Summer Treehouse – Chad Floyd

Summer Treehouse was inspired by the sounds of a treehouse being built next to the composer's residence. The steady, rhythmic sound of the hammer reverberating throught the woods is represented with the woodblock. The differing characteristics of each section represent the emotions of the young children for whom the treehouse is being built.

Summer Treehouse was premiered by Andrea Venet of the Escape X Percussion Duo at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in December 2015.

From Tapspace Product Description:

Chad Floyd’s solo Summer Treehouse is a wonderful new addition to the marimba repertoire. Both lyrical and groove-based, it strategically places a woodblock between the lower E-flat and G-flat bars to create a transformative new instrument of sorts. The woodblock represents the hammering of a treehouse being built by a neighbor while the transparent melodic and harmonic content implies the emotions of the young children for whom the treehouse is being built.

Written for a 4.3-octave (low A) marimba, there are sections that rely on both 2 and 4-mallet techniques as well as ghost notes, muting bars with the body, and clear delineation between the marimba and woodblock roles. While a mature understanding of nuance and independence is necessary, Summer Treehouse should be attainable by medium to medium-advanced players.