An Oft-Trodden Path is a work for solo marimba (4-mallets) that was written due to the encouragement of a (percussionist) colleague and mentor, Joseph Lilly, who has been supportive of my compositional journey. This work aims to be a narrative tone-poem exploring both the beauty of nature (particularly that of Florida, where the composer lives) and the melancholic reminiscing of the heart. Harmonically, this piece leans heavily into the I and iiø7 chords, as well as tight or cluster chords that create a sense of warmth and closeness. The third (C) theme makes use of barbershop-like harmonies which infuse a glimmer of joy and playfulness to this work, while not straying too far from its general tone of reminiscing. Overall, An Oft-Trodden Path aims to bring the listener to a place familiar to all: the heart - a place where beauty and sadness meet.