Coming of Age

by Chad Heiny

Medium Concert Percussion

5 Players

Instrumentation: • Crotales (low octave) or Glockenspiel • 2 Vibraphones (+ 2 bass or cello bows) • Marimba (4.3-octave, low A) (or 5-oct if performing enhanced solo version) • Drums (kick drum, large djembe, cajon) • Metal (Ride cymbal, small crash cymbal, sizzle cymbal, small trashy metal sound/instrument) • Accessories (low/med/high woodblocks, mark tree, 2 small shakers of differing pitch)

As the title suggests, Chad Heiny’s Coming of Age attempts to narrate a coming-of-age story where the solo marimba part depicts the main character responding and evolving to an ever complicated world, depicted by the percussion quartet. The harmonic language used in the piece is tense at times but ends optimistically, as if looking forward with hope to the future.

The solo marimba part is definitely achievable by a decent high school marimbist but was also written with the intermediate to advanced undergraduate player in mind. Also, an enhanced solo option may be performed by adding the notes included in parentheses.

Coming of Age was commissioned by Evan Brown and the North Allegheny High School Percussion Ensemble. it is dedicated to Chad’s son, Christopher Heiny.

In addition to the printed score you are receiving downloadable:

✅ Individual Parts
✅ Full Recording