Description
Interesting and entertaining 4 mallet solo on orchestra bells. Multi meter and improvisatory sections make this a challenging solo. Also playable on vibraphone. Percussive Arts Society Review: Glockenspiel solos have become popular in recent years, and the availability and portability of the instrument makes it easy to understand why. The celestial subject matter of “What the Stars Have Always Known” fits with the connotation of orchestra bells. The piece calls for four-mallet playing and can also be played on vibraphone. The piece is highly thematic, but short enough that it doesn’t wear thin. The material is not overly song-like and is clearly written to play with the natural resonance of the metallic instrument. The repetition of the material leaves room for musical expression, and there is a short improvisation section, which further allows players to make the piece their own. The sticking is intuitive, and the repetitive nature of the writing makes it learnable in a reasonable amount of time for an intermediate student. The piece doesn’t call for extended techniques, like dampening, but the tempo, musicality, and finesse required does demand comfortable facility with four mallets and the idiosyncrasies of orchestra bells. This would be a lovely addition to an advanced high school or undergraduate recital, and a refreshing divergence from the standard intermediate mallet fare. Marilyn K. Clark Silva