Japanese Composers

[vandermolen]

Samuragochi:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/japan-beethoven-mamoru-samagochi-composer-deaf

Gives an interesting twist to the Hiroshimna Symphony!

How extraordinary! I have the Hiroshima Symphony myself. Thank you for posting this. Reminds me of the Joyce Hatto recordings fraud.

[cjvinthechair]

Wow !! Still love the work, though - will the real composer please stand up ?!

[Christo]

Wow !! Still love the work, though - will the real composer please stand up ?!

According to the BBC, a music teacher called Takashi Niigaki claims to be the composer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26039226

[cjvinthechair]

Dai Fujikura

http://www.youtube.com/v/LimYhhgrDoE

Yep - can certainly listen to that - thank you !

[snyprrr]

http://www.youtube.com/v/d5ePOeQTXMQ

Akira Nishimura, born September 8, 1953.

Nishimura studied composition and musical theory on a graduate course at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He also studied Asiatic traditional music, religion, aesthetics, cosmology and the heterophonic concepts, all of which had a lasting influence on his music.

Nishimura is definitely one of the Xenakian type Japanese Composers. That Arditti disc is really good. I liked the last SQ on the disc, with the cello action at the beginning. But that whole disc is substantial. Like to check out more.

[amw]

According to the BBC, a music teacher called Takashi Niigaki claims to be the composer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26039226

He also claims Samu...whatever isn't deaf either.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/07/arts/music/renowned-japanese-composer-mamoru-samuragochi-admits-fraud.html?hp

Kinda silly when you get down to it. I wonder how much of his marketing machine was in on the secret.

[Karl Henning]

Asked how the two worked together, Niigaki said he would compose pieces and sometimes play them for Samuragochi, who would then choose which he liked.

Yes, I could understand why Niigaki wonders whether Samuragochi is actually deaf, under those circs....

[torut]

Takuya Imahori (*1978)

String Quartet with electronics (2012) by Takuya Imahori on SoundCloud

Takuya Imahori was a disciple of Yoshihisa Taira (posted above by sanantonio) at École Normale de Musique de Paris, and studied at IRCAM during 2005-2006. He was famous at a Japanese blog site sharing his experience at IRCAM. That was the reason I learned his name, but have not heard his music at all until I found this soundcloud page. I was surprised by that he has been very active recently (there are many works on the site composed since 2012.) The music is interesting for me.

[torut]

Recently Dai Fujikura uploaded a lot of his works on youtube with scores. http://www.youtube.com/user/fujikuramusic/feed

Dai Fujikura - String Quartet No.2 FLARE
performed by Arditti Quartet
http://www.youtube.com/v/QX1ENsZrhVc

[torut]

Neos will release new CD of Misato Mochizuki on March 31, 2014.



anonymous
[01] Banshikicho no choshi (before 10th century)
[02] Sojo no choshi (before 10th century)
Misato Mochizuki - Etheric Blueprint Trilogy (2002–2006)
[03] 4D for 9 players (2003)
[04] Wise Water for 9 players (2002)
[05] Etheric Blueprint for 9 players and electronics (2005–2006)

Mayumi Miyata shô [01 & 02]
Christophe Mazzella electronics [05]
mdi ensemble
Yoichi Sugiyama conductor

I am looking forward to this because her Kairos album was good. It would have been great if she composed shô works, but the first two tracks in this CD are traditional music composed before 10th century. Mayumi Miyata is a popular shô player in contemporary music world. I like her recordings of Jon Cage's One⁹ and Two⁴ on Mode.

[torut]

Akira Miyoshi's works for me are a real revelation, especially these early works from the early 1960s. Sure, they are rooted in expressionism, but there is a real vitality that is present here, and it is a real pleasure to listen to. Listen for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9go1D6E9MQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQUnlSjSvW0

I am getting more and more interested in his music. These chamber/piano works are also good. They are very western to my ears. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and was influenced by Henri Dutilleux. (Wikipedia/Oxford)

Piano Sonata (1958)
https://www.youtube.com/v/6qyZo4uG0Zw

Nocturne (1973)
https://www.youtube.com/v/t7s1o6GPKBw

En vers (1980)
https://www.youtube.com/v/OTUYBVuD8bw

String Quartet No.3 "Constellation in Black" (1992)
https://www.youtube.com/v/Gl1XERULxI4

He also composed this lovely song. (for an animation adapted from the novel, Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery)
https://www.youtube.com/v/5ATHGQHV60o

[torut]

I recently purchase some CDs of Miyoshi's music (6 discs + 1 SQ compilation). I am enjoying his 3 SQs, orchestral works, concertos, songs, etc. His compositions are very well crafted, I think.

These are some works of a Miyoshi's pupil, Takashi Niigaki (born 1970).

G.P. Telemann (1681-1767) - Quartett in g TWV 43 g4
Noriko Koide (born 1982) - Gonin de Manimani 2:30~
Takashi Niigaki - "Invention or Inversion" No. 2 (2010) 9:40~
https://www.youtube.com/v/CIajDEjY1EY

Takashi Niigaki - Suburb (2002)
https://www.youtube.com/v/q5Gn1n0ZzQ8

[Jaakko Keskinen]

Nobuo Uematsu!!!

[snyprrr]

Varan the Unbelievable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l3e8P5OGhA

[ibanezmonster]

Nobuo Uematsu!!!

Yesssssss!!!!! 

[Rons_talking]

I believe Takemitsu has been a huge influence among younger composers worldwide, with his ravishing colors and mystic gestures. I have heard many of his orchestral works but their names escape me now. I downloaded Okhi's 5th (Hiroshima) Symphony which I'd been impressed with when I heard a broadcast, but I've yet to hear a work from Japanese composers that I'd consider a favorite. Perhaps some earlier works...

[Mirror Image]

I believe Takemitsu has been a huge influence among younger composers worldwide, with his ravishing colors and mystic gestures. I have heard many of his orchestral works but their names escape me now. I downloaded Okhi's 5th (Hiroshima) Symphony which I'd been impressed with when I heard a broadcast, but I've yet to hear a work from Japanese composers that I'd consider a favorite. Perhaps some earlier works...

Of all the music I've heard from Japanese composers, Takemitsu's A String Around Autumn may be my favorite. Lovely work.

https://www.youtube.com/v/cOsdYtLQhv8

[vandermolen]

A big recommendation from me for Hayasaka's very moving Piano Concerto on Naxos. Have just ordered Yoshimatsu's 6th Symphony. Listened to his Third and Saxophone Concerto yesterday. There are elements of Mike Oldfield about this music but I find it very enjoyable.

[vandermolen]

Currently enjoying this. Undemanding but thoroughly entertaining music. So far I have picked up quotes from Sibelius's 6th Symphony and Tchaikovsky's 'Pathetique'.
[asin]B00ICPLU68[/asin]
Pity the notes are all in Japanese 

[ibanezmonster]

Pity the notes are all in Japanese 

If you screenshot them, I could translate.