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Prism Rhapsody (Piano Reduction): each Composer: Abe Keiko
This publication of Abe's Prism Rhapsody for Marimba and Orchestra, which was given its world premiere by the composer in 1996, provides, in addition to the solo marimba part, a piano reduction of the orchestral accompaniment. Drawing upon Abe's Conversation in the Forest II and Prism series, the work is very appealing and accessible. The ca. 15-minute piece is cast into two large sections separated by a long, showy cadenza. The first section features the technical challenge of six-mallet performance. The orchestra does much more than function as accompanist for the solo marimba. It often carries the melodic line, which is embroidered by a technically challenging obligato in the solo marimba. The piano reduction is written well, avoiding the awkwardness of many such adaptations that reduce the orchestra part to an extremely clumsy piano version. Although devoid of the instrumental color generated by the orchestration, the piano reduction gives the serious marimbist access to a work that has already attained recognition as a new, major repertoire piece.
