An annotated catalog of published marimba concertos in the United States from 1940--2000.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to document the development of the marimba concerto from 1940--2000. This work provides an annotated list of marimba concertos published during that time period and notes trends in each of three major periods. The first period includes works composed between 1940 and 1968, beginning with Paul Creston's first composed marimba concerto in 1940. The second period consists of works composed between 1969 and 1986, a period dominated by concertos composed by Japanese and European composers, including those by Minoru Miki and Akira Miyoshi in 1969, marking the beginning of the major Japanese influence on the marimba concerto. The most recent period consists of works written between 1987 and 2000. This period is dominated by works commissioned by American marimba artists, beginning with Leigh Howard Stevens' commission of John Serry's marimba concerto completed in 1987.

It is the author's hope that the information provided in this document will serve as a useful resource for performers and educators, and will bring awareness to the large number of quality works available that are still rarely performed.

Each chapter includes an annotation of each work in that period. Annotations include information about the premiere of the work, technical requirements, and range of instrument required, in addition to other information found to be useful or relevant to teachers and performers. Each chapter concludes with a summary of trends noted during that period, including an increase in the number of works written, greater technical demands, and an expansion in the range of instrument required.

The marimba concerto traces its short history to the year 1940, when Paul Creston wrote Concertino for Marimba. Marimba concertos were among the earliest known works composed for marimba, and thus played an important role in the development of the marimba as a viable solo instrument and in the development of original literature composed for the marimba.