Circumvesuviana (2007)

This piece has three timpanists, each with one drum, and two marimba players sharing a single instrument. It plays out as a duet between the two sections, with two distinct themes that build into a sort of merger. There are contrasting sections of relentless rhythm and more ambient passages, including a marimba cadenza in the middle.

The impetus behind this was the idea that all three timpani players could pedal their drums simultaneously, allowing certain chords to bend upward. I suppose anybody attempting to perform it will need very strong ankles, because the timpani are often expected to re-tune more than once per measure.

This piece takes its name from the train that runs around the base of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. On the right, you can listen to a computer-sampled version of the song, since no recording currently exists.