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＞ Toru Takemitsu
武満 徹
Toru Takemitsu
1930-1996
Born in Tokyo in 1930. Spent his childhood in Dalian. He returned to Japan in 1937. Although he studied under Yasuji Kiyose, he was actually mostly self-taught. In 1951 he joined the founding members of the “Jikken Kobo (means:Experimental Studio)” and developed an avant-garde method. In 1957 he composed 〈Requiem for Strings〉. He was highly praised by Stravinsky and took a step forward as a world-famous composer. In 1967, he released 〈November Steps〉 as a commemorative work of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Using the biwa, the shakuhachi, and an orchestra, this work attempted to fuse the music of the East and the West (it could be said to be “antagonism”…) and made Takemitsu’s position immovable.
He is perhaps the most active contemporary Japanese composer in the world. I would like people who are allergic to “modern music” (?) to listen to it. Takemitsu, who has worked on a wide range of music using avant-garde techniques, music with a sense of tonality, and movie music, is not a incomprehensible music composer. I think that the tail of the sound, the music that captures the lingering sound in every corner of the reverberation, and the music that has a unique “pause” is exactly the expression of Japanese beauty. Regardless of the method, it seems that it was only that to continue to pursue “beauty”.
【Q.What is your favorite piece？】
mezzopiano）First, the chorus songs 〈Small Sky〉 and 〈A Song of Circles and Triangles〉. I sang it in a university class, but it was a shocking encounter for me, who had been planted with a biased thinking that “Takemitsu = avant-garde = I can’t understand!” What a beautiful and sincere piece of music. The piano piece is 〈Piano Pieces for Children〉,I like. It is a small work consisting of two pieces the rhythmic and cute 〈Breeze〉 and the beautiful and languid 〈Cloud〉. It’s pleasant for adults, and for children… it’s wonderful to play such a piace! There is a simple and straight beauty here, which is similar to the choral music mentioned above. The piece I wanted to meet when I was a child has been ranked high in the ranking. 〈Rain Tree Sketch〉 〈Rain Tree Sketch II “In memoriam Olivier Messiaen”〉are also beautiful. Is it standard in Takemitsu’s works? When I think about it, when I was a high school student,my piano teacher suggested that I try playing it. When I was young, I didn’t have understand his music yet(haha). But,these days,I feel that the seeds are starting to sprout little by little because the teacher sowed the seeds.
｜Piano solo
Lento in due movimenti (Lent in two movements)
Piano Pieces for Children
Romance
Rain Tree Sketch
Rain Tree Sketch Ⅱ “In memoriam Olivier Messiaen”
｜References
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