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.