The Marimba Fantasy is constructed in a roughly palindromic arc, drawing its melodic and harmonic materials from a superimposition of the keys of F# major and D minor. Though continually shifting, the meters used in the opening and ending, as well as frequently throughout, are also palindromes (ex.: the opening bars, in 11/16 time signature, are in a metric pattern of 3+2+1+2+3). It is overall a somewhat eclectic piece, with sudden transitions from light, lilting dances to furious statements of the opening motives; and from sharp angular figures to gentle chorales. I wrote it in 2002 for David Hall, a former marimba teacher of mine.

This review was published in the April 2006 issue of Percussive Notes, a publication of the Percussive Arts Society.

The recording here is a MIDI realization done in March of 2005. The Marimba Fantasy was published in the Fall of 2005 by HoneyRock Publications, and is available for purchase here.