Toshimitsu Tanaka

Two movements for marimba (1965) 

4.3 marimba 

Toshimitsu Tanaka composed Two Movements for Marimba in 1965 and with it won a prize at the 1968 National Arts Festival for the Centenary of the Meiji period, and the Supreme Prize at the 1969 Japanese National Arts Festival. The piece is split into two movements. The first is driven by a strong rhythmic pulse and its ever-changing meter structure. The second movement opens with a mysterious chorale followed by a furious second half of the movement that builds to a very exciting close. This is a very popular piece for solo marimba that has been played by some of the world’s greatest marimba virtuosos. A great performance piece for the advanced marimbist.”

-Vic Firth.com

 

Annotated by James Koo