Inspired (for Solo Vibraphone) 2024
Inspired is a contemporary solo vibraphone work that draws from the principles of Minimalism and Serialism, blending both styles to create a reflective and evolving soundscape. The piece utilizes a sparse yet intentional structure, with repeating cells of rhythm and pitch that gradually transform over time, highlighting subtle changes in texture, dynamics, and timbre.
Built on a foundation of minimalist principles, short melodic motives and rhythmic figures are repeated and slowly altered, creating a hypnotic, meditative atmosphere. At the same time, the work employs serial techniques, where the organization of pitches follows a structured, predetermined order—introducing a sense of tension and formal balance to the otherwise flowing, cyclical nature of the piece.
The vibraphone, with its sustained resonances and rich tonal palette, serves as an ideal medium for this exploration. The performer is invited to engage deeply with nuances of sound production—through variations in dampening, articulation, and dynamic shaping—which reveal the organic evolution of the music’s form.
Ultimately, Inspired reflects both the creative process behind its construction and the introspective journey it offers to the listener. It explores the relationship between sound, time, and motion, where each moment stands as both distinct and connected to a greater continuum.
This work was selected and featured by The Vibraphone Project Initiative (VPI) as part of their 2024 Call for Scores, and was showcased online through VPI’s Instagram platform as part of their amplification series for new vibraphone works.
Composer: Soheil Shirangi Instagram Post
Year of Creation: 2024
Presented by: The Vibraphone Project Initiative (VPI)
More Information: The piece will be included in VPI’s upcoming online database of contemporary vibraphone works, launching in mid to late August 2024.
