* For Marimba Duet
I. The East Branch
II. The North Branch
III. The South Branch
IV. The West Branch
Recording – The Huluppu Tree ($10)
Composed in the Spring of 2003.
When she was a maiden, the life-giving goddess Inanna desired
more confidence in her inner power and capacity to love. Before seeking a husband, she found a Huluppu Tree near the
banks of the Euphrates River – a great willow whose four cardinal branches were growing directly towards the East, the
North, the South, and the West. Finding it highly desirable for its stability, she plucked the tree and planted it in
her holy garden, hoping to eventually make a throne and a bed for herself out of its wood. As it continued to grow,
three beings came uninvited to live in the tree. The Anzu bird, the Serpent and the dark maid Lilith used the tree to
harness their high powers of vision, energy and assertiveness respectively, which Inanna struggled to conquer before achieving
her dream. The hero Gilgamesh heard of her distress and came to help. He struck the Serpent, drove away the evil
beings and cut the tree down. Out of its best wood he built for Inanna a throne and a bed, and from what was left
he built himself a drum. In return for the favor, Inanna carved for him a rod and ring of power.
The Huluppu Tree survived through its seeds, many of which remained on the ground. Some of them sprouted and flourished
to form a new generation, spreading across the Earth in the same four directions that the original's primary branches had
been pointed.
View Excerpt of 1st Movement (pdf)
View Excerpt of 2nd Movement (pdf)
View Excerpt of 3rd Movement (pdf)
View Excerpt of 4th Movement (pdf)
Performances
Fall, 2003; West Virginia University Percussion Studio – mvt. I performed by Victor
Guthrie and Jarvis
November 6, 2003; WVU New Music Concert –
mvts. I, II, & IV performed by Guthrie, David Newcomb, James Fahey and Jarvis
February 2004; WVU Percussion Studio – mvt. III performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
February 29, 2004; WVU New Music Concert – mvt. III performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
Spring, 2005; WVU Percussion Studio – mvt. I performed by Newcomb
and Jarvis
Spring, 2005; WVU School of Medicine Commemorative
Ceremony – mvt. I performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
March
28, 2005; WVU Convocation – mvt. I performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
April
1, 2005; WVU New Music Concert – mvts. I & IV performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
April 7, 2005; WVU Percussion Studio – complete work performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
April 8, 2005; Jeremy Jarvis WVU Senior Composition Recital – complete
work performed by Newcomb and Jarvis
LISTEN to "I. The East Branch"
LISTEN to "II. The North Branch"
LISTEN to "III. The South Branch"
LISTEN to "IV. The West Branch"
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