Drift Away - Marimba Solo By Arnor Chu

Sheet music available at arnormusic.com
Composed and Performed by Arnor Chu, 2020
Recorded and Produced by Arnor Chu
arnormusic.com/driftaway
Arnor Chu Music: / arnormusic
About the piece:
Drift Away is a 5 octave marimba solo about a man lost at sea, whose journey is at the mercy of the waves. This piece is comprised of three contrasting sections, marked by clear tempo changes in the music. Aimed at advanced-level players with proficiency in double laterals as well as mallet independence.
Recorded With:
Audio-Technica AT2035
Sony Alpha A6300
Nikon 35mm f/1.8, 24mm f/2.8 Ai-S Nikkor
Adams Artist Classic Rosewood Marimba (5.5 Octave)
Vic Firth Robert Van Sice Mallet M121 in bass, the others are un-branded, hand-wrapped mallets from Van Sice himself, 2 'green' and 1 'red'.
@Boston University College of Fine Arts
#Marimba #Solo #DriftAway

[@joeya7881]

I’m waiting for the day Arnor is known as one of the top names in percussion/ marimba repertoire... almost there!

[@bryanalvarado2203]

🙌Facts

[@jaymohammed300]

Same bro same

[@madhouse9705]

My good friend passed in March and this was what she was working on. Thank you for letting me hear it. You're amazing

[@seabeast2438]

I know it might not mean much from a random internet person, but I'm sorry about your friend, that sucks, and I bet she was really talented when it came to this

[@FlippinFingers]

😭

[@thenathancraig7]

@@FlippinFingers nah

[@user-kv8sw9is1z]

The dexterity on those outside mallets with stevens grip is something I wish to have soo deeply.

[@AdamTanPercussion]

Wohoho this is giving me Demon Slayer meets Liszt vibes ✨ Honestly you add so much to the marimba repertory with your hybridisation of existing marimba and non-marimba styles, plus your own new flavours and lines, it's awesome man. Looking forward to see what's next 👀

[@ArnorMusic]

Haha I literally just watched your new piece and then saw this comment. Thanks for the kind words!

[@notyingyangbros]

What a suprise. 🙄 Arnor drops ANOTHER banger.

[@shadowchasers62]

Beautiful work! Congrats!!!

[@ArnorMusic]

Thank you, Professor Burritt!

[@moriya_san8630]

I have this fragment in my head about someone who wants to succeed at something thats not possible but still this person keeps trying and yet in the end it feels like this person accepted that it wasn’t possible after all. This gives me emotions such as hope and acceptance. I really like this piece a lot and want to try playing it ik the future. Very beautiful

[@nevarmore3474]

this is really cool since the story behind it is a man lost at sea and accepting that his fate is up to the sea

[@GamersCraftYT]

Your playing is so incredibly expressive, and your marimba composition style reminds me of greats like Blake Tyson or Paul Smadbeck; it’s so lyrical and flowy and I just can’t get enough! I love the stuff you put out!

[@seabeast2438]

HEY! I actually recognize Smadbeck, I'm learning virgina tate rn, its fun

[@grby6851]

Wow! I am a young kid who just started 4 mallets and am currently playing ghanaia, can't wait until I can play this!

[@iamlandonzock6295]

By far my favorite solo and it is so much fun to learn

[@isaacsmart2286]

The more I listen to this piece, the more I love it

[@user-ju5ze2qr6b]

마림바 소리 완전 좋은거 같아요 오늘도 좋아요 누르고 갑니다👍😄

[@henrymorgan8936]

This is amazing!! The permutations are absolutely incredible!!! Your dexterity on your outside mallets with stephens grip is absolutely mind blowing. Your chops and musically is seriously impressive

[@Lillie-Moos-Vlogs]

This is absolutely amazing. I hope I can play it once I’m fully recovered from my hand injury.

[@benwilcox1192]

This has got to be one of the best solos I've ever heard.

[@griffin8er845]

I really enjoy not only the writing but the fact that you perform the piece well and make it very entertaining to watch. I’ll definitely have to learn this piece

[@christianhaile5588]

🫡

[@HayyanZ1]

I’ve been working on this piece, but he made many changes in this video that don’t go with the writing. If you do it, then follow what’s already written. If you already played it, the forget what I said

[@griffin8er845]

@@HayyanZ1 I already did. I also applied a lot of the changes naturally. I haven’t posted it but I will find it somewhere, I played Until Dawn and won a local contest with it.

[@caseysquires6125]

Very nice and flowy solo. Love all your pieces and am going to learn until dawn next.

[@Bokmoh]

Been too long since I've been moved by music like this. Thank you.

[@shivamkak7981]

great song, I haven't heard anything like it in a long time, it feels like nostalgia from I'm not sure where

[@user-tt7zy6es5l]

私はこの作品と、製作者であるArnor Chuさんが大好きです。これからも沢山の作品を制作して下さい。❤

[@Montu-pc5gp]

Learning this for a solo contest this year. Its so fun to play. I enjoy every second I play this solo.

[@PassingMarimbist]

耳にスっと入ってくる、とても聴きやすく、自分が落ち着く事が出来る。今日本は深夜ですが、とてもイヤホンで聞くのに適しています。

[@ninalim8737]

YES. I want to learn this sometime.

[@ChadRockwell]

Beautiful!

[@NicDunn]

Yup, this is the one

[@TihdaVongkoth]

Wooo!! Thank you for sharing this with us 🌎

[@GeorgeAustria]

Killed it again dude, this is my favorite of yours so far

[@AdrianStefanescoMusic]

Bravo!

[@steveshih278]

Amazing work love it❤️

[@sydneyflenniken6897]

Oh lord I felt this in my bones. Great work!

[@cescoce]

Bravoooooooo🎉❤

[@aidenvendz]

Absolutely beautiful man. Love your work so much.

[@thinkbaroque]

Beautiful piece/performance!

[@walnut8302]

This must have sounded so magical to anyone walking by, good job!

[@heymikkimouse]

Ahh wish I had access to a marimba so I could learn this. I like this one a lot!

[@BensenK]

Such a lovely piece and even more beautiful playing. You are amazing!!!! Keep writing music and playing it!

[@watered_d0wned]

i needed to hear that, thank you.

[@camilos.2041]

Thanks for this genial song, so fantastic! Thanks again! 🤙🏼🌱

[@juulieham]

ur literally the most amazing person on earth thank you for this video

[@jennymatthew3268]

This is so cool! We don't get to see this every day!

[@kpeck667]

So beautiful

[@iamlandonzock6295]

Ordering this soon. I can’t wait to perform this next semester

[@abramcastaneda640]

beautiful

[@aramkhachaturian8043]

very good music, wonderful phrasing

[@heidiverreydt8311]

Excellent!!

[@lilycampbell4414]

So beautiful!! I hope to learn some of your music someday!

[@Schlagzeug_MW]

너무 좋네요 !!👍👍👍

[@scottyhorey9128]

Very nice, Arnor! I will add this one to my list! Hug from the land of the marimba here in Chiapas, Mexico! ...

[@TheLogicalIdiot]

This is prolly one of my favorite marimba solos I’ve ever heard. That melody is so perfect. I actually have a question about it. How did you come about to making this solo? Like what was your inspiration?

[@Seanghowp]

❤Sweet sound

[@nicolojacobtiu8365]

harmonious.

[@filipkorosec1370]

Great piece! :o

[@luvvjocelyn.3]

All I can say is thank you.

[@314drums]

Talent level 1000

[@josep.8255]

Exquisito trabajo. Hermoso, soberbia interpretación. Bendiciones.

[@julieangelisboehler3421]

Hearing you play marimba reminds of a teenage David Shively who played "My Lady White" so well at BUTI that I decided to focus on timpani. :)

[@michaelhenson1924]

I don't think I'm even capable of playing this but i bought it for fun

[@Joke-kt1tz]

Nice rotation

[@kiiseanrobinson5084]

"Whose journey is at the mercy of the waves." I truly felt that while listening to this. This is a beautiful piece which really conveys to me the feeling of isolation and kind of retrospection. (?). Maybe it's just me. The marimba is such a beautiful instrument. I can feel the complexities in the writing and in the feeling it tries to convey. That said, the second section to me is a little slow. This is my interpretation of the piece. All in All: 8/10

[@benthewin]

I wish my school had a 5 octave marimba so bad, this is outstanding!

[@noahphinney6993]

Well my school does but it's really only supposed to he for Pit tech. I could probably convince my percussion director to let me play on it though

[@keyrod1000]

You should be able to play on the 5 octave if there’s one on your campus. Hopefully they’re not keeping this experience away from you.

[@keyrod1000]

What’s school do you go to.

[@keyrod1000]

What school do you go to

[@DeBlueGOD]

Beautiful solo, I would play it this year for my solo but I can’t with the covid situation and I can’t even get my hands on a marimba :,(

[@goldenafro4791]

BOP

[@raymondgonzalez5690]

Yes

[@MarimbaOne]

👏👏👏

[@SomeRaandomGuy]

I need sheet music NOW

[@reginawhitfield6407]

I am a beginner percussionist and I hope I am this good one day.

[@rileyrath9347]

One word practice

[@ItsMrBozToYou]

You can do it!

[@mathboy8188]

Beautiful. I've no way of knowing if that was hard or easy, because any use of this instrument looks impossible to me. But that sure sounded great.

[@marloncastro2742]

Are you going to add this to Spotify? I've always wanted to listen along with many other songs on a marimba playlist😁

[@ArnorMusic]

Working on it, hopefully soon!

[@nathanhavey1]

this is really cool. i would pay excessive amounts of money for you to teach me how you compose

[@sethcataudella3146]

i like imagining tiawa from msm playing this

[@ChristopherSchiffermiller]

Another beautiful piece Arnor, just great, the only thing and I am brand new to your videos, is this ones sound quality is a bit off; the other 3 I just viewed were great. I have a large Bose dock system plugged into my desk top that gives awesome quality and volume to videos from YT or anywhere. Maybe the volume on your end was a bit high? Still great piece, thank you. Love and Peace Chris

[@ivansilva7476]

This is really amazing to watch, I’ve just recently started working on quad mallet grip. I’ve been getting a lot of blisters on my middle finger is that smth wrong with my grip or does that happen to you too?

[@Jessicalee1970]

Hey Arnor, where's your "Weird and Awkward" video from 6 years ago? Also great video!

[@ludwigvanbeethoven8058]

i can’t believe this guy isn’t more popular? i get he doesn’t make all the same type of videos as adam, but adam tan is way more popular and when it comes to music composition arnor is really close if not as good as adam. but adam does make more interactive videos and stuff so it makes sense

[@LuLuBear1313]

How possible would it be for me to play this as a solo as a sophomore in high school? It sounds so gorgeous and I really want to but I’m not that in the loop on how skill levels would go. For a bit of backstory, I’m on the marimba line and I played Strive to Be Happy last year as a freshman. If anything a suggestion for a solo would help a lot. Thanks 😁

[@ArnorMusic]

It will challenging for sure- I'm not sure if I would have been able to play it as a sophomore in high school, but there's nothing stopping you from trying!

[@jarsonmusic]

Se puede tocar con una marimba que llegue hasta el la?

[@sabineh8031]

hey crazy good piece!! just wondering, would i be able to pull this off on a 4.5 octave marimba?

[@ArnorMusic]

Yes, I believe so! Just a few notes need to be changed that go below the low F.

[@alinatsykhnenko7460]

Where I can find notes of this beautiful music😍☺️

[@paullee271]

everyone talking about how beautiful it is but how tf does any normal person play that

[@vituspirchner]

😜😜👌🏼

[@belle8360]

my guy!! how can i move stuff around to make this fit a 4.6?

[@ArnorMusic]

A few bars / bass notes need to be moved up an octave, that's all.

[@SkepticalTeacher]

I want to learn this!! A question, what's the lowest note because my marimba isn't quite 5 octave and this is always an issue unfortunately...

[@ArnorMusic]

This is the 5 octave piece, but it's doable on a low E marimba!

[@_tayp8850]

It doesn’t look like stickings are written in (looking at the preview) what can I do? 😭

[@ArnorMusic]

If you have questions about stickings for any particular section, I'd be more than happy to send suggestions; however, I've seen people use many different stickings all with success, and I always encourage everyone to come up with a sticking that works best for them and their own technique/style.

[@blackhawk1484]

0:44

[@rileyrath9347]

Hey what mallets did you use

[@ArnorMusic]

In the description as always! Unfortunately 3/4 of them are not purchase-able

[@star-ju1hi]

hi! how long does this take to learn?

[@aidenmonte]

Around 2-3 months if you learn a page/week

[@user-of2fi7jw9l]

Sheet music?

[@Sumshi43]

Who plauy the instrument like defoy you are not him