Dream

Composer: Adam Tan

Instrument: Marimba

Level: Easy/Intermediate

Published: 2022

• Description

Duration: 3½ min.
Dream is my first ever 4.3 octave marimba solo written for two mallets. I find that two mallets takes away the complications of four mallet grips, laterals and other advanced techniques, leaving you to focus on the quality of your sound and the intent of your melodic expression. Dream is spacious and floaty in its construction, allowing you to interpret the directional voices in your own special way.

The title Dream stems from my experience of turning dreams into reality. I have found that some of my most ambitious goals in life, like owning my own 5.0 octave marimba, or making an income from the internet, came from dreams that seemed impossible to ever achieve at the time. Dream reflects on the idea that while many of our dreams and wishes may not work out, continuing to dream big and thinking of a better future will always help us grow and become stronger.

Adam Tan

• Percussive Notes, February 2023
  
  Played with two mallets, “Dream” is a tremendous piece that, as the composer describes, “reflects on the idea that while many of our dreams and wishes may not work out, continuing to dream big and thinking of a better future will always help us grow and become stronger.”
  
  In addition to being a gorgeous composition, “Dream” is a much-needed addition to contemporary marimba pedagogy that will allow younger players to focus on musicality instead of technique. The composer insists on this being performed with two mallets to “take away the complications of four-mallet grips, laterals, and other advanced techniques, leaving you to focus on the quality of your sound and the intent of your melodic expression.” This allows the performer to focus on being musical, which is often sorely lacking in the current repertoire.
  
  I highly recommend “Dream” as a pedagogical tool for learning musicality, but also because it is simply an excellent composition for the marimba. There is nary an audience alive who won’t enjoy this gem by Adam Tan.
  
  —Joe Millea