From Six Strings to Four Mallets: A Pedagogical Approach to Marimba Musicality through Transcriptions of Leo Brouwer's Nuevos Estudios Sencillos and Danza Característica

Abstract

This Critical Essay illustrates how transcriptions of concert guitar repertoire for the concert marimba can be used to learn technical and expressive skills that exceed the scope of most existing pedagogical materials for the instrument. The transcriptions presented are Leo Brouwer’s Danza característica [“Characteristic Dance”] (1957) and Nuevos estudios sencillos [“New Simple Etudes”] (2001), both composed for solo guitar. The transcriptions are used to showcase various techniques to advance a marimbist’s capabilities, while contextual information in this essay serves to expand overall knowledge. I respond to and expand upon related transcriptions and research, provide historical overviews of marimba transcriptions and the work of Leo Brouwer, and describe an approach to adapting specific guitar pieces to the marimba. This document concludes with the complete edition of the transcriptions accompanied by abbreviated performance notes and music listening suggestions. The short, pedagogical etudes of Nuevos estudios sencillos (2001) highlight numerous techniques incorporated in the more comprehensive Danza característica (1957). For this reason the compositions are presented in reverse chronological order. This collection is most appropriate for collegiate-level marimbists endeavoring to improve their expressivity on the instrument. Knowledge of Leo Brouwer’s continuing career, and of the composers to whom he pays homage in the Nuevos estudios sencillos, provides specific insight into each piece and their respective compositional styles.