![]() It would make a great addition to any recital program. I was excited to see and hear this piece, as I am also a former Ohio State student of Susan Powell and can hear not only the ragtime style, but “her” ragtime style in this piece. Ever-changing time signatures give the music an off-balance feel, yet the groove has a layer of complexity that is quite nice as a result. These trick rhythms, accents, and licks feel more reflective and reverent than burning hot. ![]() When you think of ragtime, you may think blazing fast, but the tempo here is moderate. This leads into an “in time” section that makes up most of the work. ![]() The piece begins with a free, rubato section that introduces some of the melodic and rhythmic ideas to be presented later. The piece is written for 4-octave xylophone, but the composer explains that it can be performed on a marimba if a 4-octave xylophone is not available. The most prominent of these is the three-note “trick rhythm” used frequently by George Hamilton Green. “Powell has specialized in ragtime xylophone throughout her career, and therefore I incorporated some ideas from this tradition into the work,” explains Koors. “Sonata for Susan” was composed as a Secret Santa gift-exchange present for Susan Powell by then-student Zach Koors. This pieces ships in a printed, professionally bound folio with a full color cover. Zach uses this brilliantly throughout his piece and has produced a uniquely endearing and heartfelt piece for an instrument that is frequently used for comedic or colorful effect.Īlthough Sonata for Susan was originally composed for a 4-octave xylophone, if one isn’t available, it can be just as effectively performed on a 4-octave marimba. The “trick rhythm” is a three-note sticking pattern that creates a hemiola effect rhythmically, while also producing a complex-sounding array of melodic motifs with just two mallets. The most notable is the use of the “trick rhythm,” famously developed and utilized by George Hamilton Green. Since Susan has specialized in xylophone ragtime throughout her career, Koors incorporated some ideas from this venerable tradition into the piece. Sonata for Susan by Zach Koors was composed in December of 2015 as a gift for his undergraduate professor, Susan Powell.
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