Rosewood & Steel

There is a curious symmetry between the action of a felt hammer striking a steel piano string and that of a yarn mallet striking a rosewood marimba bar. Both instruments, completely different in appearance, create instantaneous bursts of sound followed by decay. Considering this, I became interested in the idea of this duo hammering away repetitive patterns as if working together to forge an architectural or structural object. This is a work underpinned by repetitive gestures, yet no two bars of music are exactly alike. The patterns that spring forth in this music are are imperfect—lopsided, even—as if built with raw materials.

Instrumentation
Marimba, Piano

Year of Composition
2022

Duration
7 minutes

Commissioned by
Brisbane Music Festival

Premiere
Alex Raineri and Claire Edwardes, Brisbane City Temple, 1 July 2022.

Score
Available to hire via the Australian Music Centre.