Toca Remix

Marc Battier
Toca Remix, for marimba (with optional stereo tape) 2023

A first version of the piece was premiered in Japan in 1993. This is a complete rewriting, hence the title, remix. It is based on an old practice from the mountains of Romania and neighboring regions which I first heard while crossing Transylvania and Maramureș, a long time ago. It consists of a long piece of wood used as a bell. It is played with two hammers. This semantron is called in Romania toaca. The performer creates rhythms which resemble those from Central Asia. In Toca Remix, I wanted to restitute the profound impression I received while first hearing that wooden bell. The use of a marimba helps recreate that impression.

The electroacoustic sounds from the tape are derived from the spectral analysis of a real toaca I recorded in Maramureș. The set of pitches in the marimba mostly follow the pitches obtained from spectral analysis.
Toca Remix is dedicated to its performer, Thierry Miroglio.

First performance:

MUSICACOUSTICA-HANGZHOU festival, the Zhejiang Conservatory of music, Hangzhou, China, October 2023, by Thierry Miroglio.