Songs of the Human Spirit

Written to fill a void in accessible duet literature for keyboard percussion, Songs of the Human Spirit explores combinations of 2 marimbas, 2 vibraphones, and vibraphone/marimba throughout the 15 pieces. Ranging in duration from 2 to 3 minutes, each duet features a different style, texture, or technique and can be used in several different ways – in private lessons, studio class, or even recitals.

Program Notes

Commissioned by a consortium of performers and educators organized by John Kilkenny and Daniel Heagney, Songs of the Human Spirit is grouped into three sections of five solos each — Marimba + Marimba, Vibraphone + Vibraphone, and Vibraphone + Marimba. Each duet ranges in duration from 2 to 3 minutes and utilizes two or four mallets or, in the case of the vibraphone duet “Loneliness,” a bass bow plus two mallets. Instead of attempting to create a sequential etude book, I aimed to provide a varied musical experience from solo to solo, exploring different techniques (percussive & compositional), moods/emotions, and ensemble challenges.

To give even more cohesiveness to the collection, I added titles to each solo, taken from the brilliant collection of essays “Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words” by David Whyte. I encourage you to pick up this book and absorb his poetic thoughts, if only to reflect on what it is to be human.
- NHD

THE CONSORTIUM
Consortium Organizers
John Kilkenny (George Mason University)
Daniel Heagney

Consortium Members
Balanced Structure (Kathryn Irwin and Emily Strachan)
Mike Blake (University of North Dakota)
BluHill (Brian Blume and Colin Hill)
Marc Damoulakis (Cleveland Institute of Music)
Tommy Dobbs (University of Arknasas-Fort Smith)
Doctors in Resonance (Kendra McLean and Memmi Ochi)
Duomo (Ashley Tini and Emily Strachan)
Frank Gonzalez
Adam Groh (Western Carolina University)
Matthew Halligan (Fairfax, VA)
Frank Kumor (Kutztown University)
Joe W. Moore III (UTRGV Brownsville)
Robert McCormick (University of South Florida)
Oliver Molina (Northwestern State University)
Luis Rivera & Matthew Greenwood (University of South Alabama)
Jeff Sass (MN)
Steady State (Eric and Tim Shuster)
Lynn Vartan (Southern Utah University)
Glenn Webb (Dixie State University)
Tracy Wiggins (University of North Alabama)
Brian Zator (Texas A&M University-Commerce)

Grade Level: 3
Number of Players: 2
Duration: 36:00 total

Listen to Recordings

Sample PDF

Watch Video

Instrumentation

Duets 1-5: Two Marimbas (4.3-octave & 5-octave)
Duets 6-10: Two Vibraphones (3-octave)
Duets 11-15: Vibraphone (3-octave) & Marimba (4.3-octave to 5-octave)