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AWE (A Woman’s Experience)

Keywords

Marimba Spiritual by Minoru Miki, Keiko Abe marimba influence, female percussionists at Brigham Young University

Abstract

Minerva Teichert Award 2025

Honorable mention

Marimba Spiritual (1984) by Minoru Miki is a staple piece of marimba literature that is highly regarded amongst marimba players all around the world. The male composer, Minoru Miki, often wrote his pieces with one person in mind: Keiko Abe. Ms. Abe is considered one of the most virtuosic marimba players and is an inspiration to not only up-and-coming female marimbists but to all young musicians pursuing marimba performance. Minoru Miki saw and respected what Keiko Abe had to offer, and wrote many pieces either dedicated to her or written for her to play. In the case of Marimba Spiritual, Minoru Miki wrote it specifically for Keiko based on her talents and abilities. After the premiere, hundreds of people learned and performed this piece, including a lot of women. As a young female marimbist, I have long admired Abe’s compositional style and electrifying performances. Her compositions have been one of the biggest influences within marimba repertoire, comprising many of the UIL Prescribed Music List keyboard solos.

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