Chad Heiny’s Elements not only serves as a programmatic piece representing natural elements through musical devices such as texture, phrasing, style, and tonality, it also functions as a study in the elements of music, like rhythm, harmony, melody, time signature, and dynamic range. Because the players are sharing a single marimba, a high level of cohesion and intimacy can be achieved in performance, especially when great care is taken in the selection of mallets.