Sonata in F (Handel)

General Info

Composer: George Frideric Handel
Arranger: Brian Slawson
Publisher: Tapspace
Year: 2009
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 00:03:30
Cost: $20.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Marimba / Xylophone / Vibraphone
Player 2: Piano

Description

The popular Allegro from Handel’s Sonata in F Major for violin has been performed for centuries on a variety of instruments. Although adapting the piece to marimba isn’t a new concept, the accompaniment part has proved to be one of the biggest challenges performers have faced. In addition to the solo part customized for marimba, Brian Slawson has created a well-stylized piano arrangement that isn’t clumsy under the fingers—something these figured bass transcriptions are infamous for. Ideally played on marimba with two mallets, the solo can also be played on vibraphone or xylophone while showcasing the intermediate performer's ability to interpret Baroque phrasings and style. As an etude or recital piece, Sonata in F will be a mainstay in any developing mallet player’s repertoire.

Review

Brian Slawson’s arrangement of the third movement (Allegro) of George Frideric Handel’s “Sonata in F” is scored for mallet solo with piano accompaniment. Due to the tessitura of the arrangement, it can be played on marimba, xylophone or vibraphone. The performer will need intermediate two-mallet facility to execute all of the passages and their respective dynamics.

Slawson has done an excellent job of providing stickings, rolls and dynamics, maintaining the original identity of the composition throughout. The performer’s greatest difficulty will be the mastery of subito dynamic shifts on weak beats. This arrangement will serve as a great introduction to playing with an accompanist for the young mallet player.

Arrangements for Percussion by this Arranger

Mallet Percussion Solo

Sonata in F (Handel) - Mallets; Piano
Teardrop (Rossini) - Vibraphone; Piano

Small Percussion Ensemble

Beethoven's Fantasy (Beethoven) - Percussion Trio
Children's Medley (Bach / Ellemenreich) - Percussion Sextet
Clockbox - Percussion Octet
Danse Macabre (Saint-Saëns) - Percussion Octet
Heartland (Rameau & Dvořák) - Percussion Octet
Leggerhead (Bach, Handel, Dvořák) - Percussion Sextet
Menuetto (Mozart) - Percussion Septet
Rock the Gavotte (Rameau & Ditters von Dittersdorf) - Percussion Octet

Large Percussion Ensemble

Brandenburg No. 2: Allegro Moderato (Bach) - 10 Players
Frightmare (Beethoven) - 12 Players
Shepherd’s Song (Beethoven) - 14 Players
Soca Polka - 14 Players
Winter (Vivaldi) - 10 Players

Mallets Ensemble

Concerto in A Minor (Bach) - Mallet Sextet
Entrance of the Queen of Sheba (Handel)
Etude in C# Minor (Scriabin) - Mallet Duet
Goldberg Variation 28 (Bach)
Intermezzo from a Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn) - Mallet Octet
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (Bach) - Mallet Sextet
Midsummer Night's Dream: Scherzo (Mendelssohn) - Mallet Ensemble
Sonata in A Minor (Scarlatti) - Mallet Duet
The Storm (Beethoven) - Mallet Trio
Three Romanian Dances (Bartók) - Mallet Duet
Upbeat Suite - Mallet Quartet
Waltz in C# Minor (Chopin) - Mallet Duet