Fujii Database of Japanese Marimba Works
by Mutsuko Fujii and Senzoku Marimba Research Group

The Senzoku Marimba Research Group under the auspices of the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Percussion Institute compiled this Fujii Database of Japanese Marimba Works.

Undertaken from 2003 to 2006, and with the generous help of so many composers and marimba players, we were able to conduct a survey of Japanese marimba pieces composed between 1929 and 2003. As this is an initial investigation and not an exhaustive list, there are entries where details need elucidation and there still remains insufficient information regarding publishers and recordings.

We hope this proves to be a useful resource for composers and marimba players alike and that it provides a more comprehensive understanding of Japanese marimba music.

Tomoyuki Okada
Director and Manager, PAS Japan
Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Percussion Institute

Mutsuko Fujii
Marimbist
President, Senzoku Marimba Research Group

Database of Japanese Marimba Works (pdf)
Database Abbreviations (pdf)

This document was made by Mutsuko Fujii and the Senzoku Marimba Research Group at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Percussion Institute and donates it to the PAS library.

All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without written permission of PAS.

We would like to thank the following for their cooperation.
Japan Federation of Composers (550 members)
Japan Society for Contemporary Music (260 members)
"Kan" The group of composers (28 members)
"Oto No Kai" Association of composers and music teachers (26 members)
JPC (Japan Percussion Center) (4,000 members)
Japan Percussion Association (1,200 members)
Japan Xylophone Association (1,721 members)

Special thanks to Christopher Hardy

Contact:
Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Percussion Institute
2-3-1 Hisamoto, Takatsu-ku
Kawasaki, Kanagawa 213-8580
Japan
Fax: (+81) 44-856-2751
E-mail: pasjapan@senzoku.ac.jp

Mutsuko Fujii: marimba, percussion, and sanukite artist

Mutsuko Fujii is one of the most prominent and influential marimba and percussion artists in Japan.She has performed at major concert venues in her native Japan, as well as in China, the United States, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany to rave reviews.

Ms. Fujii has by and large focused her professional career on expanding the repertoire for marimba and percussion; she has commissioned over fifty new works from Japanese composers including luminaries Akira Miyoshi and the late Maki Ishii. Her longstanding dedication to Japanese contemporary music was manifest in her US premiere performance of Akira MiyoshiÕs Etude Concertante at Carnegie Hall as well as sold-out performances of Miyoshi and Ishii works for marimba and percussion in Tokyo. Ms. Fujii has recently collaborated with renowned composer and marimbist Keiko Abe, premiering Prism Rhapsody II for 2 marimbas and 6 percussion players alongside the composer.

In 1984 Ms. Fujii was introduced to the sanukite, a mallet instrument produced from rare volcanic stone originating in the Sanuki region of Japan. From that time on she has been perhaps the most active proponent of the instrument in the world, performing on the sanukite frequently and featuring it on three recordings.

Over the last several years Ms. Fujii has enjoyed an active recording schedule. In 2006 ALM Records released her CD HITEN-SEIDO: Marimba works by Maki Ishii, a recording commemorating the late composer's 70th birthday. In 2007 she recorded and produced Yamato-Uta (Japanese song), the Federation of All Japan Pre-school Education's 50th anniversary CD, in conjunction with a special CD release concert at Oji Hall in Tokyo.

Mutsuko Fujii holds her Bachelor of Music degree from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Ms. Fujii currently teaches marimba and percussion at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Kanagawa, and serves as Vice Chairman of the Japan Total Music Institute and Federation of All Japan Pre-school Education. In addition to her solo performances Ms. Fujii can be seen performing with the Mutsuko Fujii Percussion Group and together with her daughters Haruka and Rika, who have followed in their mother's footsteps.

Marimba works by Akira Miyoshi (Kosei Publishing Co.; KMYD-5740)
HITEN-SEIDO, Marimba works by Maki Ishii (ALM Records; ALCD-68)
Yamat o-Uta Japanese traditional songs for percussion ensemble
Yamato-Uta Japanese traditional songs for percussion ensemble

Mutsuko Fujii's offcial web site