I would like to thank all who helped me with my undergrad audition in answering some of my questions about "Mirage". Well, I got this 5 octave (practice) marimba in my room, and I got until the fall until school starts. I am really getting myself motivated and building a repertoire. I even have a chart on my wall that says "Behzad's solo repertoire". On top of the non-marimba percussion solos, so far I have the Tanaka and Sueyoshi at performance level. I am getting myself finally into music that I think will really help my marimba playing. My goal for this summer is the Druckman, Mackey "See Ya Thursday", Klatzow "Dances of Earth & Fire", and MAYBE the Vinao "Khan Variations" (but that piece is almost impossible).
The Druckman is first on the list, so expect many annoying questions about the piece in the coming weeks.
Starting with the first movement. Everything seems very clear, except how would I play the two notes in the second measure of the third line, which pops up more in the movement (its the B and D, while the F# and G are rolling in the middle). Should I just stop the roll for a milli-second, to play those notes?
In this same movement, any tips on the many grace notes? I want to give the meter and tempo as much justice as possible while playing those fast little bursts of notes.
Thanks!
~Behzad
p.s. Oh, and if anyone has any Errata suggestions for this movement.

Behzad,

Great plans, but I would hold off on "Khan Variations" for just a bit...

For Druckman errata, see pas.org for back issues of Percussive Notes (Vol. 35, No. 5, October 1997) and achived message threads.

As for mvmt. 1, continue the roll with the inside mallets and play the others with the outside mallets. (OK, maybe the roll does break for a millisecond, just don't accent the re-attack.) The grace notes should be fairly quick and pay attention to whether the principal note is at the beginning or the end. For the entire piece, keep the tempo rock steady. Also, watch for many cases where the abbreviated 32nds are measured, not tremolo (mvmt. 2 & 4).

WM

P.S. How did your auditions go? Where are you going in the Fall?