C. Alan Publications Grimoire by Caleb Pickering

Grimoire by Caleb Pickering is a dark work for solo vibraphone based on a Wiccan book of the occult. A "Grimoire" usually includes some kind of instruction about how to create magic objects, how to tap into the spirit of supernatural beings, or just pages of chants and spells.

Needless to say, the subject material is designed to have a dark, somewhat creepy atmosphere. The piece utilizes swirling textures and repetitive ostinato figures to capture the sense of foreboding the subject invokes.

It uses a number of challenging techniques, whether quick laterals, fast repeating double vertical strokes, or just fast runs up and down the vibraphone. The harmonic structure of the piece is build around darker, more experimental tonalities, and the dark atmosphere comes largely in the form of open dissonances like tri-tones and polytonality as opposed to close minor seconds.

This piece can make a great, fresh addition to a recital program and is a good technical challenge for any keyboard player looking to dive into more advanced repertoire.

Difficulty: Medium +

Duration: 7:30

Requires 3.0-Octave Vibraphone