Refrakt for Marimba Quartet

3 4.3 Marimbas + 1 5.0 Octave marimba. Only 2 mallet technique is required by each player for this piece. Refrakt for Marimba Quartet

Often inspired by elements of nature that involve motion and color, such as water and light, I draw parallels between these elements on how I perceive and write music. The word refract refers to the change of direction of a ray of light when it enters at an angle through things like water, air, or glass.

In the marimba quartet, performers share registral and harmonic roles, while motives are passed around the ensemble within a homogenous texture and similar range. Despite moments of specific, maintained musical color, spatial motion is generated, as if light is bouncing off a surface and abruptly changes direction, yet remains contained in a perceivable way to the listener.

In other instances, musical lines are presented and then repeated with a different character by another player, with more distinct soloistic focus.