Inky Goodbye (2022) vibraphone and marimba duet · 3 minutes · advanced+
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- Vibraphone (3.0 octave)
- Marimba (5.0 octave)
The inkcap is a fascinating little mushroom that is common in the area in which I live.
This mushroom only fruits for a few hours, before it deliquesces, or dissolves into ink, then evaporates away into the air.
I first encountered these on morning walks outside, where they would disappear by the time I walked past the same spot during lunch.
I find that ephemeral things are wonderful, and music is inherently ephemeral. That's why I love it. It's why I'm a musician. Sounds, pieces, works, experiences—they all have an end.
There is no forever, only the now.
The musical content of this piece is inspired by the rich countermelodies associated with chiptune music.
In particular, early video game consoles (and synthesizers) were limited in the number of voices they could have at any one time (usually three or four). A lot of early composers working with these electronics, instead of using sustained chords, would develop their ideas through fast counterpoint and embellishments.
This limitation has been pushed to its limit in the modern chiptune scene, with extravagant countermelodies and implied harmonies through only three or four voices. I kept this in mind while writing Inky Goodbye.