- Pastor, Joseph: Olympus Mons - solo marimba 8 min Click HERE for audio clip Olympus Mons, Joseph Pastor's 2007 composition for solo marimba, takes its name from the largest mountain in the solar system. This Martian volcano is a very mysterious land formation that is more than 300 miles in diameter and nearly 17 miles tall. It would easily dwarf Mount Everest. However, the slope of Olympus Mons is so subtle that it would be hardly noticeable from the view point of a would be mountaineer. Aside from the enormous cliffs at its fringe it is quite an unexciting feature. Except, that is, for when it is viewed from space. The work that bears its name is likewise best when viewed as a whole. Not that it doesn't have its individual moments. But, like the volcano, the composition rises gently to its peak where, near the middle of the main movement, it dramatically builds to a single C minor chord and fermatta. Then, after a brief but assertive declaration in octaves and fifths, the piece begins its gentle descent toward the end. The main movement takes about eight minutes to perform and is bookended by prelude and postlude, each less than two minutes in duration. These movements share a common motif and more jagged contours than the central movement. The technical challenges lie in mallet independence. Often, there are sustained 3-note chords occurring underneath a linear melodic line that is charged to any one mallet at different points. There are multiple contrasting lines occurring simultaneously throughout the work that maximize the performer’s technical and musical independent capabilities. Other technical challenges include one-handed rolls on single bars and fast double-lateral work within small intervals. The center of its key scheme is F minor, which allows for the lowest note on a full range marimba to be the fifth of the I chord. This makes for very nice "power chords" and thick lower voicings. The material is modern but tonal, and is designed to sound new to any listener without requiring too sophisticated a palette. Olympus Mons was commissioned by percussionist Michael Eagle in 2007.

- Pastor, Joseph: Olympus Mons

- solo marimba

-8 min
-Click HERE for audio clip

Olympus Mons, Joseph Pastor's 2007 composition for solo marimba, takes its name from the largest mountain in the solar system. This Martian volcano is a very mysterious land formation that is more than 300 miles in diameter and nearly 17 miles tall. It would easily dwarf Mount Everest. However, the slope of Olympus Mons is so subtle that it would be hardly noticeable from the view point of a would be mountaineer. Aside from the enormous cliffs at its fringe it is quite an unexciting feature. Except, that is, for when it is viewed from space.

The work that bears its name is likewise best when viewed as a whole. Not that it doesn't have its individual moments. But, like the volcano, the composition rises gently to its peak where, near the middle of the main movement, it dramatically builds to a single C minor chord and fermatta. Then, after a brief but assertive declaration in octaves and fifths, the piece begins its gentle descent toward the end. The main movement takes about eight minutes to perform and is bookended by prelude and postlude, each less than two minutes in duration. These movements share a common motif and more jagged contours than the central movement.

The technical challenges lie in mallet independence. Often, there are sustained 3-note chords occurring underneath a linear melodic line that is charged to any one mallet at different points. There are multiple contrasting lines occurring simultaneously throughout the work that maximize the performer’s technical and musical independent capabilities. Other technical challenges include one-handed rolls on single bars and fast double-lateral work within small intervals.

The center of its key scheme is F minor, which allows for the lowest note on a full range marimba to be the fifth of the I chord. This makes for very nice "power chords" and thick lower voicings. The material is modern but tonal, and is designed to sound new to any listener without requiring too sophisticated a palette. Olympus Mons was commissioned by percussionist Michael Eagle in 2007.

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