Acclaimed marimbist and featured artist, Makoto Nakura, writes: "All marimba players wish they had a much larger repertoire. As a very new solo instrument in classical music, our repertoire spans only the last sixty years or so. Building up the repertoire for the marimba will take time, but it is a mission for every marimbist. On this CD I am delighted to present five pieces composed for me over the last five years" The CD "Ritual Protocol" features collaborations with composers Kevin Puts, Kenji Bunch, Jason Eckardt, and Tsuneya Tanabe on works for solo marimba or duos with other instruments. "Since none of the composers on this CD plays the marimba, I was happy to have the opportunity to be closely involved during the composition of the works. I believe that demonstrating the expressive range and technical possibilities of the instrument serves as both a revelation and an inspiration to the composer. Collaboration of this kind is vital in order to give voice to the distinctive personality of the instrument. In these collaborative sessions, I have enjoyed seeing the music emerge not only for the marimba but with me as a particular performer in mind. The five pieces on this CD have become a part of me and I also feel that characteristics of my playing are reflected in these works."