Arabesque No. 1, by Claude Debussy

Arabesque No. 1, by Claude Debussy
Arranged & Performed by Kevin Keith

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ABOUT THE PIECE:

The original piano composition of Arabesque was completed by Debussy in 1881 in a set of two, this being the first.  In regards to the title and character of the collection, Grove Music Dictionary offers this insight:

To the Romantics the concept of the arabesque was particularly attractive in the light of the idea, first popularized by F.W.J. Schelling (1802) and by Goethe, of architecture as ‘frozen music’. The term was used for piano pieces by Stephen Heller (op.49) and Schumann, whose op.18 is in the form of a rondo with recurring episodes, which are in marked contrast to the main theme. Gade’s op.27 is similarly entitled, but the most typical examples of the form are Debussy’s Deux arabesques (1888–91), whose charm and delicacy reflect perfectly the conception of the arabesque as a piece in which the composer aims at a decorative rather than emotional effect. (Grove)

This marimba transcription came to be in part of my vision of music to be a completely fluid non-human construct - part of the ever forward-moving nature of music being that previous compositions can be adapted for newly discovered/developed instruments or performing techniques.  I also hope to assist in the continuous process of looking for new ways to express styles, characters and musical time periods on percussion instruments - in this case, the marimba, likely the most closely related of our instruments to the other families.

- Kevin Keith

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ABOUT THE PERFORMER:

Kevin Keith is a freelance musician and educator based in Denver, Colorado.  A strong advocate for new music and progressive music education, he enjoys spending his time in various teaching and performing opportunities in and around the Denver metropolitan area.  He also actively teaches and performs in Minnesota, Illinois, and Michigan. 
 
As a performer, Kevin is active in chamber, orchestral and solo percussion.  He has performed with the Colorado Symphony, Denver Philharmonic, Aurora Symphony, Boulder Symphony, Broomfield Symphony, Mason Symphony, Great Lakes Chamber and Lansing Symphony Orchestras as a percussionist and timpanist.  He has been a featured member of the Colorado College Summer Music Festival Orchestra and ChosenVale Seminar Percussion Ensemble. 
 
Kevin has performed as a featured solo artist at events such as the McCormick Marimba Festival in Tampa, Florida and Electronic Music Midwest in Chicago, Illinois.  He has also been a featured soloist with the Michigan State University Percussion Ensemble, Central Michigan University Symphony Orchestra and the Lansing Symphony Orchestra.  He is an advocate of new works for percussion and electronics, having premiered or commissioned works by composers such as Ryan Elvert, Justin Rito, and Alejandro Viñao.  As a chamber artist, Kevin currently works as a member of the Front Range Duo with Stephen Bott in commissioning new music in percussion in the mountain region of the United States.  He is also a member of Transition Theater, an upstart multimedia theater troupe based in Denver. 
 
Kevin’s instructing duties include the Director of Percussion position at Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, CO and as an instructor of percussion at Denver East High School and Standley Lake High School.  His students have received superior ranks in Solo & Ensemble competitions, as well as placing into music institutes or summer events such as the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps.
 
Kevin holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Central Michigan University, a Master of Music Performance from Michigan State University, and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver.

Видео Arabesque No. 1, by Claude Debussy канала Vic Firth Concert