Takemitsu: Sounds as intense as silence

[North Star]

This is good make sure to get his guitar music too!

Yes!
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[nodogen]

Yes, I shall be getting both his guitar and solo piano music I think. 😃

[Robert101]

Yes!
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I love that recording

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

And that is one of my favourite discs of guitar music ever.

[bwv 1080]

Another good recording of the guitar works

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I lack any Takemitsu in my collection. What are 1 or 2 recommendable recordings?

[bwv 1080]

I lack any Takemitsu in my collection. What are 1 or 2 recommendable recordings?

if you like guitar music, the disc above you

Also this is a good place to start with the orchestral music

[Draško]

I lack any Takemitsu in my collection. What are 1 or 2 recommendable recordings?

Orchestral, chamber and traditional Japanese.

[lescamil]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_E2rKxg3NE

One of his more beautiful chamber works.

[Mahlerian]

if you like guitar music, the disc above you

Also this is a good place to start with the orchestral music

I disagree.  I think the Brilliant Classics compilation is far preferable in terms of performance quality to that Naxos disc.  Draško's choices are not bad for a starter collection, though I als would recommend this disc for chamber works:
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[bwv 1080]

I disagree.  I think the Brilliant Classics compilation is far preferable in terms of performance quality to that Naxos disc. 

The Naxos disc is a fine recording but not familiar with the Brilliant, available here only as an import it looks like.  The Brilliant does not look to have any of the work from the 70s, Flock Descends being both one of my favorite pieces and his most 'important'.

Here is another good disc of orchestral music, with the 1957 Requiem combined with two late works

[snyprrr]

I lack any Takemitsu in my collection. What are 1 or 2 recommendable recordings?

How bout that Knussen disc on Virgin?

Either that, or 'Quotation of Dream' on DG, also with Knussen, I believe.

Those two, or the 'Gemeaux' CD on Denon would be my top three.



...maybe Viola Concerto on Philips, with an early,Japanese work...

[vers la flamme]

Bump for a great composer...?

I've just started listening to Takemitsu a little bit. I have a couple discs that feature short works of his in addition to works of other composers, and this is my first real exposure to his work. I like what I'm hearing. Reminds me a lot of Debussy, Messiaen, and Scriabin. All I've heard is the Rain Tree Sketch for piano and To the Edge of Dream for guitar and orchestra. As a guitarist I like that he has written so extensively for the guitar. I'm planning on picking up his solo guitar music, as well as his solo piano music. Additionally, all of the Naxos discs with his music look great. I'll try and get my hands on one or two of them to start to explore this composer's music.

As for the piano music, which really interests me, I'm quite torn. I've been sampling two discs, Noriko Ogawa on BIS:



... and Kotaro Fukuma on Naxos:



From the samples, both sound great, with Ogawa sounding a little more mellow, and Fukuma offering a somewhat more tangible approach, for lack of a better term. I think I prefer what I've heard of the Fukuma, though I've read that Ogawa had worked together with the composer during his lifetime, and from this I think it's safe to assume that she may offer a more "authentic" vision of the composer's music. Ah, I don't know. Like I said, I'm torn. They're both going for about the same price, which is a rare occurrence with a Naxos disc and a BIS disc. I have a feeling I'll end up with both of them a few months or years down the line.

Any opinions to perhaps sway me toward one team or the other?

More importantly, who has been listening to Takemitsu as of late?

[Mirror Image]

Bump for a great composer...?

I've just started listening to Takemitsu a little bit. I have a couple discs that feature short works of his in addition to works of other composers, and this is my first real exposure to his work. I like what I'm hearing. Reminds me a lot of Debussy, Messiaen, and Scriabin. All I've heard is the Rain Tree Sketch for piano and To the Edge of Dream for guitar and orchestra. As a guitarist I like that he has written so extensively for the guitar. I'm planning on picking up his solo guitar music, as well as his solo piano music. Additionally, all of the Naxos discs with his music look great. I'll try and get my hands on one or two of them to start to explore this composer's music.

As for the piano music, which really interests me, I'm quite torn. I've been sampling two discs, Noriko Ogawa on BIS:



... and Kotaro Fukuma on Naxos:



From the samples, both sound great, with Ogawa sounding a little more mellow, and Fukuma offering a somewhat more tangible approach, for lack of a better term. I think I prefer what I've heard of the Fukuma, though I've read that Ogawa had worked together with the composer during his lifetime, and from this I think it's safe to assume that she may offer a more "authentic" vision of the composer's music. Ah, I don't know. Like I said, I'm torn. They're both going for about the same price, which is a rare occurrence with a Naxos disc and a BIS disc. I have a feeling I'll end up with both of them a few months or years down the line.

Any opinions to perhaps sway me toward one team or the other?

More importantly, who has been listening to Takemitsu as of late?

Takemitsu is one of my favorite composers. I've loved his music for many years now. As for the solo piano music, you really can't go wrong with Ogawa or Fukuma, especially considering you mentioned they were both the same price. I'd really just flip a coin and see what recording wins, but, for me, I like Fukuma's playing more because it has a bit more bite to it, which, in this kind of music, you need some edge to the performance. The guitar music is definitely worth looking into as well. As for the chamber music, you can go wrong with the Naxos recording with the Toronto New Music Ensemble. A fine disc. For the orchestral music, if you can find it (or if it's still in-print), then the Brilliant Classics 2-CD set should fit the bill. This Brilliant set contains performances that were initially released on Denon. I own all of the Denon recordings, because I'm kind of stickler for finding the original issue of recordings (if I can). Another essential recording is his soundtrack to the film, Ran. Basically, it's Takemitsu channeling his inner Mahlerian as there are hints of Das Lied von der Erde in it. Also, if you can find any of the discs with Knussen or Ozawa conducting for a good price, jump on them --- they're top-drawer.

[vers la flamme]

Takemitsu is one of my favorite composers. I've loved his music for many years now. As for the solo piano music, you really can't go wrong with Ogawa or Fukuma, especially considering you mentioned they were both the same price. I'd really just flip a coin and see what recording wins, but, for me, I like Fukuma's playing more because it has a bit more bite to it, which, in this kind of music, you need some edge to the performance. The guitar music is definitely worth looking into as well. As for the chamber music, you can go wrong with the Naxos recording with the Toronto New Music Ensemble. A fine disc. For the orchestral music, if you can find it (or if it's still in-print), then the Brilliant Classics 2-CD set should fit the bill. This Brilliant set contains performances that were initially released on Denon. I own all of the Denon recordings, because I'm kind of stickler for finding the original issue of recordings (if I can). Another essential recording is his soundtrack to the film, Ran. Basically, it's Takemitsu channeling his inner Mahlerian as there are hints of Das Lied von der Erde in it. Also, if you can find any of the discs with Knussen or Ozawa conducting for a good price, jump on them --- they're top-drawer.

Thank you for the recommendations. I think you've confirmed my first impressions regarding Fukuma vs. Ogawa. I just ordered the Toronto New Music Ensemble disc. Ah, so much flute-driven chamber music, it's awesome. I'll also seek out the Brilliant 2cd and the guitar music. I think I'll be set for a while, between all of that.

[Mirror Image]

Thank you for the recommendations. I think you've confirmed my first impressions regarding Fukuma vs. Ogawa. I just ordered the Toronto New Music Ensemble disc. Ah, so much flute-driven chamber music, it's awesome. I'll also seek out the Brilliant 2cd and the guitar music. I think I'll be set for a while, between all of that.

No problem. Hope you enjoy the music.

[steve ridgway]

I've acquired a few albums recently, quite varied music but am generally enjoying and wanting to become more familiar with it.

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[Uhor]

I've made a poll on all his chamber works at the polling station. Besides that, I'm quite enjoying the orchestral work 'Twill by Twilight' which I used to find dull. Devil's in the details.