The Garden will offer a free public performance of Japanese Marimba from 1:00-2:00pm in the Japanese Arts Learning Center. Marimba, pioneered by the “Mother of Marimba,” Keiko Abe, has a rich history in Japan during the last century. Mrs. Abe and many others worked to develop a style of Marimba playing that was unique in its technique, composition, gesture, and musical language.

We are honored to partner with Avneesh Babar and Sam Wheeler. Avneesh  is currently finishing his degree in Music Education from Texas A&M University- Commerce where he studies with renowned marimba performer, and Japanese marimba expert, Dr. Brian Zator. Wheeler has spent  five summers traveling the country performing with some of the nation’s top drum and bugles corps including the Phantom Regiment and his international debut as a marimba soloist as a finalist the International Percussion Institute Marimba Competition in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Ultimately, the work of Keiko Abe and many others would go on to influence percussion and orchestra music throughout the world. Although the Marimba has been present throughout time, Japanese Marimba was a further development of Marimba playing which was unique to Japan. The unique compositional voice of Japan spread as pieces like “Itsuki Fantasy” and “Dream of the Cherry Blossoms (Sakura, Sakura)” have become staples in the American percussion repertoire.