by Jim Casella
14 players
Instrumentation: Crotales (low octave), Glockenspiel, Chimes, Xylophone, 2 vibraphones, 4 marimbas*—low A, 4 timpani, Drums (2 snare drums, mounted kick (muted), bongos, concert toms (4), djembe), Cymbals & gongs (hi-hat, sizzle cymbal, suspended cymbal, ride cymbal, china cymbal, splash cymbal, opera gong), Accessories (guiro, mark tree, Zil-Bell, 4 graduated cowbells, shekere, Energy chime (E pitch), 2 high woodblocks (graduated), triangle, temple blocks, ribbon crasher, tambourine, small shaker)
* 4 marimbas are ideal, however the parts are structured so that M1 and M2 can share an instrument, and M3 and M4 can share an instrument.
After returning home from the Amazon jungle of Peru, Jim Casella wrote Windows of the Maloca as a testament to the spirit of connectedness he experienced and, as he wrote, how "individual components of an ecosystem exist together as a community. No matter how small the organism, it affects some other part of the whole, even if not immediately apparent." This advanced ensemble piece for 14 players features a repeating metric framework of 7/8+7/8+7/8+6/8, which remains consistent through the piece. Casella brilliantly weaves in different textures and rhythmic motives without disrupting the flow and groove of this intricate metric framework.
Windows of the Maloca was commissioned by Brandon Kunka, director of the Roswell High School percussion ensemble of Roswell, Georgia. It was premiered at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) conference in Athens, Georgia, in January 2017.
This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD-ROM containing an audio recording and all individual parts available for printing.
