MOLTO VIVACE
arranged for percussion ensemble
Publisher: C. Alan Publications (2015)
Composed: 2014
Duration: 5′
Difficulty: Medium
Instrumentation (11 players): bells, two vibraphones, chimes, xylophone, 4.3-octave marimba, 5.0-octave marimba, timpani (4)
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Molto Vivace is a direct transcription of the exposition from the second movement of Beethoven’s historic Symphony No. 9, scored for large percussion ensemble. This aggressive and energetic movement lends itself perfectly to the natural clarity and dynamic range of keyboard percussion instruments and the timpani part is lifted directly from Beethoven’s original score. The metallic voices (bells, vibraphone, chimes) provide the perfect legato quality to highlight the few lyrical passages that contrast the primarily rhythmic and articulate character of the piece. This arrangement was premiered in 2014 by the Desert Vista High School (Phoenix, AZ) Percussion Ensemble and later performed by the Dobson High School (Mesa, AZ) Percussion Ensemble at the 2015 Music for All National Festival.

Taken from the exposition section of the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, this five-minute transcription will push your intermediate percussionists in all the best ways … coming from a seasoned percussion educator that focuses on exposing students to quality music from one of the greats in music history. – Joshua D. Smith
Printed by permission of the Percussive Arts Society, inc.