Arco Iris Por El Neblinoso Crepusculo Del Amanecer

Category: Mallet Percussion

Solo For Vibraphone & Marimba

Level: Medium Advanced/Advanced
Duration: 10:35

Copyright © 2022 Juan G. García

PDF – Sheet Music, Page 1

The Solo For Vibraphone & Marimba entitled, “Arco Iris Por El Neblinoso Crepusculo Del Amanecer” was composed from September 26, 2006 to August 23, 2007. The majority of the piece was actually completed with in several months of the start date however, its completion met with many delays due to many personal life responsibilities.

This piece was undertaken at the behest of a distant cousin of mine, Alejandro Ruíz Zuluaga, who comes from a long line of family musicians on his father’s side. His father being Pedro Julio Ruíz Salazar. After graduating as a performance major in percussion from the University E.A.F.I.T. in Medellín, Colombia in South America, he was offered the post of professor of percussion. He readily accepted this position. He requested this solo piece from me in September of 2006 and his intentions were for him to play both the vibraphone and the marimba parts at the same time.

The Spanish title, “Arco Iris Por El Neblinoso Crepusculo Del Amanecer” translates to English as “Rainbow At First Light Through The Dawn’s Dewy Mist”. My intention with this composition was to portray that early morning setting in which a rainbow would first appear in the Colombian Amazon jungle. The rainbow continues to grow, intensify and pass through colorful alterations as the sun continues to rise. It’s light refracts differently through all of the dewy mist and the variety of vegetation as jungle life begins to settle into its daily routine.

“Arco Iris Por El Neblinoso Crepusculo Del Amanecer” is written with a more percussive effect in mind then was my first piece for vibraphone and marimba composed in 2004 “Dos Vibran Por Un Amor.” In contrast, this piece was written in a more lyrical pianistic style. Although some Classical-style constructs are used in this new composition, it is much more freely written overall. Latin rhythms are implied through the use of 5/4 and other alternating time signatures and the harmonies tend to be more modal and tonal with moments of Modern sonorities. Personally written for my cousin, Alejandro Ruíz Zuluaga, my intention was to compose an expressive solo piece that would not only prove challenging but would also pay homage to our Colombian heritage.