Marimba solo -- "A cricket sang and set the sun" by Blake Tyson

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Marimba solo -- "A cricket sang and set the sun" by Blake Tyson

Рет қаралды 453,569

14 жыл бұрын

New recordings of this piece and many more can be found on "Firefish: Music of Blake Tyson." It's now available for digital download on iTunes and Amazon.
This work takes its title from an Emily Dickinson poem that begins, "The cricket sang, And set the sun." When I read these words, I was moved by the powerful ideas they evoked. It was not just the image of a beautiful and slowly shifting sunset that struck me, but the idea that something so small could affect something so large, that a cricket's song could transform day into night. Although the piece is not directly based on the poem, I have tried to capture the sense of fascination, inspiration and beauty that these opening lines create.
Visit www.blaketyson.com for more information.

Пікірлер: 393

@meverlinger 4 жыл бұрын

This solo got me accepted to Berklee eight years ago, but I didn't go, and I had stopped playing marimba entirely after graduating high school. I now live in a different country and I have semi-regular access to a marimba. Relearning the marimba along with this solo has been a wonderful experience. Thanks, Mr. Tyson!

@Codeine502 8 жыл бұрын

this is the first time i've ever even heard of this instrument, and i had to hold back tears as i listened to this. i feel like a kid who just walked into a wonderful giant glass dome full of gentle dragons who spit out fruit punch instead of fire. god bless you.

@landondodds4421 8 жыл бұрын

what

@AdrianC12345 8 жыл бұрын

LMFAOOOOOOO

@Codeine502 7 жыл бұрын

Landon Dodds I wonder what drug I was on when I wrote that lol

@hermano_mario 5 жыл бұрын

This is still one of my favorite comments on YT. God bless YOU

@Moossyb 5 жыл бұрын

right there with you on that first part. second part though... what?

@belmaveliz6387 6 жыл бұрын

I performed this solo a couple days ago for my Solo & Ensemble and I am now taking it to state!

@darrenclark9776 10 жыл бұрын

dude im a tortoise fan and somehow i ended up here. this was absolutely astonishing. i know nothing of the vibes or marimbas but i can watch what precision it takes (which only comes from f-ing YEARS of practice) to create dynamic music. mad props on this. amazing REAL performance on a REAL instrument.

@Andriale 6 жыл бұрын

Darren Clark what do amphibians have to do with this?

@Andriale 6 жыл бұрын

DjOrsonBeatz thanks for the info! Might check them out

@BlakeTysonMusic 11 жыл бұрын

I think the marimba is pretty great and I've been in love with it for a long time...except when I have to take it apart and carry it to my van :)

@gabrielacuartas4421 7 жыл бұрын

I played this for my senior (high school) UIL recital and for my freshman (college) seminar recital. It's my favorite piece!

@sploosh2219 7 жыл бұрын

Gabriela Cuartas I'm in middle school percussion and I don't think I could ever play this ! :O

@hyperzillas 7 жыл бұрын

Bleach practice man. Just practice well, and you'll be surprised with yourself.

@adamjack7891 7 жыл бұрын

Bleach it's a big jump from middle school to high school if you do marching band, you'll improve massively just freshman year alone and then continue to improve more after that if you stay in it. Two of my friends who are both sophomores played this for solo and ensemble and both got 1s and qualified for state, you'll be surprised how much you improve if you keep at it.

@levib5412 7 жыл бұрын

This is actually so true. I'm currently an 8th grader, and I got the privilege of being in a marching band with the best marimba player in the state, a percussionist that's third in the state and other experienced players. I could barely play Rain Dance. But now I am learning the solo "Jungle Walk".

@katiedubois992 7 жыл бұрын

Do you know if this is a piece for a 4.3 marimba?

@Numberjack95 11 жыл бұрын

I love the smile he cracks halfway through the song

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

I hope things turned out well at JSU. I wrote this piece both at the marimba and at the computer over the course of a few months. While there are some challenges, everything in the piece was "field tested" before it was finalized. A big part of composing for me is simplifying and focusing a piece while making sure it sounds good on the instrument. Once it's done, publishing can happen right away. I am self-publishing all of my own works these days.

@Piglut008 Жыл бұрын

This video just appeared out of the moon, but I have to say that by this piece I got accepted to my percussion bachelor degree in my home country. And from the 4 years of undergrad study, now I already studying classical percussion in Europe. All I want to say is that this piece is one of my early big step when I was just high-school student who want to start playing marimba.

@cygnus83 8 жыл бұрын

Lovely piece - looking forward to learning it. It seems like so much literature for marimba is just "look at me, I have no key, time signature, or identifiable melody!"; it's nice to find something that is just *beautiful.*

@stephenshoup6711 Жыл бұрын

My daughter is a percussionist and this is her solo piece in March of this year. I love things in music that are emotionally attached. I think most music is, but this one speaks to me where others do not. I love my daughter. I love that this is her choice. I appreciate this piece of music to no end. Thank you!!!

@justanotheryoutuberhere2056 8 жыл бұрын

i play this instrument and i love every bit of it

@paulygrace6207 8 жыл бұрын

I play the marimba at concerts sometimes I have so much fun it sound so beautiful and better in real life

@nikadorii_percussion 6 жыл бұрын

Yes!

@nukalex2164 8 жыл бұрын

I f****ng love this instrument

@cas3961 8 жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree with you more. There is something about the instrument that, to me, makes it far more enjoyable to play on than anything else. The opportunities for musicality and creativity on the marimba are truly boundless.

@brosephproseph1741 6 жыл бұрын

cas3961 except the fact that the number of notes you can play are limited. Pianos definitely have more room for creativity.

@Andriale 6 жыл бұрын

Joseph Jang many people, me included, love the marimba not for its range or number of notes you can hit at once, but it’s beautiful tone. I love the piano but adore the marimba.

@CaraFuzz 7 жыл бұрын

Dang it, this piece really brings out the sounds a marimba can play. I really love this. It sounds so calm, like a stream deep in the forest or something.

@BlakeTysonMusic 11 жыл бұрын

I thought I answered this one already, but I don't see the response here anymore. So, just in case... It's for 4.3, no 5 octave necessary. Some have even played it on a 4 octave with a few small changes.

@PilotTommy 11 жыл бұрын

I did! I actually used this piece to audition for a drum corp! They were very pleased :)

@nikadorii_percussion 7 жыл бұрын

Well I just found my solo for next year

@alanrawls9055 9 жыл бұрын

The most beautiful solo i have ever heard

@abelayala9727 8 жыл бұрын

Great piece of music! I'm learning this to perform for our solo/ensemble in school, currently an 8th grader

@aaroncastleberry3437 8 жыл бұрын

keep er goin

@dannywood1261 7 жыл бұрын

Abel Ayala damn dude! if you can do this in eighth grade, you're in track to be an absolutely amazing player

@CaptainMorgan_CommanderPotts 6 жыл бұрын

Make sure you aren't pushing yourself too fast, because you need to be good at two mallets before moving on to other repertoire

@CaptainMorgan_CommanderPotts 6 жыл бұрын

Not that I have any doubts, I just see bad technique in people trying to advance too quickly, and a bad attitude, as well. Have fun, be careful.

@xXcraftomaticXxPM 6 жыл бұрын

Lol I’m doing that exact thing for solo/ensemble, also a 8th grader

@igotes 10 жыл бұрын

What an amazing instrument, and he plays it effortlessly, yet it's incredibly complex.

@Gruuv_ 9 жыл бұрын

I love it! Reminds me of the music from Final Fantasy for some reason.

@andilopezmusic 7 жыл бұрын

I've always felt as if this piece was supposed to played significantly slower than he plays it it's really pretty and even though he wrote I feel as though if he slowed down he could bring out more of the beauty that he wrote

@xCentauri 6 жыл бұрын

although it's all very much open to different interpretations, the performer is actually going at the tempo the composer wanted so I mean, it's up to personal taste, I personally love going this speed for the 8/16 measure or whatever it was, it's like entering a fun cheat code

@gobears5497 6 жыл бұрын

The one performing the song is the actual composer

@loganfox6725 8 жыл бұрын

This piece shows how musical the marimba really is

@BladeIsActive 11 жыл бұрын

INNOVATIVE PERCUSSION FTW

@gabs4726 3 ай бұрын

This was the last song i was learning on the marimba before the world shut down in 2020 and that was the year i graduated from high school and now i am about to graduate college in December. I never got to finish learning this piece of music because i had to focus on the bassoon. I hope to one day play this piece for myself because it’s such a great piece of music and it always feels me full of emotion when I even hear a clipit of it.

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@deathman1222 Hi Dylan, Thanks for playing "Cricket"! The section you refer to is definitely a challenge. I've spent a lot of time working on those close-interval permutations, and it's still something I have to practice all the time. To develop fluidity and power, I do exercises like scales with the 2341234 sticking(see L.H. Stevens' book for a lot more exercises). Still, before every concert you'll likely find me (with a metronome clicking away on slow 16ths) running that section for accuracy

@TheNighthawk245 12 жыл бұрын

i miss playing the marimba. hearing this takes me back the high school.

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@chasc6 Hi Scott, I'm glad that you like the piece, and I'm sorry that it's out of stock at Weiss. They completely sold out of it at PASIC. I'll get more on the way next week. The mallets I'm using are from my series (Pro-Mark BT 4's). If I'm performing in a dry hall, I sometimes use a BT3 in the bass mallet to help round out the lower tones.

@Sharky2491 13 жыл бұрын

I really love this piece, I'm currently working on it myself right now, and even though you didn't have the entire poem in mind when you wrote it, I always think of the last stanza as I'm playing the recap and the rolls at the end. "A vastness, as a neighbor, came, A wisdom without face or name, A peace, as hemispheres at home, And so the night became." I'll be performing it at the end of march =)

@squizz222 12 жыл бұрын

"I have tried to capture the sense of fascination, inspiration and beauty that these opening lines create." I think you have succeeded, sir.

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

@TheNighthawk245 That's where I got my start playing marimba. Actually, I got my start as a freshman playing a fiberglass xylophone, but my high school finally got a marimba during my junior year.

@kubia990 7 жыл бұрын

Someone played this at a school concert I went to recently and I was absolutely mesmerized! This is amazing and magical!

@deepkidd 10 жыл бұрын

Playing mallets for 8 years certainly helped me to become a better person... especially Marimbas. Listen to how beautiful that is! That is love. :-)

@gabrielacuartas4421 8 жыл бұрын

I played this piece for UIL last year and for my Seminar performance my first semester in college. It's amazing 😃

@blakerosello 12 жыл бұрын

You have no clue how much fun I have playing this

@ebuggs212 Жыл бұрын

4:03 Nostalgia playing this for my solo piece sophomore year 2015 😢🎶

@TheForeignExperience 11 жыл бұрын

I've listened to this piece many times. Many times - and I will hopefully be performing this soon. What an amazing composition. Thank you for the piece of art you've created. It lightens my mood every time I listen to this piece.

@pyryvirtanen6081 11 жыл бұрын

Marimba is the best musical instrument in the WORLD!

@TheTheorgrin 11 жыл бұрын

This has got to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have heard in a very long time!

@OhWell307 10 жыл бұрын

I ordered this piece and its coming tomorrow! I cant wait to learn it!

@mitchellmg1011 13 жыл бұрын

Mr. Tyson, I can honestly tell you that that was the most beautiful and inspirational thing I have ever heard. Never in my life as a middle school percussionist would've I thought such beauty and power could come from an instrument I play almost every day. Your song shows true power, just as how a crickets song can set the sun. This is the type of music that makes me proud to be a percussionist.

@apersonherenow1 11 жыл бұрын

It can be played on a 4.3

@BlakeTysonMusic 14 жыл бұрын

@ohhiimKatie Thanks for the comment. I'm really glad that you like the piece. 1-Possibly. It may not have the obvious virtuosic appeal that often wins in such competitions. For ex.- I wrote Anubis for a student to play at I&E and it's technical requirements are more obvious. Still, it could work. 2-Not sure what number to assign. It may be a little more difficult than it seems, but far from impossible. The middle section will take some slow, patient practice. 3-You need a 4.3 octave marimba.

@TheJonjon5150 11 жыл бұрын

Well dang. That is one amazing little cricket. Beautiful song.

@xTaylorCrazyx 10 жыл бұрын

Just got the music for this and played through it. So beautiful and well written, makes me wanna cry at the end. Can't wait to perform the piece!

@caleemery2034 8 жыл бұрын

Amy Rudder showed this to me. Simply astounding.

@hamburger35 13 жыл бұрын

Love listening to this piece so much. Can't wait to play it.

@Johanvibes 14 жыл бұрын

Beautiful piece,very nice playing too !!

@BlakeTysonMusic 14 жыл бұрын

@AfterTheRainDiesaway Glad you like the piece! While I don't hear any overt reference to October Night, I would never deny Mike's influence on me as both a teacher and as a friend. I'm not very familiar with the Rhythm X show, but Palmetto Percussion did use "cricket" as part of their show this past season.

@dpandolfo53 11 жыл бұрын

Wow! I closed my eyes and listened to this piece. It put my body and soul in a place where life is beautiful. I was like listening to the sun pass by your face in the shadows of a Caribbean Palm Tree. Thank you, for your gift. This is a composition I would love to learn to play.

@GreggPayne 11 жыл бұрын

The coolest tune on youtube...

@agy0180 11 жыл бұрын

I played this for my high school state solo and ensemble this year. Wonderful piece of music, one of my favorites to perform. Thank you!

@vincenthisle7592 11 жыл бұрын

i think you did a good job at that man. and as a percussionist in school, id pay more than 12$ for this. its nice of you to be humble enough to price it like that.

@BDoelle9 11 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful piece. Every time I listen to it different feelings and emotions are brought up. Reminds me of Adagio for Strings. Simply wonderful. Thank you.

@teenagersscareme17 5 жыл бұрын

This is amazing!!

@eocsorb 10 жыл бұрын

Blake ~ you succeeded in your capture.

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@cthoren69 Thanks for giving it a listen. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

@hamiltondavenport2034 5 жыл бұрын

Sounds misterioso... Very gentle and beautiful!

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@dethklok4911 Thanks very much. I'm glad that you like the piece. Sorry I'm just getting to your comment, and I'm sorry that the piece got damaged in the mail. Hopefully the crumpling wasn't too bad.

@BlakeTysonMusic 11 жыл бұрын

Hi Jack, Thanks very much. I've known Clint and Tony for a long time. They are both great guys. In fact, Tony was a big influence on my when I was in high school and one of the reasons I'm doing what I do. The UGA Percussion Ensemble was the first percussion ensemble I ever saw (9th grade), and Tony gave the first marimba clinic I ever saw (10th grade).

@PhiNickGaming 11 жыл бұрын

I love this piece!!! I'm playing it as a solo, and man... It's awesome!

@BlakeTysonMusic 14 жыл бұрын

@MattsaMarimba Thank you, and thanks for taking the time to check out the video.

@bryan770 12 жыл бұрын

This is so beautiful. One of my favorites. I wish I had a marimba so I could play it...

@BlakeTysonMusic 11 жыл бұрын

Thanks. I'm really glad so many people have enjoyed it.

@rtpchoruslead 13 жыл бұрын

Simply beautiful. Fantastic composition.

@philipppiier17 11 жыл бұрын

very uplifting!! beautiful simple instrument and talented musician

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

Thanks for playing the piece! Keep me posted on your progress and performances.

@MatthewLorick 13 жыл бұрын

Wonderful music, Dr. Tyson. I am an avid fan of your compositions and enjoy the wonderful stories they tell. Take care

@ejrangel57 6 жыл бұрын

Wow Blake! Amazing!! Loved it!!!

@melisxs 12 жыл бұрын

wow. what an amazing peace of music. i've enjoyed listening to this very much. thank you!

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@davisclemson Thank you very much. I really appreciate you checking out the video.

@caitlinlusk 6 жыл бұрын

You are easily one of the most lyrical of the percussion composers in that you hear the piece and it evokes meaning, versus writers seeking abstraction or technique based material only (which is not a bad thing necessarily...haha). Your music is special.

@PatFreakinRickTV 11 жыл бұрын

that last chord was almost magical. I don't play marimba, but dude, I absolutely love it.

@TheEsperanza243 12 жыл бұрын

It sounds like something someone would hear in a musical score for an inspirational movie. :) I really love it.

@BlakeTysonMusic 13 жыл бұрын

@MarimbaMagic15 You only need a 4.3 for this piece. I try to make everything I write playable on a 4.3 whenever I possibly can.

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

The middle section can certainly be even trickier than it looks. Like most marimba pieces, slow and steady practice with a metronome works wonders.

@jamesrubich6787 11 жыл бұрын

Also, i should say that this piece along with several of your otherworks that have been performed at UM over the last year (cielng f of stars and cloud forest) are truly treasures for the percussion community as a whole

@thaGuardians 12 жыл бұрын

My bud Dakota says I would be very fortunate to have you as my percussion professor. Though Tony McCutchen and Clint Gillespie are also great, it would be my honor. I love playing this piece. I love the process of learning it, and how it has helped develop my musicianship.

@goodwood331 13 жыл бұрын

The 6/8 section is soooo pretty.

@carlosrestrepo2568 11 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful sound!!!

@PETRptAwyURsword 13 жыл бұрын

This sounds so incredibly beautiful. Sincerely, astounding work, Mr. Tyson. Keep composing.

@nickalaskreynolds 12 жыл бұрын

This is an awesome played and you did a fantastic job playing it. Put emphasis in all of the right places. I can almost see the development of the separate lives of a cricket and the sun and as the day goes to a close the cricket gives one last churp to set the sun over the horizon. Finalizing the universe into one notion as the universe is found within each and everyone of us.

@vintageludwig 14 жыл бұрын

Simply astounding! this is a brilliant piece.

@belmaveliz6387 6 жыл бұрын

I'm learning this for my Solo and hoping to take it to the State Solo & Ensemble. I truly love this piece. My older brother went to the event in Indianapolis and met you. He asked if you can autograph a copy of this piece for me, and you put, "To: Belma, with Friendship" Thank you for autographing the solo for me. I am ecstatic to learn it and perform it for others. (:

@tarafying3592 7 жыл бұрын

Woah this is cool!

@tarafying3592 3 жыл бұрын

i dont remember commenting this lol but here i am again

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

I play Steven's grip because I feel like it is the one that works best for me and the way I approach the instrument. If you prefer Burton grip, you should definitely feel free to use it. You might have to alter some of my suggested stickings (more doubles and fewer sequential stickings in the scalar passages, for example). If you have any questions or problems, let me know, and keep me updated on any performances you might do. Thanks! - BT

@rsophiav 13 жыл бұрын

This is gorgeous music!

@BlakeTysonMusic 12 жыл бұрын

@AMill215 Thanks for taking the time to check it out! Keep me posted if you decide to perform the piece.

@smshnk2010 14 жыл бұрын

This marimba piece is now on my top list for solos. Planing on learning it=]

@jagstang2100 13 жыл бұрын

Now that is some talent...awesome

@meganlevegan 12 жыл бұрын

This is so gorgeous - gives me the chills

@SpagEddy 13 жыл бұрын

Beautifull piece. Thank you for posting!

@schneids02 13 жыл бұрын

This is beautiful! I just ordered this piece, and I can't wait to learn it. Nice work!

9 жыл бұрын

Wow what an awesome piece of music

@Codeine502 8 жыл бұрын

couldn't have said it any better.

@fether666 11 жыл бұрын

That ending was incredible :)

@BlakeTysonMusic 11 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The piece means a lot to me and I appreciate you taking the time to check it out.

@hittinstuff 11 жыл бұрын

Awesome piece! I just got it yesterday and I must say that the slow section at the end is very nice. Can't wait to get through it all!

@uzernamexp 11 жыл бұрын

Beautiful song!

@DesertDustX 11 жыл бұрын

Ignore PercussionGeek, I understand what you mean. You can look up steveweissmusic on google, they sell all kinds of music :) if you live in canada you have to order over the phone, but you can do it online if you live in the states! I recently learned this piece and it's beautiful! Best of luck to you!

@TheJMusicNow 12 жыл бұрын

October Night- Burrit, Preludes- Rosuaro, Frogs- Abe, Variations on lost love- Manslaka, Marimba concerto suite- Rosuaro, Echoes- Bobo, Choro Bachiano- Rosuaro are a few