Funny Marimba

Nebojša Jovan Živković's Funny Marimba (2001), a suite of five short character pieces for solo marimba, has become one of the most frequently programmed contemporary works for the instrument, appearing on international competition programs and solo recitals worldwide. Živković, a Serbian composer and percussionist based in Germany, writes with an infectious rhythmic wit and an idiomatic understanding of the marimba's resonant possibilities that few composers match. Each piece has a vivid character title — ranging from the playful to the mysterious — and exploits four-mallet technique, rolled chords, and cross-rhythm with equal facility. The suite is simultaneously accessible enough for advanced students and rewarding enough for professional soloists, occupying a unique position in the contemporary marimba repertoire as a work that is both technically demanding and immediately communicative.