetheiruniquebackgroundsandstylesofperformancetogetherinover30eventsperseason.HMQshowcasesandadvancestheclassicalartofmarimbaperformanceyear-roundthroughconcertsatuniversities,artgalleries,andperformancehalls;universitymasterclassesandhighschoolpresentations;andthevariedeventsoftheannualHeartlandMarimbaFestival.ThoughHMQseekstogiveaplatformtothemusicofAmericancomposersinitsprogramming,thequartetalsoperformsworksbyinternationalcomposers.Futurecommissionprojectsincludelarge-scaleworksbyBrettWilliamDietzandJeffreyHolmes,andaconcertoformarimbaquartetandorchestrabyKevinRomanski.Inthespringof2018,HMQpremieredthefirstconcertoformarimbaquartetandwindensemblebyPaulAlanPrice-Brennerwiththreedifferentensembles:theUniversityofPugetSoundWindEnsemble(Tacoma,WA),theAnkenyHighSchoolWindEnsemble(Ankeny,IA),andtheWaterlooWestHighSchoolWindEnsemble(Waterloo,IA).

•ArtistBiographies•

MATTHEWCOLEYisaninternationallyacclaimedperformerandthefoundingexecutive/artisticdirectorofHeartlandMarimba(HM)[a501(c)3not-for-profitorganization].HedirectstheFestival,SoundWAYS,Ensemble,Quartet,andPublicationsdivisionsofHM,whichproducesover40eventsaseason.MatthewservedasthePercussionFacultyintheIowaStateUniversityDepartmentofMusicandTheatrefrom2009-2015andandisnowthepercussioninstructoratWartburgCollege,Waverly,Iowa(beginningfall2018).Hehasperformedasasoloistaroundthenationinover35statesandin10countries,andhasreleasedfourcritically-acclaimedsoloalbums.HeholdspercussionperformancedegreesfromNorthwesternUniversity(DMAandMM)andtheUniversityofNorthTexas(BM).MatthewisanendorsedartistbyMarimbaOne,BlackSwampPercussion,ProMarkDrumsticksandEvansDrumheads,BeetlePercussion,andSabianCymbals.

ABBYFISHERisapercussionistfocusedonperformingandsupportingcontinuedgrowthofnewmusic,andhasexpertiseincontemporary,classical,andAfrican(Ewe)percussion.AbbywastheVisitingLecturerinPercussionattheUniversityofTennessee-Knoxville(Fall

2017),andistheDirectorofOperationsforthenief-norfContemporaryChamberMusicOrganizationandSummerMusicFestival(Knoxville,TN).AbbyreceivedherDoctorateinMusicalArtsfromStonyBrookUniversity,MasterofMusicfromNewYorkUniversity,andBachelorofMusicfromLawrenceUniversity.AbbyisanartistforMarimbaOneandaYoungArtistendorserforVicFirthsticksandmallets.

MICHAELJ.JONESisamarimbist,percussionist,andmusiceducatorbasedinAustin,TX.MichaeliscurrentlyafacultymemberattheannualMarimbaMadnessSummerPercussionCampinRichardson,TexasaswellastheannualHeartlandMarimbaFestivalandmaintainsalargestudioofprivatestudentsgrades6-12.MichaelearnedhisGraduatePerformanceDiplomainMarimbaatTheBostonConservatory,MasterofMusicfromTexasA&MUniversity-Commerce,andBachelorofMusicfromSouthernMethodistUniversity.HealsohadthehonorofstudyinginJapanwithworld-renownedmarimbaartistKeikoAbe.MichaelisproudlyendorsedbyEncoreMallets,BeetlePercussion,andMarimbaOne.

ANDREWVEITisafreelancingpercussionist,educator,andcomposerlivingintheChicagosuburbs.Andrewmaintainsaprivateteachingstudiothateducatesover50studentseachweek.HeservesastheDirectorofPercussionStudiesatWilliamFremdHighSchool,andisahighlysoughtafterclinician.In2018AndrewVeitservedasthepercussionadjudicatorforthe70thannualHongKongSchoolsMusicandSpeechAssociationFestival.HehasalsolededucationalseminarsnationallyinDelaware,Illinois,Indiana,Iowa,Kansas,Michigan,NewJersey,Ohio,Pennsylvania,Texas,andUtah.AndrewholdsaDMAfromtheUniversityofIowa,anMMfromTexasA&MUniversity–Commerce,andaBAinmusiceducationfromtheUniversityofDelaware.AndrewisaproudendorserofInnovativePercussionSticksandMallets,MarimbaOneMarimbas,andBeetlePercussionAccessories.

•TheMusic•

AllfiveoftheselectedworksperformedtodaywerecommissionedbyHeartlandMarimbaaspartofanongoingeducationalprojectfundedbyanawardedgrantfromtheIowaArtsCouncil,adivisionoftheIowaDepartmentofCulturalAffairs,andtheNationalEndowmentfortheArts.Eachcomposerwasaskedtocreatefunandentertainingquartetsaimedforhighschoollevelpercussionistswhilealsopresentingorganizededucationalapproachesintheirmusic.Therewereseveralstipulationssetonthecomposerstoensurethepieces’:Theworkmustbewithintheabilitiesofmosthighschoolpercussionists;Thepieceshould

benolongerthan6minutes;Thepieceshouldnotrequiremorethanone5-octavemarimba.(ItisadvisabletoincludeossiaoptionsfornotesbelowF2,orevenA2.Asa4.5-oct.,ordefinitelya4.3-oct.marimbawillbemorecommoninhighschools.);Partscanrequire4-malletplaying.Acombinationofboth2and4-malletplayingwithintheindividualpartsisgreatforpedagogicalpurposes;Itisencouragedthatthepiecerequireonly2or3marimbas.Itisacceptabletoincludexylophoneasoneoftheinstruments,oranadditionalinstrument.Onceallpartieswerenotifiedseveralmonthsofcomposingfollowed.Afterafewmonthsofcomposingthenextphaseoftheprojectresumedduringthe2018HMwinterretreat.

InJanuaryof2018,HMQmetinAmes,IAtorecordeachpieceoverthreedaystime.TheresultingrecordingsareavailableonourYouTubechannel,andserveasaneducationalresourceforanystudentsstudyingorpreparingtoperformthesepieces.EachcompositionisavailableforpurchasethroughHMPublishing.Moreinformationregardingourpublishingeffortswillbebelow.

PopPsyche–CalebPickering

Length:5:30

MalletSuggestion PlayerOne:twomediumhardmarimbamallets(suchasMarimbaOneWWXB2) PlayerTwo:twomediumhardmarimbamallets(suchasMarimbaOneWWXB2) PlayerThree:twomediumsoft,articulatemarimbamallets(suchasMarimbaOneKMB3) PlayerFour:Twomediumsoftmarimbamallets(suchasInnovativePercussionIP3104)

Instrumentrequirements:One5octavemarimbaandone4.5octavemarimba

TeachingPoints: • Interlockingrhythms• Tempochangesseparatingsections• Balanceofindividualvolumestoisolatethemes• Unisonmomentswithdynamicblendedcontour

ProgramNote:Composedinthesummerof2017,PopPsycheisaprogrammaticworkthatoutlinestheGreekmythosofCupid'swifePsyche.ThestoryrevolvesaroundPsychewanderingtheEarthtofindCupidagain,afterbothsheandCupidbetrayeachother’smaritaltrust.PsychecompletesaseriesoftrialsandtribulationsandjourneysthroughtheunderworlditselftofindCupid.Thecoupleiseternallyreunitedattheendofthestory,and

servesasanallegorytomodernlove.The"Pop"inthetitlereferstotheuseofpopstylemelodiesandharmoniesthroughout.

IdleHands–JaredStevenCoffin

Length:3:30 MalletSuggestion

PlayerOneandTwo:2hardtightlywoundcordmallets(suchasInnovativePercussionRS251orEncoreNT3) PlayerThree:Tightlywoundcordmallets

PlayerFour:3tightlywoundcordoryarnmallets(suchastwoInnovativePercussionAA20andoneMarimbaOneRS3)

Instrumentrequirements:Two4.3octavemarimbasandone4.5octavemarimba TeachingPoints:

• Opportunityfortwooftheplayerstoplaywith3or4mallets• Staggeringentrancesandvariedaccentpatterns• Executingunisonsyncopatedaccents• Balance(playersawareoftheirrolewithintheensembleineachsection)

ProgramNote:"IdlehandsaretheDevil'splaythings"-aproverbthatshowstheneedtonotwastetimeandgettowork.ThepieceIdleHandsinterpretsthisconceptthroughtheuseofcontinualmovementofthehandsthatdevelopfurtherandfurtherintointerlockingmelodicpartsoutoftherecurringrhythmicdrone.Therhythmicenergyandvitalityintheworkcreatesasensationthatjuxtaposestheassociationswehaveaboutthosewithidlehands.

WavesofWood–DanielKrumm

Length:4:32

MalletSuggestion PlayerOneandTwo:Cordwoundmediumweightmarimbamalletwithclearandboldtonetoneproduction(suchas:EncoreNT3) PlayerThreeandFour:Tightlywoundyarnmarimbamallets,mediumsoftinlowpositionandmediumintheupper3mallets(suchas:MarimbaOneRoundSounds1and3)

Instrumentrequirements:Two4.3-octavemarimbas(onecanbea5-octaveinstrumentforossiapartsinplayer4,sharedwithplayer2) TeachingPoints

• Manyarticulationswrittenthroughout;staccatomarkingsdenotedeadstrokes

• Highplayeraccountability;players3and4areofteninunisonorplayingsamechordtonesoffsetbyan8th-note,andplayers1and2havehocketedmelodiesattimes

• Agreatstudyintraditionalandextendedharmony/theory;chordsandscaleslistedthroughoutthepieceinthescore

• Attentiontoslurredphrasesallthroughoutthepiece;shorttolonggesturesGreatforlearningtraditional/extendedharmonies,developingtonalaccuracy,andplayinginmanytextures.WavesofWoodoffersanopportunityforyoungpercussionisttodazzleandamazeaudienceswithateamworkapproach.Mostphrasesaresplitbetweentwoplayerswhoalternateplaying.Thecompositionisatraditionallyconstructedpiecethatiswritteninarondoformwiththreemajorthemesdevelopedthroughout.

Stone’sThrow–AdamHopper Length:4:30

MalletSuggestion PlayerOneandTwo:2hardtightlywoundyarnmarimbamallets(MarimbaOneWaveWrapWW2) PlayerThree:4Mediumtightlywoundyarnmarimbamallets(1MarimbaOneWaveWrapWW4inthebassand3DoubleHelix3inthetopvoices) PlayerFour:4mediumsoftmarimbamallets(suchas1MarimbaOneWW4and3MarimbaOneDoubleHelix3)

Instrumentrequirements:One4.3-octavemarimba(sharedbyplayers1and3)andone4.5-octavemarimba(sharedbyplayers2and4) TeachingPoints:

• Workingonoddmetersandmixmeter• Opportunityfortwooftheplayerstoplaywithfourmallets• Soloandunisonplayingrequired• Staggeredentrancesamongstthepartsandlayeringofvariedrhythms• Workingonaccentpatternsandaccentedversenon-accentednotes

ProgramNote:GrowingupinruralKentucky,Ialwaysheardavarietyofslangphrasesandtermstoconveyparticularmeanings.Whentwoobjectsorplacesareincloseproximitytooneanother,itisoftensaidtheyarejusta"stone'sthrow"away.Stone'sThrowisapieceforintermediatetoadvancedhighschoolmarimbaquartetusinga4.3and4.5octavemarimba.Thegoalofthisworkistoserveasafunandexcitingpieceformarimbaquartet,onlyusingaminimalsetup.Marimba1andMarimba3shouldsharea4.3octavemarimbawhileMarimba2andMarimba4sharea4.5octave.Carefulattentionshouldbepaidto

malletselectionandbalanceamongstthevoices.Thesectionatrehearsalmarker"B"requiresexceptionaldynamiccontrolfortheperformerstoachieve.Themainthemeofthepiecedoesnotactuallymakeitspresenceknownuntilrehearsalmarker"D".Whenitfinallydoesmakeitsappearance,thethemeisflankedbyavarietyofharmonicandmelodiccounter-motifs.Inreferencetosetup,thetwomarimbasshouldfaceoneother.Thisphysicalsetupoftheinstrumentsrepresentstherelativedistancebetweenthemelodicandharmonicstructureinthemusicitself.

Nested–AndrewVeit Length:6:30

MalletSuggestion PlayerOne:2mediumrubbermallets,2mediumhardyarnmallets,andbundledwoodsticks(suchasInnovativePercussionENS35,IP250,andBZW-2) PlayerTwo:2mediumrubbermallets,1wirebrush(suchasInnovativePercussionENS35,andWBR-1),andapieceofcork

PlayerThree:2mediumsoftrubbermallets,2mediumyarnmarimbamallets(suchasVicFirthM153,andMarimbaOneWWXR3) PlayerFour:2softrubbermallets,1wirebrush(suchasInnovativePercussionENS10,andWBR-1),andapieceofcork.

Instrumentrequirements:24.3octavemarimbas.Players1and3shareoneinstrument,andplayers2and4sharetheother. TeachingPoints

• Introducedextendedandspecialmarimbatechniques• Interlockingrhythmicblend• Unisonmomentswithdynamiccontour• Openmeteringthatrequirecommunicationbetweenperformers• Workingonmixedmetervariationsofmajorthemes.

ProgramNote:NestedwaswrittenintheFallof2017uponrequestoftheHeartlandMarimbaorganizationaspartoftheireducationalcommissioninginitiative.Thetitleisderivedfromthetermpercussionistsgivetorhythmsthat,whenplayedtogether,fitwithinandinterlockwellwithoneanotherduetocommonsubdivisions.‘Nested’doeshaveseveralmomentswhereplayersfitrhythmicgesturestogether,howeverthegreaterideaofsimultaneousconnectivitybetweenmultiplethingsistheprimarymotiveIusedtocomposethepiece.Thepieceexploresthelimitsofhowmarimbistscanconnectandinterlockduringaliveperformancenotsimplywithrhythms,butalsowithsoundeffectsandextendedtechniques.Thespecialeffectsincludeusingthingsnottypicallyperformed

onthemarimba,suchasbrushes,bundledsticks,backendsofthemallets,andcork.Theseimplementsrequirespecialattentiontosuccessfullyblendandbalanceasagroup,whichisaneducationalexperienceallyoungpercussionistsmusthave!AnotherneweffectthatIcreatedexclusivelyfor‘Nested’isthefournoteblur-chordsperformedthroughoutthepiece.Thesechordsconnectandinterweavetheentirecomposition,whichcreatesanotherlayerofconnectivitycontributingtheprimarymotiveofthepiece.

•InformationaboutHMPublishing•

HeartlandMarimbaexecutive/artisticdirectorandfounder,MatthewColey,addedHMPublicationstotheHeartlandMarimbaorganizationin2015.HMPprovidesadditionalsupporttotheclassicalmarimbaartsandtheHMmissionbyfurtherpromotingcompositionscommissionedbyHM,andcompositionswrittenbyHMartistsandperformedbytheHMQuartet,HMEnsemble,andstudentsattheHMFestival.

HMPspecializesindistinctive21stcenturysolo,concerto,andchambermusicforpercussionandhammereddulcimer.ThepiecesavailablethroughHMPwillrangefrom,butarenotlimitedto,solomarimbatranscriptions,newmarimbaanddulcimersolos,percussionanddulcimerconcertos(withchamberandlargeensembles),andavarietyofmixedensembleandpercussionchambermusic.

HMPparticularlyfocusesonreleasingnewmarimbaensembleworksofhighquality.Manyoftheensemblepiecesareavailableinmultipleversionsforvaryingnumbersofplayers.

HMPalsofeelsthatitisimportanttomakecompellingarrangementsandtranscriptionsavailableforpercussionists.Alargeportionofthecatalogueistranscriptionsforsolomarimbaormarimbaensemble.

•ContactInformation•

www.HeartlandMarimba.com

Twitter:@HeartlndMarimba

Facebook:www.facebook.com/HeartlandMarimba

Instagram:@Heartlandmarimba

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SoundCloud:HeartlandMarimbaPublications

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Email: heartlandmarimbafest@gmail.com