“I was delighted when Eric got in touch to ask if I might arrange some of his choral music for marimba. I first met and worked with Eric in 2012, when I was invited to organise the percussion elements of his debut BBC Proms Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
I began with three pieces from the album ‘Light and Gold’, which sit perfectly for marimba quartet, positioning four players at two marimbas.
I transcribed Sleep replacing the voices with the warm, earthy tones of the marimbas to make a seriously special marimba chorale. To contrast A Boy and a Girl contains some eighth note passages to convey momentum, whilst Lux Aurumque employs up to twelve mallets across the instruments to keep the original division of parts.
For October I added two vibraphones (played without motor) to the marimbas to utilize the wider sound pallet of the mallet quartet. Working from the choral version Alleluia this music chimes and sparkles, a humble meditation on the glory of autumn.” Joby Burgess
BUY SHEET MUSIC
Arrangements
Lux Aurumque Eric Whitacre arranged by Joby Burgess
4 players at 2 marimbas
October Eric Whitacre arranged by Joby Burgess
2 vibraphones and 2 marimbas
A Boy and a Girl Eric Whitacre arranged by Joby Burgess
4 players at 2 marimbas
Sleep Eric Eric Whitacre arranged by Joby Burgess
4 players at 2 marimbas