Cellar Door
Cellar Door
Witt, Edward
Cellar Door is a magical journey through many different soundscapes, moods and textures that features solo vibraphone throughout.
Program Notes
Cellar Door is a collection of themes I accumulated over my high school career. It was written as a tribute to the Mt. Lebanon Percussion program, in its 26th season at the time. The piece is also dedicated to Ben Robb.
The piece features the vibraphone as a soloist. It begins with a mysterious chromatic chord theme which is later re-articulated by the marimbas. The second theme, which is much more soothing, also begins with a vibe solo. After a build-up that utilizes the entire ensemble, the fast main theme is introduced, which carries most of the weight of the piece. There is an interplay between the xylophone, vibraphone, and marimba in the 7/8 section that establishes a rhythmic motif that is referenced throughout the rest of the piece.
The sinister fourth theme modulates the piece to C minor, and emphasizes the off beats. There is a brief battery percussion break, which transitions into the 5th theme in A minor. After the vibraphone soloist references the first theme, the piece concludes with a recap of the main theme, now in C major.
-EW
Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2010
Number of Players: 12
Duration: 8:30
Listen to Recordings
Sample PDF
Instrumentation
Bells/Chimes
Xylophone
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1 (4 octave)
Marimba 2 (4 octave)
Bass Marimba
Timpani
Percussion 1 (Suspended Cymbal, Snare Drum, Ride Cymbal)
Percussion 2 (Wind Chimes, Bass Drum)
Percussion 3 (Crash Cymbals, Claves, Suspended Cymbal, 4 Toms)
Percussion 4 (Triangle, Tambourine, Temple Blocks)