Analysis Of Jesse Monkman's Parody

For my piece, I chose “Parody,” an exceptionally challenging and lengthy four-mallet marimba solo, composed by Jesse Monkman. I chose this particular piece because of my extensive experience in both practicing and performing it during my senior year in high school. Due to this being my last year, the director of our band encouraged me to choose a more challenging solo than usual for the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, and after considerable research, I discovered “Parody.” Although this piece demanded over one month of constant practice, it grew to become one of my most beloved compositions of all time. The piece itself is notably devoid of written dynamics, only including them at the beginning of each section and at key points in the music;
While I was preparing to perform “Parody” in high school, I always saw the setting of this scene as taking place in the middle of the ocean, following the adventures of a lone sailor as he attempts to navigate a dangerous whirlpool; this story, like the piece, would be broken into four sections. The first section would begin abruptly, with the captain already fighting for his life against the waves and current. The aggressive motif would play as he appears to gain the upper hand, only for the ship to capsize while the curtains close. The second scene would then begin as the captain awakens on a breathtaking, undiscovered island. He would wander this island in amazement until a realization dawns upon him: he might never escape. The third scene would then be introduced while the sailor hunkers down in depression, contemplating his life and the choices he has made. As the third scene draws to a conclusion, the captain looks towards the ocean and spots a glimpse of a boat in the distance. The fourth scene begins as he frantically signals for rescue; the scene then ends abruptly as the boat turns towards the island, appearing as though safety is approaching, while leaving the fate of the captain