#4509, The Mallet Instrument Influence

There’s music under the influence for this show – of mallet instruments, in interlocking patterns. Hear work from a timeless record by Japanese composer/percussionist Midori Takada, Through the Looking Glass, which in turn influenced both vibraphonist Masayoshi Fujita and Portico Quartet. Plus, So Percussion plays Mallet Quartet by Steve Reich.

American composer Steve Reich’s interlocking patterns of melodic lines of mallet percussion instruments elevated vibes and marimba to the level where other composers started to write for those instruments. Hear So Percussion play Reich’s Mallet Quartet for two vibraphones and two marimbas. Also, hear some of the four-song suite, Through the Looking Glass, first released in the 1980s, by Japanese composer, multi-percussionist, and theater artist Midori Takada. This hypnotic and transporting work combines precise repeating marimba patterns, in a minimalism vein, and draws from traditional African and Asian percussive language as well.

Then, listen to music by vibraphonist/percussionist Masayoshi Fujita, which “carries ethereal remnants of Midori Takada’s minimalism,” (Erased Tapes), in the carefully layered phrases of marimba (an instrument change for Fujita), from his 2021 record, Bird Ambience. There’s also music by London’s Portico Quartet, who draw on both ambient music and American minimalism, but who also give a shout-out to Midori Takada on their work Terrain. Core member Jack Wyllie says they were “particularly inspired” by Takada’s approach on  'Through the Looking Glass' “where she moves through different worlds incorporating elements of minimalism with non-Western instruments and melodies” (Bandcamp). - Caryn Havlik

Program #4509, The Mallet Instrument Influence  (First Aired 6/16/2021)

ARTIST: So Percussion
WORK: Steve Reich: Mallet Quartet [14:38]
RECORDING: WTC 9/11
SOURCE:  Nonesuch Records 528236
INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Midori Takada
WORK: Mr. Henri Rousseau's Dream [12:02]
RECORDING: Through the Looking Glass
SOURCE:  RCA Japan 
INFO: wrwtfww.com

ARTIST: Masayoshi Fujita
WORK: Morocco [5:52]
RECORDING: Bird Ambience
SOURCE: Erased Tapes Records
INFO: masayoshifujita.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Portico Quartet
WORK: Terrain, Part III [10:10]
RECORDING:Terrain 
SOURCE: Gondwana Records
INFO: porticoquartet.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Michiko Akao & Midori Takada
WORK: Kokyu (Ancient Palace) [7:27]
RECORDING: Ka Gu La/Ritual of the Wind
SOURCE: World Windows
INFO: Out of print. Try Discogs.com