Mari Kimura

Mari Kimura
Birth nameMari Kimura
Born1962[1]
Japan
OriginJapanese
GenresClassical
OccupationViolinist
InstrumentViolin
Websitewww.marikimura.com

Mari Kimura (木村 まり, Kimura Mari) (/kɪˈmʊərə/; born 1962) is a Japanese violinist and composer best known for her use of subharmonics, which, achieved through special bowing techniques, allow pitches below the instrument's normal range.[2] She is credited with "introducing" the use of violin subharmonics,[3][4] which allow a violinist to play a full octave below the low G on the violin without adjusting the tuning of the instrument.[5]

She studied violin with Joseph Fuchs, Roman Totenberg, Toshiya Eto, and Armand Weisbord. She also studied composition with Mario Davidovsky at Columbia University, and computer music at Stanford University. Kimura holds a doctorate in performance from The Juilliard School. Since September 1998, she has been teaching a graduate class in Interactive Computer Music Performance at The Juilliard School.[6] Mari Kimura is the daughter of a renowned Japanese environmental architect, Ken-ichi Kimura. She grew up in a solar house designed by her father in Japan.

  1. ^ "Mari Kimura Archived 2017-06-19 at the Wayback Machine", ArkivMusic.com.
  2. ^ "Polytopia: Music for Violin & Electronics" review by Uncle Dave Lewis, AllMusic.
  3. ^ "subharmonics". marikimura.com. "The technique has been known among violinists as an exercise or some says even as a quirky 'joke'."
  4. ^ ""Mari Kimura on Subharmonics", StringsMagazine.com". Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved 2009-12-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) "This extended bowing technique...wasn't exactly new; Paganini is thought to have toyed with it during his practice sessions. But with a few exceptions...it wasn't commonly found in compositions."
  5. ^ Edward Rothstein (April 21, 1994). "A Violinist Tests Limits In Music Of Her Time". New York Times. Archived from the original on May 20, 2009. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
  6. ^ Mari Kimura, faculty page. The Juilliard School.