Yurika Kimura

Yurika performs both as concert marimbist and xylophonist. As a marimbist, she has specialized in the contemporary repertoire created by Japanese composers, as well as all the compositions by her renowned teacher Keiko Abe. Her xylophone work has concentrated on the ragtime and jazz repertoire of early 20th century America, an era to which she has dedicated a great deal of research. Yurika's uncanny ability to play the marimba using four, five and six mallets simultaneously has allowed her to create transcriptions and arrangements of 1920s period accompaniments originally performed on a piano or by small orchestras. She made the first-ever transcription-arrangements of historic recordings by xylophone virtuoso George Hamilton Green, which were released in 2013 by Keyboard Percussion Publications in the Recollections of G.H. Green series. Her CD recording, Alabama Moon features many of her arrangments of Green's music. In 2015 KPP released her arrangements of Clair Omar Musser's Etude in Ab Major and Prelude in G Major, with Musser's original piano accompaniments arranged for a second five-octave marimba. Yurika continues ?to arrange and compose works for marimba solo as well as for keyboard and percussion ensembles. Recent concert appearances include the Eastman School of Music, Ithaca College, Oberlin College, and a showcase concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2013; performance at the 50th Anniversary PASIC '11, as a member of the Bob Becker Ensemble; guest artist at the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminars and the Bob Becker Ragtime Xylophone Institutes; and featured performer, arranger and teacher at the Xylophone Soloist Seminar held at Wright State University. In 2015 Yurika was a guest soloist at the "Celebrate Marimba!" festival at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, where she premiered Dream Awakening and Dance, a piece composed for her by Gordon Stout. In addition she performed the premieres of her duo and trio arrangements of Clair Omar Musser's Etude and Prelude along with marimba artists Gordon Stout and Bob Becker.>
Yurika's first keyboard experience was on the piano when she was three years old, later adding marimba studies. She majored in percussion performance, piano and Hammond organ at the Sakuyo College of Music, graduating with a scholarship and an award as the top student in all departments. In addition, she got a therapist license by the Japan Music Therapy Association. Her major teachers include Mitsuaki Imamura, percussionist with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, and marimba virtuoso Keiko Abe.

Yurika is an Artist Endorser with the Malletech Company, and performs on the Malletech Imperial Grand Marimba.

From Yurika Kimura

Alabama Moon (by G.H. Green/arr. Becker/Kimura)

$21.00$24.00

Alabama Moon was composed (both lyrics and music) by George Hamilton Green in 1920, and quickly published by the Sam Fox Company. Written in the nostalgic style of a southern waltz, the words and melody convey a popular period idiom of the 1920s era.”After a fantastic performance by Bob and Yurika at PASIC 2013 … I’m sure ‘Alabama Moon’ is already on the music stands of many ragtime enthusiasts.”-Percussive Notes

Alabama Moon was composed (both lyrics and music) by George Hamilton Green in 1920, and quickly published by the Sam Fox Company. Written in the nostalgic style of a southern waltz, the words and melody convey a popular period idiom of the 1920s era.”After a fantastic performance by Bob and Yurika at PASIC 2013 … I’m sure ‘Alabama Moon’ is already on the music stands of many ragtime enthusiasts.”-Percussive Notes

Alabama Moon, A Salute to G.H Green CD (Becker/Kimura)

$12.00

A Salute to George Hamilton Green, featuring Bob Becker on xylophone and Yurika Kimura on marimba. You can’t imagine how fantastic these marimba and xylophone duos sound. The happiness of this highly syncopated music is as infectious as any ever written.”After a fantastic performance by Bob and Yurika at PASIC 2013 where several of these pieces were played, I’m sure ‘Alabama Moon’ is already on the music stands of many ragtime enthusiasts.”-Percussive Notes

A Salute to George Hamilton Green, featuring Bob Becker on xylophone and Yurika Kimura on marimba. You can’t imagine how fantastic these marimba and xylophone duos sound. The happiness of this highly syncopated music is as infectious as any ever written.”After a fantastic performance by Bob and Yurika at PASIC 2013 where several of these pieces were played, I’m sure ‘Alabama Moon’ is already on the music stands of many ragtime enthusiasts.”-Percussive Notes

Castle Valse Classique (A. Dvorak/arr. Kimura)

$22.00

The name Castle Valse refers to the dance team Vernon and Irene Castle, who were exceedingly popular performers and teachers of all the ballroom dance styles in vogue in the United States during the 1910s and 20s. They appeared with Earl Fuller’s Rector Novelty Orchestra at Rector’s Restaurant in NYC in 1917, a time when Fuller also featured George Hamilton Green in his ensemble.

The name Castle Valse refers to the dance team Vernon and Irene Castle, who were exceedingly popular performers and teachers of all the ballroom dance styles in vogue in the United States during the 1910s and 20s. They appeared with Earl Fuller’s Rector Novelty Orchestra at Rector’s Restaurant in NYC in 1917, a time when Fuller also featured George Hamilton Green in his ensemble.

Castle Valse Classique, Xylo & Mar. Quartet (A. Dvorak/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$24.00

The name Castle Valse Classique refers to the dance team of Vernon and Irene Castle, who were exceedingly popular performers and teachers of all the ballroom dance styles in vogue in the United States during the 1910s and 20s. The Castles’ “hesitation waltz” treatment of Dvorak’s Humoresque became one of their signature numbers, and Green’s spectacular obbligato xylophone performance made the music persuasive enough to stand alone on records.

The name Castle Valse Classique refers to the dance team of Vernon and Irene Castle, who were exceedingly popular performers and teachers of all the ballroom dance styles in vogue in the United States during the 1910s and 20s. The Castles’ “hesitation waltz” treatment of Dvorak’s Humoresque became one of their signature numbers, and Green’s spectacular obbligato xylophone performance made the music persuasive enough to stand alone on records.

Etude in Ab Major for Two Marimbas (C.O. Musser/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$18.00

Clair Omar Musser wrote numerous etudes as many marimbists know. It is assumed that each numbered opus consisted of 20 pieces, but there is no surviving evidence of them now. The version of Opus 6, Number 2 published in 1948 had some issues with the chords, as well as with expression markings like accents, staccatos, dynamics, etc. I made some corrections and consistencies in this new edition, but I tried to keep Musser’s notation intact as much as possible. Examining several of the original manuscripts helped clarify his personal approach to notation. – Yurika Kimura

Clair Omar Musser wrote numerous etudes as many marimbists know. It is assumed that each numbered opus consisted of 20 pieces, but there is no surviving evidence of them now. The version of Opus 6, Number 2 published in 1948 had some issues with the chords, as well as with expression markings like accents, staccatos, dynamics, etc. I made some corrections and consistencies in this new edition, but I tried to keep Musser’s notation intact as much as possible. Examining several of the original manuscripts helped clarify his personal approach to notation. – Yurika Kimura

In Sweet September (James Monaco/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$22.00

In Sweet September was composed by James Monaco, with lyrics by Edgar Leslie and Pete Wendling. It was recorded in 1920 by The All Star Trio , a group that featured Victor Arden on piano, F. Wheeler Wadsworth on tenor saxophone, and George Hamilton Green on xylophone.This transcription arrangement is based on the All Star Trio recording, with reference to the original sheet music.

In Sweet September was composed by James Monaco, with lyrics by Edgar Leslie and Pete Wendling. It was recorded in 1920 by The All Star Trio , a group that featured Victor Arden on piano, F. Wheeler Wadsworth on tenor saxophone, and George Hamilton Green on xylophone.This transcription arrangement is based on the All Star Trio recording, with reference to the original sheet music.

Old Man Jazz (Gene Quaw/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$22.00

Old Man Jazz was composed (both music and lyrics) by Gene Quaw, and published in 1920 by Jos. W. Stern & Co. The original sheet music has the subtitle “An Eccentric Fox Trot Song.” The All Star Trio (George Hamilton Green, xylophone, F. Wheeler Wadsworth, tenor saxophone, and Victor Arden, piano) recorded a very clever version of the piece for Victor Records (#18699) in 1920. This transcription arrangement is based on the All Star Trio recording, with reference to the original sheet music.

Old Man Jazz was composed (both music and lyrics) by Gene Quaw, and published in 1920 by Jos. W. Stern & Co. The original sheet music has the subtitle “An Eccentric Fox Trot Song.” The All Star Trio (George Hamilton Green, xylophone, F. Wheeler Wadsworth, tenor saxophone, and Victor Arden, piano) recorded a very clever version of the piece for Victor Records (#18699) in 1920. This transcription arrangement is based on the All Star Trio recording, with reference to the original sheet music.

Poor Little Butterfly is a Fly Gal Now (Jerome & Spencer/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$22.00

M. K. Jerome’s Poor Butterfly Is A Fly Gal Now was published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. in 1919, and recorded the same year by the All Star Trio (Victor 18641-B). The All Star Trio was one of the most popular recording groups for dance music in the United States between 1918 and 1922. The ensemble included Victor Arden on piano, F. Wheeler Wadsworth on tenor saxophone, and George Hamilton Green on xylophone. This transcription arrangement bases the marimba part on the piano and saxophone performances, while keeping the xylophone part almost exactly as played by Green, with only a few minor changes to make the two parts consistent.

M. K. Jerome’s Poor Butterfly Is A Fly Gal Now was published by Waterson, Berlin & Snyder Co. in 1919, and recorded the same year by the All Star Trio (Victor 18641-B). The All Star Trio was one of the most popular recording groups for dance music in the United States between 1918 and 1922. The ensemble included Victor Arden on piano, F. Wheeler Wadsworth on tenor saxophone, and George Hamilton Green on xylophone. This transcription arrangement bases the marimba part on the piano and saxophone performances, while keeping the xylophone part almost exactly as played by Green, with only a few minor changes to make the two parts consistent.

Prelude in G Major for Two Marimbas (C.O. Musser/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$17.00$20.00

It is assumed that each numbered opus from Clair Omar Musser consisted of 20 pieces, but there is no surviving evidence of them now. The version of Opus 11, Number 3, published in 1948, had some issues with the chords and expression markings. I made some corrections and consistencies in this new edition, but I tried to keep Musser’s notation intact as much as possible. -Yurika Kimura

It is assumed that each numbered opus from Clair Omar Musser consisted of 20 pieces, but there is no surviving evidence of them now. The version of Opus 11, Number 3, published in 1948, had some issues with the chords and expression markings. I made some corrections and consistencies in this new edition, but I tried to keep Musser’s notation intact as much as possible. -Yurika Kimura

Recollections of G.H. Green Set (arr. Becker/Kimura)

$198.00

“I found every piece to be delightful.”-Percussive NotesRecollections of George Hamilton Green marimba and xylophone duets arranged by Bob Becker and Yurika Kimura. Set includes all nine titles and an “Alabama Moon” CD.”Thanks in large part to NEXUS’s recordings, the G.H. Green rags are a staple within the college and university performance repertoire. Thanks to this new series of transcriptions, the depth and diversity of that catalog has been expanded.”-Percussive Notes

“I found every piece to be delightful.”-Percussive NotesRecollections of George Hamilton Green marimba and xylophone duets arranged by Bob Becker and Yurika Kimura. Set includes all nine titles and an “Alabama Moon” CD.”Thanks in large part to NEXUS’s recordings, the G.H. Green rags are a staple within the college and university performance repertoire. Thanks to this new series of transcriptions, the depth and diversity of that catalog has been expanded.”-Percussive Notes

Swanee (Gershwin/arr. Becker/Kimura)

$22.00

“Others will have difficulty matching the quality of this keyboard duo arrangement of a George Gershwin hit. Bob Becker’s xylophone interpretation maintains the integrity of the original melody, yet masterfully includes material that will allow the performer to demonstrate glimpses of virtuosity.”-Percussive Notes

“Others will have difficulty matching the quality of this keyboard duo arrangement of a George Gershwin hit. Bob Becker’s xylophone interpretation maintains the integrity of the original melody, yet masterfully includes material that will allow the performer to demonstrate glimpses of virtuosity.”-Percussive Notes

The Hula Blues (Noble & Cunha/arr. Becker/Kimura)

$22.00

This arrangement, by Yurika Kimura, is based on the musical structure of the Green Brothers’ recording, with reference to the original sheet music. The xylophone part incorporates variations composed by Bob Becker.

This arrangement, by Yurika Kimura, is based on the musical structure of the Green Brothers’ recording, with reference to the original sheet music. The xylophone part incorporates variations composed by Bob Becker.

Watermelon Whispers (G.H. Green/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$22.00

Watermelon Whispers was composed in 1918 by George Hamilton Green, and was published the same year as a piano solo by the Ted Browne Music Company.This transcription arrangement is based on the piano sheet music, and on Green’s xylophone performance on the Edison cylinder.

Watermelon Whispers was composed in 1918 by George Hamilton Green, and was published the same year as a piano solo by the Ted Browne Music Company.This transcription arrangement is based on the piano sheet music, and on Green’s xylophone performance on the Edison cylinder.

Yellow Dog Blues (W.C. Handy/arr. Yurika Kimura)

$22.00

“Green’s unique bluesy style is evident in this fun, challenging xylophone solo. The marimba accompaniment is equally challenging (if not more so) and requires a player who is comfortable with large leaps in the bass line while playing busy syncopated patterns in the right hand.”-Percussive Notes

“Green’s unique bluesy style is evident in this fun, challenging xylophone solo. The marimba accompaniment is equally challenging (if not more so) and requires a player who is comfortable with large leaps in the bass line while playing busy syncopated patterns in the right hand.”-Percussive Notes