In The Bleak Midwinter: Choral Instrumental Pak
Item: 35-PK00310481
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Description
This is the third work by DiOrio for chorus and marimba. Where "A Dome of Many Coloured Glass" (50498607) explores the virtuosic capabilities of this combination and "Alleluia" (50498734) is a work of extroverted exuberance, this work is concerned instead with the narrative demands of telling a story.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00310481
More about this title
About the Arranger: Mark Brymer
Mark Brymer has established himself as one of the most prolific and respected arrangers in choral music, with a catalog spanning everything from concert works to pop arrangements. His arrangements consistently balance accessibility with artistic depth, making sophisticated compositional ideas available to ensembles across a wide range of skill levels.
Why we love this
Brymer's approach here prioritizes musical storytelling over technical display, which shifts the focus to emotional communication and textual clarity. This makes it a refreshing choice for choirs that want to deepen their interpretive skills without being sidelined by instrumental pyrotechnics. The narrative structure gives your ensemble a concrete arc to build across rehearsals.
What to expect
The piece carries the contemplative, austere quality of the text while using the marimba to add warmth and movement underneath. Rather than bombast, it trades in restraint and reflection, allowing the narrative of the poem to unfold through careful textural choices and sensitive instrumental coloring.
Who it's for
Choirs with access to a strong marimba player looking for concert or festival repertoire that goes beyond standard holiday arrangements. This work demands musical maturity from both singers and percussionist, making it well suited for advanced high school, college, or community ensembles.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the marimba writing so it functions as a character in the story rather than an accompaniment layer; this requires careful communication between your percussionist and conductor about where the instrumental line leads the harmony.
- Pay attention to the text setting and how DiOrio uses the marimba to underscore specific lyrical moments; rehearse sections where the two voices diverge dramatically so singers understand when they're following the accompaniment and when they're breaking away intentionally.
- Work the marimba part into rehearsals early and often, since the instrumental line shapes phrasing expectations for the singers in ways that a traditional accompaniment doesn't.
How to use it
Program this during a winter concert series where you want to move beyond typical seasonal fare into something with genuine artistic substance. It pairs well with other concert works that prioritize storytelling and allows you to showcase both your choral singers and an accomplished percussion student.
Skills your students will build
- Blending sustained vocal lines with shifting instrumental textures
- Following an accompaniment that mirrors rather than supports harmonic movement
- Interpreting and communicating narrative arc through music
- Coordinating ensemble timing across voice and percussion parts with complex rhythmic interaction