Subtitled “Connective Concentration in Seven” due to its tricky time signature, this “classical but groovy” piece is surprisingly intricate yet enjoyable to both play and listen to. Perhaps even watch! As a percussionist myself I am particularly partial to composing for percussion instruments, of which the marimba is but one. Marimba are incredibly expensive so I thought “what fun!” if we crammed as many players as is sensible onto just one or two instruments. If we did that, how would they avoid hitting each other, each other’s sticks, and getting in each other’s way? Easy – limit them to a certain number of notes.

So that’s what I did.

Six notes each. You’d probably never guess it (heard the preview yet?). And no-one gets in anyone else’s way, despite there being THREE players on each instrument. Six players with six notes each for six minutes.

“Stephen, congratulations on your new work Six by Six.  It is well deserving of many performances.”
Robert McCormick, Professor of Music (Percussion), University of South Florida

Six by Six - Connective Concentration in Seven

http://www.stephenpbrown.com/psalmquest

Based on Psalm 3, this is the 27th composition in my quest to write 150 new pieces of music by my 50th birthday.

Mirror 5

King David's Rag

http://classicjabber.com - a podcast of Conductor Composer Stephen P Brown chatting with his friends about all things classical music.

Classic Jabber

Ep.54 Rose Mallare - Rockette, Gaga, & Vatican

Ep.48 Graeme Currie - The Bassman

I help musicians ignite their passion and find the confidence to unleash spectacular performances.