Doubleplay

To his popular Dialogues for Euphonium and Marimba, and Divertissement for Violin or Viola and Marimba, Samuel Adler adds Doubleplay, a concert etude for two marimba players on one instrument. Thrilling and winsome, much of the interest of this challenging work derives from its perpetually shifting textures. Often, the sinewy melodic line passes seamlessly from one player’s hands to the other’s. At other times, one player accompanies the other, or they briefly join in a shared gesture before scampering off again. Through all of these changes, the rhythmic flow of the music remains remarkably uninhibited.  A welcome addition to the small repertoire for two marimba players on one instrument, Doubleplay is a wonderful new work for recitalists, and for teachers in search of a challenging duet to learn with a student.