Marimba Music 2
by Jon Madin

This book and CD have been long-awaited by enthusiasts of Victorian-based Jon Madin's unique way of involving novices of all ages as well as people with musical experience. He uses home-made marimbas (book of plans is available), other percussion, and unusual 'wacky instruments' invented by Jon. He has been using these pieces and those from Marimba Music 1 (book and cassette, published in 1993) for six years in his work in schools and at festivals around Australia. Many music teachers and musicians working in the wider community have found this book extremely valuable.

Marimba Music 2 contains 19 pieces with suggestions for flexible arrangements for various combinations of commercial and home-made percussion, as well as other melodic instruments such as saxophone, recorder and accordion. The CD makes excellent music for listening, for enjoyable analysis sessions, for dancing, and for getting ideas on how the music can be brought to life in various combinations of parts and instruments.

Some of these pieces are already classic parts of school and community music-making. For some years the catchy bass and melody of 'Captain Bob' has been used to accompany dances, such as the Thai or Filipino 'stick dance'. The recording of 'The Bridge at Mostar' is a very satisfying arrangement, with Jon's quirky little offbeat improvisations on the piano accordion giving real character to a good basic piece. The 'Kakadu Kolo' is a piece which is very easy to teach, and sounds very effective quickly.

It would be suitable for secondary students as well as primary children, and is an excellent basis for some improvisation on various instruments. Recorders, saxophone and marimbas are used in this very effective arrangement. The 'Albatross Rock' is an excellent piece for introducing primary-age children to 12 bar blues. It is very popular with the children, and can be a reference for them for years to come in the analysis and playing of rock music.

Many pieces have instructions included for folk-style dances, or have teaching tips which are of great benefit. Some have words which can be sung either to help the learning of the instrumental pieces or used in performances with additional children involved. Of course, all these marimba pieces can be used with classroom instruments as well as with home-made or commercial marimbas. They will need bass xylophones as well as the higher- pitched tuned percussion to sound effective.

The obvious musicianship of Jon Madin, who has overlaid all the instrumental tracks, makes the CD a great pleasure to listen to, in addition to the possibilities of the pieces in teaching and music-making. This collection is highly recommended to anyone working with groups of children, with percussion players of different ages, and to anyone involved with community or adult music-making.

Orders to:

3 Cassells Road,
Research, 3095.
phone/fax (03) 9437 1327