Tōru Takemitsu

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Toru Takemitsu (1961)

Tōru Takemitsu ( Japanese 武 満 徹 , Takemitsu Tōru , born October 8, 1930 in Tokyo , † February 20, 1996 ibid) was a Japanese composer .

Life

After the Second World War , Takemitsu decided to become a composer and began studying composition with Yasuji Kiyose in 1948 , but remained predominantly self-taught.

His unconventional way of composing is characterized by great sonic sensitivity. While the Viennese School (especially Schönberg , Berg and Webern ) and the French School (especially Debussy ) can be recognized in his first works , Takemitsu's interest in all avant-garde techniques soon became apparent . He used traditional Japanese instruments very often, for example in November Steps for biwa , shakuhachi and orchestra, which was composed in 1967.

Takemitsu was not only interested in music, but also in literature and modern painting. Therefore, in 1951, together with other artists, he founded the Experimental Workshop group , which soon made a name for itself for its avant-garde and multimedia performances.

Takemitsu was also particularly enthusiastic about French chansons , hits, jazz and film music . As a big film fan he wrote z. B. the music for the films Ran and Dodes'ka-Den . Although he felt extremely comfortable with film music and electronic music, his most characteristic works are those for chamber ensembles and large orchestras. In Japan, his arrangements of Beatles songs for solo guitar are still very popular today.

He taught composition himself and was often invited to teach. In 1984 he received the Asahi Prize for his international compositions . In 1994 he received the Grawemeyer Award for his work Fantasma / Cantos for clarinet and orchestra, one of the most important music prizes in the world, also in 1994 Takemitsu was elected honorary member of the International Society for Contemporary Music ISCM , and in 1996 he received the Glenn posthumously Gould Prize . Since 1978 he was a member of the GDR Academy of the Arts . In 1984 he was elected an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters .

Takemitsu had undergone medical treatment for a malignant bladder tumor in the last few months of his life. He died of pneumonia on February 20, 1996 in Tokyo.

Works

  • 1949: Romance for piano
  • 1950: Lento in Due Movimenti for piano
  • 1951: Distance De Fée for violin and piano
  • 1951: Joie de Vivre , ballet for orchestra
  • 1957: Requiem for strings
  • 1958: Solitude sonore for orchestra
  • 1959: Pause ininterrupted for piano
  • 1960: Landscape for string quartet
  • 1960: Water Music
  • 1961: Music of Trees for orchestra
  • 1962: Coral Island for soprano and orchestra
  • 1964: Textures for orchestra
  • 1964: Kwaidan
  • 1966: Arc for piano and orchestra
  • 1966: Asterism for piano and orchestra
  • 1966: Hika for violino and piano
  • 1967: November Steps for biwa, shakuhachi and orchestra
  • 1967: Green (November Steps 2) for orchestra
  • 1970: Eucalyptus for flute, oboe, harp and strings
  • 1970: Seasons for drums
  • 1971: Voice for solo flute
  • 1971 Distance for oboe (solo or with Sho ad lib.)
  • 1972: Gémeaux for oboe, trombone and two orchestras
  • 1973: For away for piano
  • 1973: Autumn for biwa, shakuhachi and orchestra
  • 1974: Folios for guitar
  • 1975: Gitimalya for marimba and orchestra
  • 1975: Quatrain I for clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano and orchestra
  • 1976: Waves for clarinet, horn, two trombones and percussion
  • 1976: Marginalia for orchestra
  • 1977: 12 songs for guitar
  • 1977: A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden for orchestra
  • 1979: Piano Pieces For Children
  • 1980: Rain Spell for flute, clarinet, harp, piano and vibraphone
  • 1981: Dreamtime for orchestra
  • 1981: Rain Tree for percussion
  • 1981: Toward the Sea for flute and guitar
  • 1982: Rain Coming for chamber orchestra
  • 1983: From far beyond Chrysanthemums and November Fog for violin and piano
  • 1984: Orion for violoncello and piano
  • 1986: Rain Dreaming for harpsichord solo
  • 1986: All in Twilight for guitar solo
  • 1987: Signals from Heaven I & II for wind ensemble
  • 1989: Litany - In Memory Of Michael Vyner for piano (I. Adagio, II. Lento misterioso)
  • 1989: Itinerant - In Memory of Isamu Noguchi for flute solo
  • 1990: From Me Flows What You Call Time for 5 percussionists and orchestra
  • 1991: Quotation of Dream for two pianos and orchestra
  • 1991: Fantasma / Cantos for clarinet and orchestra
  • 1992: Rain Tree Sketch II - In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen for piano
  • 1992: And then I knew 'twas Wind for flute, viola and harp
  • 1993: Between Tides for violin, violoncello and piano
  • 1994: Paths - In Memoriam Witold Lutoslawski for trumpet solo
  • 1995: Three Film Scores for string orchestra
  • 1995: Air - Aurèle Nicolet on her 70th birthday, for flute solo

Filmography (selection)

Web links and references

Individual evidence

  1. ^ ISCM Honorary Members
  2. ↑ Honorary Members: Tōru Takemitsu. American Academy of Arts and Letters, accessed March 24, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Takemitsu, Tōru
ALTERNATIVE NAMES 武 満 徹 (Japanese)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Japanese composer
DATE OF BIRTH October 8, 1930
PLACE OF BIRTH Tokyo
DATE OF DEATH February 20, 1996
Place of death Tokyo