I have recently began the Mayazumi concerto, and have a few questions. I know it has been performed on a marimba, is this the wiser choice? Or should it really be performed on xylophone as it was intended? Does it matter? Could the performer perhaps even do the first and third movements on xylo and the 2nd on marimba?
Furthermore, after answering the first set of questions; which mallets have you all used in performing this peice (whether xylo or marimba); specifically the 2nd mvmt, if performed on xylophone, should it be a yarn mallet or just soft rubber, etc.
Any input on this subject, or advice for the peice in general would be greatly appriciated. Thanks so much.
Dustin

Xylophone or marimba is up to you; it's done both ways, although I'm not so sure about combining the two.

Most solo xylophone playing is best done with wound mallets (usually cord or yarn), not unwound.

WM

Like Mr. Moersch says, I believe it can be done either way. One thing to note: Like most of Mayuzumi works, it is full of Japanese musical idioms, and notes written are only approximations to those idioms. So, you may want to get accustomed with Japanese music in advance. Playing as it is written is very boring (and agains the will of Mayuzumi, I suppose) especially in the second movement, which is in the Japanese folk song style.

Oh, and it is Mayuzumi, not Mayazumi 🙂