Franco Donatoni's "Omar" has rapidly become a standard in the percussive repertoire. Since its composition in 1985, Omar has been played numerous times throughout the world. This work is a study in texture, harmony, virtuosity and presence. The harsh pointed attacks of the opening bleed into soft flowing harmonies. In many ways this work is based around variations that bleed into each other with flowing elegance. Omar is a challenge to work up, however it is worth every ounce of energy put into it. Number of Players: 1Difficulty: Grade 5+Instrumentation: Player I: VibraphoneFranco Donatoni was born in Verona Italy in 1927. He started studying violin at the age of 7. Donatoni studied music at Conservatories in Milan and Bologna. He was a professor of composition at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. His compositions have become standards for their technical complexity and intellectual density.
