Legerdemain

Legerdemain is another word for sleight of hand, or deception. This piece portrays a magician performing conjuring tricks. The main theme is first played by the unusual combination of a marimba, celesta, and harp. This creates a tone that matches the mysterious nature of the magician. The music becomes more and more suspenseful as the magician gets deeper into the trick. This is achieved using tremolo strings, chromatic movement, and various tremolos and broken chords on the marimba.

In the middle section, the magician’s conjuring comes to life, and starts to jump around. The music has a playful quality, with light percussion, and swung rhythms in the woodwind. Pizzicato strings, and the tuned percussion add to the texture. After a short pause, the main theme is repeated twice more, as the magician wraps up his trick.

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