Zivkovic, Nebojsa-Tales From the Center of the Earth-M/5T/P/Wind

Tales From the Center of The Earth was commissioned by a group of 12 American institutions and dedicated to an premiered by Benjamin Toth on April 27th 2003. It is an Oriental, multi tonal concert piece for solo marimba/percussion and wind ensemble. Including a nice array of nice melodies and apart rhythms. In two sections. First is oriental slow opener followed by a nice "Arabic–like" groove in Marimba and perc. section. Second is dark, mystic music leading into a very attractive solo cadenza and "wild ride" closing section! Ideal for a good University band!

Number of Players: 21
Level of Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation:

Marimba/Multipercussion solo with Chamber Orchestra (WIND ENSEMBLE, with 4 percussionists and one Timpanist)

Player I: Piatti, Flexatone, Tom, Vibraphone, 3 Woodblocks
Player II: Tam, Darabuka, Vibraphone, Piatti Sospesi, Tamburo Piccolo, China Gongs
Player III: Piccolo Tam, Riq, Egyptin Tambourine, Flexatone, Patto, Glockenspiel, Grand Cassa
Player IV: Frame Drum, Flexatone, Very Low Tome, Woodblocks
Percussion Soloist:
5 Octave marimba, 4 Cym, 2 Cow Bells, 2 Crashers, 2 Plastic Blocks, Gong Thunder Sheet, Bass Drum, Piccolo Snared Drum, Bongos, Toms, Crotales

Hailed by the critics as one of the most unique and expressive artists in the field today, a composing virtuoso Zivkovic is recognized as one of the worlds top marimba and percussion soloists. He embodies a very rare tradition: the tradition the composer and virtuoso in one person, which was common in the 19th century among famous concert artists.

Zivkovic completed his master's degrees in composition, music theory and percussion in Mannheim and Stuttgart, Germany. He tours extensively throughout Europe, and performs frequently in the USA, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Latin America, Russia and Scandinavian countries. As a soloist, mostly with his own Marimba concertos, Zivkovic played among other with Stuttgart Philharmonic, Munich Symphonic, Bochum Phiharmonic, Austrian Chamber Symphony, Hannover Radio Symphony, Bielefeld Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, National Orchestra of Costa Rica, Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (Finland) Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, to name a few.