Gottry-Woodwork (SP)-4M/Cajon

Woodwork by Josh Gottry for marimba quartet and cajon. This pseudo-minimalist work explores a variety of ostinato figures woven between the five wooden instrument voices. The majority of the work is set in either 3/4 or 6/8 time, time signatures which are comprised of equivalent rhythmic values, but featuring contrasting points of metric emphasis. Each marimba voice contributes to the rhythmic texture of the composition through the use of syncopation, complementary rhythmic figures, and accents. The melodic and harmonic content is also shared throughout the four parts, deliberately in such a way that rarely does one voice clearly separate from the ensemble texture. The cajon serves as a rhythmic foundation for the ensemble, occasionally emerging from the background with more active solo statements. This piece can be performed on two marimbas - one 4-octave and one 5-octave.