Keiko Abe | en

Keiko Abe (安倍圭子), born April 18, 1937 is a Japanese composer and marimba player. She has been a primary figure in the development of the marimba, in terms of expanding both technique and repertoire. Through her collaboration with the Yamaha musical instrument company she helped developing the modern five-octave concert marimba, too.
Born in Tokyo, Abe began playing the xylophone while in elementary school. She studied xylophone with Eiichi Asabuki in Tokyo. At age 13, she won an NHK talent contest and began performing professionally on live radio. She attended Tokyo Gakugei University where she completed a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music Education... more .