Mia was first written in 2013 after my sister gave birth to her first child, Mia. The upbeat and tuneful nature came out of happiness and excitement for my new niece, but would also prove to be a fitting match for the vibrant and fun personality she has showcased as she has grown up. The piece was edited with a few optional transitions (included as ossias) in 2016 and eventually published in 2019. This piece can be a fun outlet to work on up-tempo technical passages and for a high school or undergraduate recital piece. Adding other parts, such as an accompanying djembe or cajon player and/or the marimba soloist using ankle bells while playing, would be a welcome and fun addition to enhance the lively character of the piece. The piece is written for a 5.0 octave marimba, but the entire thing could be played up an octave to work on a 4.0 octave instrument.

For more information about Alex, including his other published works, visit his composer page.