Short bio Keiko Abe
Full biography Keiko Abe
Keiko Abe is a well-known Japanese composer and marimba player. Born in Tokyo in 1937, she has been a primary figure in the world of percussion music for many years. Abe is famous not only for writing pieces herself but also for commissioning works by other composers.
Abe began her musical studies at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, where she specialized in percussion. After graduation, she became a member of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, where she played timpani and other percussion instruments. She later left the orchestra to focus on her solo career.
Throughout her long and illustrious career, Abe has become a leader among advocates of the marimba as a concert instrument. She has inspired countless musicians to take up this fascinating instrument, and her work has been recognized and celebrated around the world.
Abe's compositions for marimba are particularly notable. Her style is characterized by its unique, intricate rhythms and melodies, which draw from a wide range of musical traditions and influences. Many of her pieces are now considered standard repertoire for marimba players around the world.
In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Abe is also a highly respected educator. She has taught at a number of institutions, including the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and has inspired generations of percussionists to follow in her footsteps.
Overall, Keiko Abe's contributions to the world of percussion music are immeasurable. She has been an innovative and groundbreaking force in the field, and her work continues to inspire and influence musicians around the world.
Compositions featuring Keiko Abe
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prism Rhapsody II, for solo marimba & orchestra (original version) | 15:17 min | Concerto | 1996 |
| 2 | Prism Rhapsody II, for 2 marimbas, winds & percussion (revised version) | 15:42 min | Concerto | 1996 |
| 3 | Conversation in the Forest II, for marimba, saxophone, oboe & 2 percussionists | 9:45 min | Chamber Music | 1993 |
| 4 | Memories of the Seashore, for 2 marimbas | 6:18 min | Chamber Music | 1986 |
| 5 | Dream of the Cherry Blossoms, for marimba | 5:19 min | Chamber Music | 1983 |
| 6 | Memories of the Seashore, for marimba | 5:21 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 7 | Wind Sketch, for solo marimba | 5:44 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 8 | Wind in the Bamboo Grove, for marimba | 6:02 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 9 | Voice of Matsuri Drums, for marimba | 6:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 10 | Variations on Japanese Children's Songs, for marimba | 8:17 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 11 | Tambourin Paraphrase, for marimba | 4:10 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 12 | Reflections on Japanese Children's Songs II, for 2 marimbas | 9:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 13 | Prism, for marimba | 4:18 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 14 | Piacer d'amor, for marimba (based on a theme by G. Martini) | 5:03 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 15 | Mi-Chi, for marimba | 8:49 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 16 | Alone, for marimba | 3:28 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 17 | Marimba d'amore, for marimba | 10:25 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | Little Windows, for marimba | 3:13 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 19 | Kazak Lullaby, for marimba (based on a Russian folk song) | 4:54 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 20 | Itsuki Fantasy for Six Mallets, for marimba | 5:40 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 21 | Frogs, for marimba | 2:43 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 22 | Ban-ka, for solo marimba | 6:15 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 23 | Ancient Vase, for marimba | 5:23 min | Chamber Music | - |
Albums featuring Keiko Abe
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
安部慶子 Plays 樹原涼子 – Keiko Abe Plays Lioko Kihara(CD, Album, Stereo) | 2003 | Lioko Kihara Studio |
| 2 |  |
Marimba Encores(CD, Album) | 2001 | Xebec |
| 3 |  |
Marimba Spiritual(CD, Album) | 1998 | Xebec |
| 4 |  |
Keiko Abe And Michigan C.P. – Conversation(CD, Album) | 1995 | Forte Music Entertainment |
| 5 |  |
Fantastic Marimba | 1994 | Forte Music Entertainment |
| 6 |  |
Keiko Abe And Dave Samuels – Merging Classical And Jazz Forms - Live In Concert(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1993 | Forte Music Entertainment |
| 7 |  |
伊福部昭 - Kazuo Yamada, Keiko Abe, Shinsei Nihon Symphony Orchestra – 伊福部昭 交響作品集 = Akira Ifukube Works For Orchestra: Japanese Rhapsody / Triptyque Aborigène / Lauda Concertata Per Orchestra E Marimba(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1993 | Fontec |
| 8 |  |
Fink, Abe, Brindle, Hertel, Denhoff, Glentworth, Werner Thärichen – Das Schlagzeug(CD, Compilation) | 1992 | Koch Schwann |
| 9 |  |
Kroumata And Keiko Abe – Perform Works By Akira Nishimura, Akira Miyoshi, Tōru Takemitsu, Isao Matushita And Minoru Miki(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1989 | BIS |
| 10 |  |
Iannis Xenakis, Maki Ishii, Les Percussions De Strasbourg, Keiko Abe – Pleiades / Concertante | 1989 | Denon |
| 11 |  |
Marimba Selections III(CD, ) | 1987 | Denon |
| 12 |  |
The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam, Bill Bruford, Keiko Abe – Go Between | 1987 | Editions EG |
| 13 |  |
Marimba Fantasy: The Art Of Keiko Abe = マリンバの世界 | 1986 | Denon |
| 14 |  |
Keiko Abe & Walter Van Hauwe – Imagination 想 | 1985 | Denon |
| 15 |  |
Marimba Selections II | 1984 | Denon |
| 16 |  |
Akira Ifukube, Keiko Abe, Shinsei Nihon Symphony Orchestra, Kazuo Yamada – Laudata Concertata Per Orchestra E Marimba / Japanese Rhapsodie(LP) | 1983 | Terpsichore |
| 17 |  |
Solo Marimba Selections From Art And Essence Of The Marimba | 1981 | Columbia |
| 18 |  |
かっこうワルツ(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1979 | RCA |
| 19 |  |
Keiko Abe Reveals The Essence Of Marimba | 1976 | Denon |
| 20 |  |
からすの赤ちゃん(LP, Album) | 1975 | Denon |
| 21 |  |
Art Of Marimba(3×LP, Album) | 1969 | Columbia |
Videos featuring Keiko Abe
Keiko Abe - Marimba Fantasy
1986
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 1 Lullaby of Itsuki
Imagination
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Marimba Spiritual: I. —
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Marimba Spiritual: I. — · Keiko Abe · Leif Karlsson · Anders Loguin · Anders Holdar
Miki / Takemitsu / Nishimura: Japanese Percussion Music
℗ 1989 BIS
Released on: 1989-11-30
Artist: Keiko Abe
Artist: L
Go Between
Provided to YouTube by Summerfold
Go Between · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Marimba Spiritual: II. —
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Marimba Spiritual: II. — · Keiko Abe · Leif Karlsson · Anders Loguin · Anders Holdar
Miki / Takemitsu / Nishimura: Japanese Percussion Music
℗ 1989 BIS
Released on: 1989-11-30
Artist: Keiko Abe
Artist:
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 3 Lullaby of Simabara
Imagination
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Maenaden
Provided to YouTube by Summerfold
Maenaden · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Jorge Sarmientos Marimba Concerto I, played by Keiko Abe
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Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 6 Pavana Lachrimae Antiquae
Imagination
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Kala
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Kala · Keiko Abe · Kroumata Percussion Ensemble
Miki / Takemitsu / Nishimura: Japanese Percussion Music
℗ 1989 BIS
Released on: 1989-11-30
Artist: Keiko Abe
Ensemble: Kroumata Percussion Ensemble
Composer:
Marimba Spiritual
Provided to YouTube by Summerfold
Marimba Spiritual · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 2 Karibosikiriuta
Imagination
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Rin-sai (Circling Colour)
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Rin-sai (Circling Colour) · Keiko Abe · Kroumata Percussion Ensemble
Miki / Takemitsu / Nishimura: Japanese Percussion Music
℗ 1989 BIS
Released on: 1989-11-30
Artist: Keiko Abe
Ensemble: Kroumata Percussio
Airscope II
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Airscope II · Keiko Abe
Miki / Takemitsu / Nishimura: Japanese Percussion Music
℗ 1989 BIS
Released on: 1989-11-30
Artist: Keiko Abe
Composer: Isao Matsushita
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 7 She Died, My Water Lily Tonneke
Imagination
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 4 Song of Seashore
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 5 The Snow-Clad town
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe 8 Torrent
Keiko Abe & Walter van Hauwe playing with popular melodies
Keiko Abe, marimba
Walter van Hauwe, recorder, renaissance traverso (track 6)
Recorded in 1984, Tokyo
Go Between
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Go Between · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Released on: 1987-03-13
Music Publisher: Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Redbone
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Redbone · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Released on: 1987-03-13
Music Publisher: Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Marimba Spiritual
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Marimba Spiritual · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Released on: 1987-03-13
Music Publisher: Minoru Miki (JASRAC), Ongakunotomosha Corp
Auto-generated by Y
Maenaden
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Maenaden · The New Percussion Group Of Amsterdam
Go Between
℗ 1987 Cherry Red Records
Released on: 1987-03-13
Music Publisher: Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd
Auto-generated by YouTube.
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