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A Boy and a Girl

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Note from Composer

A Boy and a Girl is such a tender, delicate, exquisite poem. I simply tried to quiet myself and find the music hidden within the words.

I’m often asked which of my compositions is my favorite. I don’t really have one that I love more than the others, but I do feel that the four measures that musically paint the text “never kissing” may be the truest notes I’ve ever written.

The Text

Stretched out on the grass,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their oranges,
giving their kisses like waves exchanging foam.

Stretched out on the beach,
a boy and a girl.
Savoring their limes,
giving their kisses like clouds exchanging foam.

Stretched out underground,
a boy and a girl.
Saying nothing, never kissing,
giving silence for silence.

Octavio Paz, 1914-1998
English Translation by Muriel Rukeyser, 1913-1980

Duration

4.5 minutes

Year of Composition

2002

Licensing

Boosey & Hawkes

Purchase

US: Hal Leonard
UK: Musicroom
World: Music Shop Europe
Digital: SheetMusicDirect

String Orchestra

Note from Composer

A Boy and a Girl is such a tender, delicate, exquisite poem. I simply tried to quiet myself and find the music hidden within the words.

I’m often asked which of my compositions is my favorite. I don’t really have one that I love more than the others, but I do feel that the four measures that musically paint the text “never kissing” may be the truest notes I’ve ever written.

Instrumentation

Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass

Duration

4.5 minutes

Year of Composition

2007

Licensing

Boosey & Hawkes

Purchase

US: Hal Leonard
UK: Musicroom
World: Music Shop Europe
Digital: Sheet Music Direct

Marimba Quartet

Note from Composer

I was delighted when Eric got in touch to ask if I might arrange some of his choral music for marimba. I first met and worked with Eric in 2012, when I was invited to organise the percussion elements of his debut BBC Proms Concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

His music contains many of the things I love in choral music; lush tonal harmonies, strong audience engagement and a firm spiritual connection. We also share a similar taste in 1980’s pop, although I would be the 4th member of A-ha, not the 5th member of Depeche Mode!

I began with three pieces from the album ‘Light and Gold’, which sit perfectly for marimba quartet, positioning four players at two marimbas.

I transcribed Sleep replacing the voices with the warm, earthy tones of the marimbas to make a seriously special marimba chorale. To contrast A Boy and a Girl contains some eighth note passages to convey momentum, whilst Lux Aurumque employs up to twelve mallets across the instruments to keep the original division of parts.

For October I added two vibraphones (played without motor) to the marimbas to utilize the wider sound pallet of the mallet quartet. Using the choral reworking Alleluia this music chimes and sparkles, a humble meditation on the glory of autumn.

– Joby Burgess, Arranger

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Instrumentation

4 Marimbas

Duration

4.5 minutes

Year of Composition

2018

Licensing

Boosey & Hawkes

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