Memory

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Description +
- Memory is a trio for 1 vibraphone and 2 marimbas (one of them is 5-octaves). In letter D to letter E and letter F to one bar before letter H the vibraphone player has the option to improvise, if not, the player can play the notes as indicated in the score.
  
  Memory is dedicated to my father, Yaguang LIU.
Instrumentation +
- Percussion Trio
  
  1 vibraphone
  2 marimbas (one of them is 5-octaves)
About the composer +
- Heng LIU is the principal percussion of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, executive director of China Percussion Association, artist of MEINL Percussion, MEINL Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, and Remo.
  
  Liu studied percussion from childhood with his father Yaguang LIU, professor of percussion at Xi 'an Conservatory of Music. In 2005, Liu was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music. He studied with professor Gang LIU and professor Biao LI successively and obtained bachelor's and master's degrees. By the time he was 18, Liu had won the first prize in the National Youth Percussion Competition. Liu was a percussion jury of the Italian International Percussion Competition, where he also held master classes and special concerts. He also judges the annual International Network Percussion Competition and National Youth Percussion Competition.
  
  Between 2017 to 2019, Liu embarked on his improvisation and interactive percussion concert "Give me one hour" tour. The tour hit many major Chinese cities including Tianqiao Art Center in Beijing, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Xi 'An concert hall, Shijiazhuang Center for the Performing Arts, etc. Liu performed entirely improvised sets based on interaction with the audience, bringing concertgoers a brand new musical experience. 
  
  So far, Liu has published two albums: Percussion Visionary --Heng LIU Percussion Concert and DRUMS, an original album released by "Hei Chao" Duo with renowned drummer Yanchao LI. He also writes a personal column Heng LIU Said in music weekly.
  
   As a percussionist, Liu has traveled to various music festivals around the world. These include: Italian International Percussion Competition and Festival, Greek International Percussion Competition and Festival, NCPA International Percussion Festival, Beijing International Electronic Music Festival, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Jazz Shanghai Music Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, MIDI Festival and so on.
  
  In the meanwhile, Liu has created more than 30 works, including percussion ensemble piece "The General", "Memory", "Face2Face", percussion and electronic music "Delay", "Percumotion", percussion solo "Rain the Blind Monk", "Wild LEO ", "Poem" and many more. In 2016, his Chinese Traditional Percussion solo piece "Gazing on Mountain TAI" won the 1st prize of China Traditional Music Festival - CCOM ethnic Percussion works collection competition.
  
  In 2019, Heng LIU won "Best Work Awards" and "Best All-round Percussionist" of 2019 Drummmer's Ceremony.
Reviews +
- Review (Percussive Notes, June 2024)
  
  “Memory” is a percussion trio for vibraphone and two marimbas. The piece has a melancholy character, a slower tempo at dotted-quarter-note = 52 bmp in 6/8, and it is around 7½-minutes in length. The vibraphone is the featured instrument in this ensemble, always providing the main melodic material as well as having two areas where the performer is encouraged (though not required) to improvise. All performers will need to be experienced four-mallet players, though the vibraphone player will only need four mallets for an 18-measure section and has a small space in which to change from four mallets to two. This might be beneficial depending on if they plan on playing the written solos, because navigating the dense scalar passages with four mallets could prove challenging.
  
  Starting with a solo riff in the low marimba, the vibraphone enters playing the main melody before the second marimba enters to support the main melodic line. Once all three performers have entered in measure 21, there are no breaks for them until the end of the piece over 150 measures later. Outside of a couple of areas where all three performers have a tutti rhythmic passage, the roles in the piece remain the same throughout: Marimba 2 provides a steady eighthnote rhythmic line, Marimba 1 provides harmonic support and occasional rhythmic interest, and the vibraphone remains in the spotlight throughout.
  
  “Memory” would be appropriate for an advanced undergraduate or graduate recital. The option for a vibraphone soloist to improvise or play the written part makes this piece versatile, and the slower tempo and character of the work could help to add variety to a recital program.
  
  —Brian Nozny
Credits +
- Front Cover graphics and layout: Nicola Lee
  Photo: NCPA Orchestra
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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