{"product_id":"caryn-block-dionysus-marimba-cello","title":"Block-Dionysus (SP)-M\/VC","description":"\u003ci\u003eDionysus\u003c\/i\u003e by Caryn Block for Marimba and Cello, composed in Spring 2011 by Caryn Block, is the second movement of the multi-movement work ODYSSEY for Marimba and Cello. Each movement in this work has its own character to depict the diverse aspects of life and society in Ancient Greece.  The music has been flexibly composed in such a way that a percussionist may perform one or two movements alone or ODYSSEY in its entirety.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAccording to ancient Greek myth,  Dionysus, was the god of wine and revelry. On a deeper level, the Greek tragedy concerned itself with the conflict between emotion and reason. Friedrich Nietzche in his The Birth of Tragedy spoke of Greek Tragedy and its inherent dichotomy of the Dionysian (emotion, passion, spontaneity, intuition) and the Apollonian (the classical attributes of balance, reason, order). The fact that these two opposing elements of human nature were combined into a seamless whole, accorded Ancient Greek tragedy the position of the highest of art forms. The Dionysian aspect could be seen in the music of the chorus, while the Apollonian was found in the dialogue.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMusically, the composition is an exploration of the three distinctive acoustical possibilities created by the solo marimba, solo cello and the combination of the two, from their lowest to highest ranges.  The melodic material is highly embellished supported by irregular phrase structure so as to create the feeling of an improvisation. The musical materials are developed through the architectural underpinning of a small binary form, with a small codetta attached.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003eThe duration for \u003ci\u003eDionysus\u003c\/i\u003e is approximately four minutes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNumber of players - 2\u003cbr\u003eDifficulty - Medium-Advanced (Grade 4)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eInstrumentation -\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003eMarimba (2 mallets, 4.3 octave or 4.5 octave)\u003cbr\u003eCello\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe following review is from Percussive Notes March 2012. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Fusing the similar, yet distinctive, resonant qualities of the marimba and cello, this four-minute piece is part of the larger multi-movement work \"Odyssey.\" Using the extreme ranges on both instruments, this work requires a 4\/3 octave marimba; an alternate scoring is provided for three measures if the marimbist has access to a 4.5 octave marimba. All of the material can be executed using two mallets, however four mallet technique may facilitate the large leaps in range. \u003cbr\u003eWith the exception of four measures marked \"Intesita,\" this work maintains a song-like expressive character. An improvisatory effect is achieved by linking sustained notes, which comprise a majority of the piece, with ornamented figures. While learning the individual parts is not a daunting task, a cohesive duet is needed to execute this ensemble. Balance during motivic imitation and passing lines combined with the blend of instrumental timbre will challenge many collegiate percussionists. Additionally, strong communication skills will contribute to success as the composer allows for rhythmic freedom during moments of ornamentation.\"  -  Darin Olson","brand":"Steve Weiss Music","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43804140732470,"sku":"BLOCKDIONYSUS","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/3055\/1350\/files\/block-dionysus-sp-m-vc.jpg?v=1773398937","url":"https:\/\/www.steveweissmusic.com\/products\/caryn-block-dionysus-marimba-cello","provider":"Steve Weiss Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}