Description
When the piece opens up it is very happy and life-giving with clusters of chords coming from the ensemble. This is like the atmosphere of the sun. This is only going to change, because the sun will only be evolving during an eclipse. The atmosphere of the sun, which we can only see during a solar eclipse, will be taken apart in a musical sense representing the visual unveiling of the atmosphere during the eclipse. There are different themes that come in during this piece that represent some effects that happen during an eclipse. I wonder if you’ve heard of The Diamond Ring, Bailey’s Beads, or Totality…
The Diamond Ring is a brilliant effect where the sun is very bright only at a tiny point at one edge of the moon right before the suns brilliance actually goes away and changes to a low glow. This visually creates a circle with a point of light, looking like a diamond ring! It is amazing and I’d love to share a video eventually so you can see these different effects.
Second effect that really blows my mind is Bailey’s Beads. These are separated points of light on the last tips of the fading crescent of the sun’s light. What causes this!? The mountaintops and craters on the moon are tall enough to block parts of the sunlight, while letting points of light through!!!! Oh, this is a great scientific observation that is very fun to watch 🙂
Finally, totality. The sun really goes away and it seems like it is night or dusk. Animals start to act differently, birds flying around because they are looking to nest for the night. The moon is blocking the sun! The moon is a big rock floating in the sky and it is actually in between us and this BIG sun! The more I researched it the more I became excited about eclipses in general.
Difficulty: Collegiate/Advanced High School
13 players
Equipment: glockenspiel, vibraphones (2), 4.3 marimbas (3) drum set, susp cym, egg shaker, BD, woodblock, tam-tam
Duration: c.a. 3:30
Check out Heartland Marimba Publications for this work! CLICK HERE
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