'Xylophonic' simply because it features the xylophone a lot – often with two players on the one instrument simultaneously – but also because it's a punchy, driven, slightly unhinged little piece . . rather like the character of the xylophone itself. It works by alternating little descending figures and then overlapping them closer and closer together. This is followed by 'pulsing' music and by 'funfair', wobbly waltz-music. This all happens twice, leading through a slower build-up to a more stately almost-ending followed by a few last measures of punchiness . . and more xylophone.

All of this happens pretty quickly – it's a concert-opener and needs to get out of the way so the real program can begin!