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VIDA CHENOWETH, First Classical Marimbist
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"Eight Oklahomans
will be Inducted tonight" ( into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame ) ~ Tulsa Tribune ~ 1984
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Read more on Chenoweth's bio at The Percussive Arts Society ~ www.pas.org
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down to view CD's and books on this page.
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Vida Chenoweth
Classic Marimbist
First recording of solo works for Marimba
The photograph depicts a release
after a quick passage,
captured by photographer Priscilla Pennell in
Carnegie Hall
~ click picture to enlarge
"Although there once was, probably in the 78-rpm era, an RCA Victor recording of light-classical marimba transcriptions played by Doris Stockton, Miss Chenoweth's debut - program of originals as well as unarranged, note for note versions of pieces originally written for other instruments is the first really notable phonographic representation of the instrument's serious potentials. It certainly substantiates the fastidious musicianship acclaimed in her concert recitals."(High Fidelity, December 1962)
"A MUST for all who delight in the unusual." (American Record Guide, 1962)
"By the time Chenoweth had performed several New
York Town Hall recitals and twice played in Carnegie Hall, every major
critic had heard her and wrote astonishing, glowing reviews which
established her in the front rank of the young American artists."
(Musical America, Dec. 1, 1959)
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WORLD PREMIER
Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra
by Robert Kurka
Richard
Korn conducts Orchestra of America
Vida Chenoweth, marimba soloist
Photographed
in Carnegie Hall by Priscilla Pennell
~ click picture to enlarge
This recording commemorates an historical event in Carnegie Hall. The night of November 11, 1959, was historic not only for marimbist Vida Chenoweth, but for the instrument itself. It was the first time the Marimba had been invited into the leading concert halls in America. It was a war of nerves for young Chenoweth whose performance and instrument were scrutinized by the most demanding of concert audiences. In the end, the performance drew rave reviews from critics of every leading New York newspaper and magazine, including Time, New Yorker and Variety.
Robert
Kurka, who composed the work for Chenoweth, was named (Life magazine)
one of the seven leading composers in America. His death of leukemia at
age 39 preceded the premier of his marimba concerto by two years.
Critic Jay S. Harrison wrote about the Carnegie Hall premier :
"... Mr. Kurka located innumerable means of displaying the marimba at its best,
and his concerto is everywhere lively and zestful. It is mostly
diatonic, filled with smart and leaping tunes, and it exploits the
agility of its soloist to the utmost. Fortunately, Miss Chenoweth is a
real-life virtuoso who, no matter what the demands made on her, missed
not a note and managed, further, to wring every possible shade of
sonority from the wooden keys laid out before her. There was exhausting
bravura to her work and genuine musicality as well. It was a star
performance and a bewitching one - no question of that."
The
recording is presented live and unedited.
The concerto is published by G. Schirmer,
New York, N.Y.
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First Public Performance (from the original score)
CONCERTINO FOR MARIMBA & ORCHESTRA
by Jorge Alvaro Sarmientos
Vida Chenoweth, Marimba Soloist
Click album cover to view
Sinfonica Nacional de Guatemala with
Director Jose Maria Franco Gil
and Marimba Soloist Vida Chenoweth
"Vida Chenoweth was the news this evening,
interpreting with singular mastery 'Concertino for Marimba y Orquesta'
by the now famous Jorge Sarmientos. Vida Chenoweth, whom we have heard
before in recital, proved once more on this occasion her high standards
of virtuosity on our national instrument, but most admirable of all was
the style - so eminently Guatemalan - her interpretation of the work;
in fact, it left nothing to be desired..." (La Hora,
Guatemala 26 de Septiembre de 1960)
Read Reviews in Spanish
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Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra
by Paul Creston
Richard Korn conducts Orchestra of America
Vida Chenoweth, marimba soloist
Photographed in Carnegie Hall by Priscilla
Pennell
Click on cover
for historic photo of Paul Creston
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Concerto for
Marimba & Vibraphone
by Darius Milhaud
Vida Chenoweth, Soloist
Photographs by Eva Barrett
click on album cover for pictures
Darius Milhaud was one of six famous French composers known as "Les Six". He came to America during WW2 and later divided his time between America and France. Always in search of a teacher, the young marimbist Vida Chenoweth hitched a ride to Aspen, Colorado, where Milhaud was teaching and took this rehearsal tape for the composer's criticism. Listening to it, Milhaud was remarkably engrossed. Afterward he told Chenoweth that it was the first time that he had heard it!
Click on picture to enlarge
CONCERTO FOR MARIMBA AND VIBRAPHONE was commissioned by Jack Connor,
Percussionist with the St. Louis Symphony. In performance, the two
instruments are placed at a right angle, with one and then the other
acting as a solo instrument. In some passages the two are played
simultaneously; the player sustains the sound of the vibraphone by
keeping one foot on its sustaining pedal while pivoting to the marimba
and superimposing its sound over that of the vibraphone.
~ Live rehearsal, limited edition
- Permission by Enoch Cie/Theodore Presser Company/SCAP
Please click on album cover
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Vida Chenoweth |
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To purchase any of these CD's or the books and music below ~
Order by Email from:
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~ or call: 215-659-0100
page 11
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THE MARIMBAS OF
Click on illustration for reviews |
INFORMATION
ON THE MARIMBA
Compiled by David Vela
Translated from Spanish
and edited by
Vida Chenoweth
Click
on picture to enlarge
Marimba Sheet
Music
Four Central American Folk Tunes
7 Bach Chorales ~ edited by Chenoweth
Three for Four Mallets
Lament
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