Khan Variations
Encyclopedia
Khan Variations
Khan Variations is a musical composition for 5 octave marimba
written by Alejandro Viñao
in 2001. The piece is structured as an uninterrupted set of 8 rhythmic variations
lasting 10 minutes and is considered one of the most challenging works in the marimba repertoire, both from the technical and musical point of view. Nancy Zeltsman
‘recommended marimba solo literature’ lists Khan Variations in the ‘extremely difficult’ category.
The piece has featured in the repertoire of many international marimba competitions such as the International Marimba competition in Salzburg, the Taiwan Marimba Competition, the Percussive Arts Society marimba competition and the Linz International Marimba Competition which in 2006 was won by the young international soloist Ji Hye Jung playing Khan Variations in the final round.
Fanfare (magazine), the magazine for serious record collectors, April 18, 2010
Khan Variations is a musical composition for 5 octave marimba
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
written by Alejandro Viñao
Alejandro Viñao
Alejandro Viñao is an Argentinian composer currently living in the United Kingdom.Viñao studied musical composition in Buenos Aires with the composer Jacobo Fischer . In 1976 he was awarded a British Council scholarship to study in London at the Royal College of Music and later on at the City...
in 2001. The piece is structured as an uninterrupted set of 8 rhythmic variations
Variation (music)
In music, variation is a formal technique where material is repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve harmony, melody, counterpoint, rhythm, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.-Variation form:...
lasting 10 minutes and is considered one of the most challenging works in the marimba repertoire, both from the technical and musical point of view. Nancy Zeltsman
Nancy Zeltsman
International Marimba Soloist, Nancy Zeltsman has taught at the Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music since 1993.-Biography:Zeltsman was born in 1958 in Morristown, New Jersey...
‘recommended marimba solo literature’ lists Khan Variations in the ‘extremely difficult’ category.
The piece has featured in the repertoire of many international marimba competitions such as the International Marimba competition in Salzburg, the Taiwan Marimba Competition, the Percussive Arts Society marimba competition and the Linz International Marimba Competition which in 2006 was won by the young international soloist Ji Hye Jung playing Khan Variations in the final round.
Recordings
- title of CD: Marimba Works , label: VINAO.COM
- title of CD:Percussive Counterpoint , label: CAG records
- title of CD:Circularity , label: AMG, album ID W 261302 http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mcoley#
Reviews
'My favorite, however, was Alejandro Viñao’s Khan Variations , a twisting series of melismatic variations based on a Qawwali theme previously recorded by Pakistani vocalist Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, given a seductively husky and rich resonance on'.Fanfare (magazine), the magazine for serious record collectors, April 18, 2010