Musella-Concertino Azure (SP)-Solo V/B/V/3M/4T/P

Concertino Azure is a diverse and approachable work for solo vibraphone and percussion ensemble. It is suitable for either a solo recital or as part of a an ensemble concert.

azure /aZHer/ adjective
1. Bright blue in color;
2. Of the tincture or color blue

I. The Grass is not Greener
Based on the traditional Bluegrass favorite Nickel Creek, this lively treatment gives the soloist and ensemble an opportunity to mimic the agility and virtuosity of a fiddle player. The tune is at times interrupted by a “dream-like strange trip” and the sounds of an oncoming train which gets a bit too close for comfort. This movement concludes like it began with the soloist performing by themselves.

II. Blue and Moving On
Dealing with heartbreak and loss is an unpleasant and difficult aspect of the human condition. Despite the gravity of any given situation, life goes, on and the coping/healing process oftentimes starts with the inner voice that says, “pull yourself together, it’s gonna be OK.”

III. Iberian Skies
On the southwestern edge of Europe lies the Iberian Peninsula, mostly occupied by Spain and Portugal. This movement draws inspiration from Flamenco guitar stylings while moving in and out of G-Minor and G-Phrygian mode. There are harmonic twists and turns associated with another Spanish genre, the paso doble. The work comes to a fiery conclusion in a codetta filled with rapid arpeggios!

• Number of players: 9
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Instrumentation:
• Player 1: Solo Vibraphone
• Player 2: Bells
• Player 3: Vibraphone
• Player 4: Marimba 1 (4-octave)
• Player 5: Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
• Player 6: Marimba 3 (4.3-octave)
• Player 7: 4 Timpani, snare drum (shared)
• Player 8: Snare drum (shared), suspended cymbal (shared), wind chimes, 2 congas, castanets
• Player 9: Splash cymbal, ratchet, cowbell, suspended cymbal (shared), tambourine