Kembang Suling
- Rating
- Posted by
- Daniel
- Date Posted
- 06/23/2011
This is a three movement work for flute and 4.3 marimba. The three movements are all based on different Asian cultures. The first movement, Bali, has both performers as equals with similar material based on Gamelan music. The second movement, Japan, has a simple marimba accompaniment of rolled chords underneath the flute solo that is based on shakuhachi music. The third movement, South India, has the marimba playing an ostinato figure that follows the rhythmic cycle of 5/4 + 5/8 +5/16 while the flute plays the melodic material. Towards the end of this movement the two performers begin trading off the ostinato material and essential race to the end of the piece in an exciting finish. This piece is a not too technically challenging, and could be performed by undergraduate students. It is very audience friendly without sacrificing musical integrity.