Star of Wonder

Instrumentation
Bells
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2 – optional
Chimes
Marimba 1 (4-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 3 (5-octave) – optional
Percussion (2 Timpani [29” & 26”], Triangle, Mark Tree, Suspended Cymbal)
Optional Piano

• Only two marimbas are needed for performance – 4.3-octave (low A) and 5-octave (low C).
• If two vibraphones are unavailable, play the right hand of the optional piano part.
• If a 5-octave marimba is unavailable, play the left hand of the optional piano part.
• Use the optional piano part only if these instruments are unavailable.

Program Notes
Star of Wonder was written at the request of Dr. Andrew Dancy for performance at the 2012 Marimba Christmas Concert in downtown Greensboro. With the exception of one auxiliary percussion part, the keyboard percussion instruments drive the arrangement, dividing into two families – metals (bells, vibraphones, chimes) and woods (marimbas). The arrangement begins with a reflective rendition of “I Wonder As I Wander,” characterized by subtle, ascending figures in the marimbas and a slow-moving melody in the metallic instruments. As “We Three Kings” takes over, the tempo picks up and melodic figures are thrown quickly around the ensemble. The marimbas present the initial melody with incessantly accented sixteenth notes. The metallic instruments then play the melody like a contrapuntal music box, first by themselves, then against the backdrop of “I Wonder As I Wander” in the marimbas. There is one more grandiose statement of the “Star of Wonder” chorus before the piece comes to a graceful and quiet finish.

An optional piano part is included in case you do not have access to two vibraphones and three marimbas.