Astrand-RAUK (SP)-Solo V/X/2M/P

In 1999, Amores Grup de Percussió in Valencia, Spain, commissioned me to compose a piece for solo vibraphone and three percussionists. I performed the piece on vibraphone with the group later that year. The piece is named after the tall limestone formations in Gotland, Sweden called Rauk. Solo part contains large sections of improvisation.

Number of Players: 4
Difficulty: Grade 6
Instrumentation:

Player I: Vibraphone Solo, Cymbal

Player II: Xylophone, Crotales, High Pitch Cymbal, High Pitch Japanese Gong, 4 High Pitch Tom-Toms, 1 High Pitch Bass Drum

Player III: Marimba, Medium Pitch Cymbal, Medium Pitch Japanese Gong, 4 Medium Pitch Tom-Toms, 1 Medium Pitch Bass Drum

Player IV: Marimba, Low Pitch Cymbal, Low Pitch Japanese Gong, 4 Low Pitch Tom-Toms, 1 Low Pitch Bass Drum

Anders Astrand regularly performs recitals and gives clinics throughout the US and Europe, both as a soloist and together with his percussion ensemble Global Percussion Network. Anders Åstrand has several times performed at PASIC (Percussive Arts Society International Convention). In his compositions, Åstrand focuses on improvisation as an essential feature for soloists as well as the ensemble. In addition to mallet music, Åstrand has been commissioned to composes for brass quintets, saxophone quartet, choirs, and big band.