{"product_id":"kite-keiko-abe-a-virtuosic-life-book-w-cd","title":"Kite-Keiko Abe: A Virtuosic Life (book w\/CD)","description":"Keiko Abe transformed the marimba into today's five-octave solo instrument and full-fledged member of classical ensembles. Prior to Abe, the marimba was viewed somewhat disdainfully as a xylophone with a lower range: an instrument incapable of classical concert performance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOver the course of Keiko Abe's long musical career, beginning as a child prodigy at age ten, her rare gifts have garnered her recognition as a musical genius, consummate artist, innovator in her field, and composer of classical pieces of art music for her instrument. As Abe's audiences worldwide know, she is also a spellbinding performer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this biography, author Rebecca Kite tells the untold story of how Keiko Abe's groundbreaking influence on the evolution of the marimba and its music, Rebecca Kite also offers a history of the xylophone, the marimba, and the music, composers, and performers each instrument was associated with over the centuries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBiographer Rebecca Kite is a marimbist and composer whose solo recordings include \u003ci\u003eAcross Time\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ePrism\u003c\/i\u003e. Kite teaches marimba and percussion as a member of the music faculty at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. She is a frequent contributor to \u003ci\u003ePercussive Notes\u003c\/i\u003e, the journal of the Percussive Arts Society. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Steve Weiss Music","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43829987409974,"sku":"9780971494823","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0563\/3055\/1350\/files\/kite-keiko-abe-a-virtuosic-life-book-w-cd.jpg?v=1773386091","url":"https:\/\/www.steveweissmusic.mom\/products\/kite-keiko-abe-a-virtuosic-life-book-w-cd","provider":"Steve Weiss Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}