steelopus

weezer - Only in dreams - arranged for Mallet Percussion Ensemble.

I arranged this 8 years ago, just as I was finishing up my undergrad Music Education degree. It is essentially a note-for-note transcription of this classic song. I was a trumpet major and a percussion minor and I dated a talented marimba player for a while. Her talents were what originally inspired me to explore mallet arrangement.

My experience with percussion, under the direction of the fantastic Dr. Kristin Shiner McGuire, introduced me to many a varried new technique, including my favorite which was bowed vibraphone. When you bow the bars of a vibe, they emit a pure pitch that fades in and out (youtube example). The first time I heard the technique, I immediately thought it sounded a lot like electric guitar feedback, and decided I would find a way to use it in that sense. That spawned this project.

Unfortunately, due to the limitations of crappy MIDI instrumentation, all the bowed vibe parts are simply striked traditionally in this performance of the arrangement.

For years I’ve wanted to arrange a live performance by a genuine percussion ensemble. If that ever happens, I’ll be sure to share the new recording.

Please let me know what you think in the comments if you’re feeling chatty.