Toy Box Suite (Live Performance)

Hello! My piece composed November 2021-February 2022 that was premiered June 2022 has finally gotten a recording my way! I am so happy to be able to share this work with you! Some context below, but I would love to hear your thoughts (and if you have commented on this when I shared it earlier this year, what new thoughts do you have with the live performance?).

Written for the Heartland Marimba's 2021 Keyboard Percussion Composer Lab Festival, "Toy Box Suite" was premiered alongside several other composers' works at Studio Z in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was composed between November 2021 and February 2022. The festival, led by percussionist Matthew Coley and composer Jenni Brandon, had seminars which dived deep into the nuances and techniques of the keyboard percussion instruments (like marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, etc.). Evan Erickson's "Toy Box Suite" was written to invoke a sense of nostalgia and sound like music that would come from a children's toy box. It is playful, imaginative, and has lots of groove that any audience is sure to find something they enjoy.

Wow, how impressive!

I think your minimalistic style suits this ensemble very well, and what a unique color palette you were able to exploit. Lots of color that kept me engaged the entire time, and what a wonderful performance as well. You must be very proud of this one, well done!

This is a serious rhythmic and atmospheric piece that brings me into different places. I always loved these types of instruments in big orchestras, but hearing them as the main leading instruments is pretty awesome. I wouldn't have the first idea on how to write music for these instruments, but I have to commend you on getting the live performance. That's a tremendous accomplishment in itself! Your piece gives me the following moods:

1. Playful and light
2. Fantasy (like in a cave)
3. Mysterious jungle
4. On a mission
5. Fantasy adventure (Sometimes reminded me of the early Minecraft style incidental music)

I also wanted to point out that it's almost as if you wrote a piece for the drums, but put music to it. What I mean by this, is that you can really hear the emphasis of your rhythms, probably due to the percussive nature of all of the instruments you chose. Pretty dang neat 🙂

I really love this suite! Fascinating combination of percussive instruments! Just cannot stop listening!!

1. Prelude: Really love those percussive keyboard sound! For me it's a great minimalistic movement! That really creates the sound of a music box!

2. I love the beguiling sound of vibraphone playing and with the crispy glockenspiel! The marimba is amazing as well! The B part is so funny! I love the tremolos (is that tremolo?) of the marimba! Really mysterious beginning in Section C but it is conquered beautifully!

3. So cute! I love the interlocking texture between the players! That xylophone in section B is so humorous! 

4. Such a childish adventure like that march in the Nutcrackers! 

Really don't have anything to comment on except praise. I love the overall interlocking and heterophonic texture. So fitting to the minimalistic nature of the movements. Thank you for posting this wonderful piece here!

Henry

Absolutely Charming .................