Diversions For Marimba And Orchestra op.439 (September 1991)

Commissioned by: Evelyn Glennie/The East of England Orchestra
Instrumentation: 2(=picc).2.2.2-2220-timp-perc(1):sus.cym/xyl/SD/tgl/cyms-pno-strings
[Key to Abbreviations]
Duration: 22 mins
First Performance: Heather Corbett (marimba), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Julian Clayton, BBC Glasgow 26.06.2003
Instrumental parts for sale
Full score for hire
Study score for hire
Orchestral parts for hire
Heather Corbett (marimba), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, cond. by Julian Clayton, BBC Glasgow 26.06.2003 BBC copyright recording

Notes

Evelyn Glennie asked the composer for a work for 'percussion and orchestra' in 1991. On considering this Howard suddenly realised that the ranges of a modern concert marimba and the cello were virtually identical and set about arranging 'Diversions' for a proposed tour by Evelyn and The East of England Orchestra. However when Martin Kingsbury of Faber Music announced the completion of this work Evelyn said it was not what she had in mind- she wanted a work for lots of different percussion instruments- and the performances were cancelled.

Four years later Howard created a version for piano and marimba and performed it with Heather Corbett at the Royal College of Music 27 10 1995 as a result of which he later orchestrated it, finally achieving a recorded first performance in 2003

Related Works

---