Who was Toru Takemitsu?

Tōru Takemitsu (武満 徹, Takemitsu Tōru, October 8, 1930 – February 20, 1996; pronounced [takeꜜmitsɯ̥ toːɾɯ]) was a Japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. Largely self-taught, Takemitsu was admired for the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre.

Where is Toru Takemitsu from?

Tokyo, JapanTōru Takemitsu / Place of birth

What is the significance of gagaku?

“The principle role of Gagaku is to accompany the rituals and actions of the Emperor and the Imperial family,” says Shogo Anzai, the chief court musician of the ensemble. “Obviously, it has been going on for a very long time. This music has always accompanied the rituals and the actions of the Imperial household.

Who created gagaku?

The prototype of gagaku was introduced into Japan with Buddhism from China. In 589, Japanese official diplomatic delegations were sent to China (during the Sui dynasty) to learn Chinese culture, including Chinese court music.

What are the two types of gagaku?

There are three forms of performance of Gagaku, which are Kangen (Instrumental), Bugaku (dances and music), and Kayō (songs and chanted poetry).

What is Hogaku?

Hôgaku means literally the music of one’s homeland. Most music dictionaries define Hôgaku as a general term for Japanese music that includes Gagaku, which can be described as imperial court music, and Shômyô, which covers liturgical chants in Buddhist music and folk songs.

What is the meaning of gagaku?

ancient court music of Japan
gagaku, ancient court music of Japan. The name is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese characters for elegant music (yayue). Most gagaku music is of foreign origin, imported largely from China and Korea as early as the 6th century and established as a court tradition by the 8th century.

What is the meaning of Ga in gagaku?

elegance
History and Etymology for gagaku borrowed from Japanese, from ga “elegance” + gaku “music”

What is the Jo Ha Kyu concept?

Jo-ha-kyū (序破急) is a concept of modulation and movement applied in a wide variety of traditional Japanese arts. Roughly translated to “beginning, break, rapid”, it essentially means that all actions or efforts should begin slowly, speed up, and then end swiftly.

What is the meaning of Kagura?

entertaining the gods
Kagura literally means entertaining the gods. It is a sacred Japanese dance and music ritual dedicated to the gods of Shinto. Since ancient times, it has been performed at regional festivals as a ceremony to pray for a good harvest and to ward off natural disasters.

Who is Tōru Takemitsu?

Tōru Takemitsu (武満 徹, Takemitsu Tōru, October 8, 1930 – February 20, 1996; pronounced [takeꜜmitsɯ̥ toːɾɯ]) was a Japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. Largely self-taught, Takemitsu was admired for the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre.

Why did Takemitsu write November Steps?

In 1967, Takemitsu received a commission from the New York Philharmonic, to commemorate the orchestra’s 125th anniversary, for which he wrote November Steps for biwa, shakuhachi, and orchestra. Initially, Takemitsu had great difficulty in uniting these instruments from such different musical cultures in one work.

Why is Takemitsu Satoru so important?

In a memorial issue of Contemporary Music Review, Jō Kondō wrote, “Needless to say, Takemitsu is among the most important composers in Japanese music history. He was also the first Japanese composer fully recognized in the west, and remained the guiding light for the younger generations of Japanese composers.”

What makes Takemitsu’s music unique?

For Takemitsu, this interest in Japanese culture, combined with his unique personality, and perhaps most importantly, his lineage as a composer of the French musical tradition running from Rameau and Lully through Berlioz in which colour is given special attention, gave Debussy his unique style and sense of orchestration.