Three Preludes for Marimba

These Preludes are among  the composer's earliest compositions for marimba. Prelude No.1 was originally written for guitar, explaining the harmonies from flamenco music as well as the Spanish mood of the work. Prelude No.2 was written as an homage to the great Brazilian composer Heitor Villa Lobos. The first theme is a tribute to the master, and the second and third themes are based on melodic sequences that are characteristic of the Bachianas Brasileiras series of Villa Lobos as well as on diminished chord passages that are common in his works for guitar. The introduction and coda of Prelude No. 3 are presented with rolls and are in a choral style. In the second part, two new themes are introduced in a fast alternating motion of the mallets, demonstrating virtuosity through expressive melodies.