Life Anew

Composer: Robert Oetomo

Instrument: Marimba

Level: Intermediate

Published: 2020

• Description

Duration: 5 min.

Life Anew was inspired by a photograph of the devastation and aftermath of the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires; where life begins again and is resilient despite the destruction of nature.

Life Anew is commissioned by the Taiwan Percussion Arts Alliance, Taiwan for the 2020 Taiwan Percussion World Championship.

Robert Oetomo

•  (Percussive Notes, October 2021)

I love seeing new music written with consideration for the low-A marimba. This beautiful instrument is more accessible to students and performers at the fringe of our field than its low-C counterpart. It is even more exciting to see this piece coming from composer and arranger Robert Oetomo, who many of us know for his stunning arrangement of Harold Arlen’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

While his original work “Life Anew” is not as iconic as Arlen’s landmark tune, it evokes a similar, hopeful aspiration. “Life Anew” was inspired by the destruction and subsequent renewal following the devastating Australian bushfires in 2019–20. Its simple melody and gradually building texture beautifully represent resilience in the face of adversity.

While musically rich, the piece is technically approachable for the intermediate marimbist. It requires independence between the two hands, as the left has some light accompaniment figures that contrast with the melody in the right hand.

This audience-friendly work would be appropriate for a college or advanced high school recital. Kudos to Edition Svitzer on their striking cover and Oetomo on the beautiful composition.

—Quintin Mallette