Garrett Arney | "Twelve Preludes" by Juri Seo

Описание: Juri Seo - “12 Preludes” for marimba (for purchase https://www.juriseomusic.com/store)

“As I grow older, the changing seasons evoke not only excitement but also a touch of apprehension, as I perceive these transitions as a cyclical journey that leads to ultimate demise. I am never interested in indulging in nihilistic melancholy, however. The cycles of rebirth that the seasons bring sweet tenderness, and the seasonal anomalies—untimely snow, unexpected warm days of autumn—inspire deep reverie, compelling us to experience non-linear time”
— Juri Seo

Twelve Preludes was a collaboration between percussionists Garrett Arney and composer Juri Seo, to create a new work for solo marimba combining marimba with musical elements that harken to piano pieces of the romantic era, particularly the character works of Robert Schumann like Papillon and Carnaval. These works are composed of multiple short movements to create a larger work, and a larger shape.

12 Preludes brings a series of short movements together over twenty minutes, creating that large shape. Some of the are short—30 seconds or less—consisting of virtuosic runs, beautiful melodies, simple ideas and the like. The twelve movements are arranged in a quasi-palindromic structure, with echoes, reflections, and variations throughout. An additional element of inspiration for Juri was the work "The Magic Mountain" by Thomas Mann. Time is one of the central themes of the novel; sickness and death, dreams, and seasons’ ambiguity are crucial throughlines, creating some of the programmatic elements of Twelve Preludes. Schubert’s Der Lindenbaum—a central part of the novel—is an inspiration behind a movement of Juri’s solo with the same title. Toward the end of Twelve Preludes, Juri’s Der Lindenbaum (The Linden Tree) acts as a symbol of many memories of Life, Longing, and a place of ultimate Rest.

The Movements of Twelve Preludes are:
I. Prologue (0:00)
II. Träumerai (1:42 )
III. Springwinter (3:47 )
IV. Intermezzo I (4:55 )
V. Im Wunderschönen Monat Mai (5:31)
VI. Intermezzo II (8:17)
VII. Im Mai (8:49)
VIII. Snow in August (Fugue) (10:46)
IX. Indian Summer (Gigue) (13:28)
X. Intermezzo III (14:26)
XI. Der Lindenbaum (14:51)
XII. Epilogue (18:38)

Garrett, as a performer, has spent years as a chamber musician and soloist working in many settings, most central to his career being with arx duo. Through the group and other ventures, he has worked with leading composers all of the world to bring new works to life for percussion and particularly percussion in collaboration with other instruments. The creation of new music is central to Garrett’s musical journey, and his work with Juri Seo is shown here through his first collaboration on a solo. Without Juri’s collaborative nature, compositional prowess, and giving personality, this piece would not be what it is today!

Garrett is sponsored by Vic Firth, Zildjian, Pearl Percussion, Adams Instruments, and Evans Drumheads, and also is Professor of Percussion at The University of Kansas.

Video: Four/Ten
Audio: Carlos Dias Jr.
Space: Princeton University