The Music of Toru Takemitsu (Music in the Twentieth Century, Series Number 14)

This book is the first complete study in English of the work of the best-known Japanese composer of the twentieth century. It is also the first book in this language to offer an in-depth analysis of his music. T^D-oru Takemitsu's works are increasingly popular with Western audiences and Peter Burt attempts for the first time to shed light on the hitherto rather secretive world of his working methods, as well as place him in context as heir to the rich tradition of Japanese composition in the twentieth century. Tor̄u Takemitsu (1930-1996) Was The Best-known Japanese Composer Of His Generation, Bringing Aspects Of Eastern And Western Traditions Together, Yet He Remained Something Of An Elusive Figure. The Composer{u2019}s Own Commentaries About His Music, Poetic And Philosophical In Tone, Have Tended To Deepen The Mystery And Much Writing On Takemitsu To Date Has Adopted A Similar Attitude, Leaving Many Questions About His Compositional Methods Unanswered. This Book Is The First Complete Study Of The Composer{u2019}s Work To Appear In English. It Is Also The First Book In This Language To Offer An In-depth Analysis Of His Music. Takemitsu{u2019}s Works Are Increasingly Popular With Western Audiences And Peter Burt Attempts For The First Time To Shed Light On The Hitherto Rather Secretive World Of His Working Methods, As Well As Place Him In Context As Heir To The Rich Tradition Of Japanese Composition In The Twentieth Century. Pre-history : How Western Music Came To Japan. -- Music And 'pre-music' : Takemitsu's Early Years. -- Experimental Workshop : The Years Of Jikken Kōbō. -- The Requiem And Its Reception. -- Projections On To A Western Mirror. -- 'cage Shock' And After. -- Projections On To A Eastern Mirror. -- Modernist Apogee : The Early 1970s. -- Descent Into The Pentagonal Garden. -- Towards The Sea Of Tonality : The Works Of The 1980s. -- Beyond The Far Calls : The Final Years. -- Swimming In The Ocean That Has No West Or East. Peter Burt. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 281-287) And Index. Tōru Takemitsu (1930-1996) was the best-known Japanese composer of his generation, bringing aspects of Eastern and Western traditions together, yet he remained something of an elusive figure. The composer's own commentaries about his music, poetic and philosophical in tone, have tended to deepen the mystery and much writing on Takemitsu to date has adopted a similar attitude, leaving many questions about his compositional methods unanswered. This book is the first complete study of the composer's work to appear in English. It is also the first book in this language to offer an in-depth analysis of his music. Takemitsu's works are increasingly popular with Western audiences and Peter Burt attempts for the first time to shed light on the hitherto rather secretive world of his working methods, as well as place him in context as heir to the rich tradition of Japanese composition in the twentieth century.

This book is the first complete study in English of the work of the best-known Japanese composer of the twentieth century. It is also the first book in this language to offer an in-depth analysis of his music. Tōru Takemitsu's works are increasingly popular with Western audiences and Peter Burt attempts for the first time to shed light on the hitherto rather secretive world of his working methods, as well as place him in context as heir to the rich tradition of Japanese composition in the twentieth century.

Popular culture has ensured that at least one or two key elements in the story of Japan's unique and often turbulent relationship with the Western world have become familiar to a wider audience.