Gottry-Genesis-M

Genesis was written as a programmatic piece, depicting the Biblical account of Creation using different rhythmic structures as the basis for each section.  The large form of the work is Introduction, ABCABC and Chorale, with the Introduction and Chorale being removed from the rhythmic nature of the piece.  Genesis opens with a slow, sustained section based on the whole-tone scale, creating the impression of the emptiness existing before creation.  The first rhythmical section uses five-note groupings to depict the creation of "Light."  "Water" is evoked in the next section, using flowing, triplet-based arpeggios.  "Land" emerges from "Water" by means of a metric modulation, shifting to rhythms based on eighth notes.  The next three sections are based on the rhythmic structures of the preceding three, but with added complexities.  "Sun and Moon" is related to "Light," "Fish and Birds" is tied closely to "Water," and "Animals" is related to "Land."  The final chorale, simply set in C major, depicts Gods rest at the end of creation.

Number of Players: 1
Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation: Marimba




Josh Gottry's (b. 1974) first composition, Irrelevant for solo marimba, earned him an ASCAP Young Composer Competition grant in 1995. Since that time, he has been selected for seven ASCAP Plus awards and has created over thirty published works that have been performed extensively at universities, junior high and high schools, and multiple national conferences. Mr. Gottry earned his BM in Percussion Performance at Northern Arizona University and his MM in Composition at Arizona State University. He is currently an adjunct professor of music at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, teaching percussion and composition as well as courses in music history and theory. Additionally, he maintains a private percussion studio and performs regularly throughout Arizona as a soloist and participant in various local ensembles.

Mr. Gottry is a member of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers (ASCAP). He is a clinician for Mike Balter Mallets, Pro-Mark Sticks, and Yamaha Percussion. Mr. Gottry served six terms as the Vice President for the Arizona State Chapter of PAS and is currently a member of the PAS Education and Composition Committees. He has been published several times in Percussive Notes and presented a keyboard percussion clinic at PASIC 2007.