Toru Takemitsu: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Roger Reynolds

• Olivier Messiaen
• Claude Debussy
• Alban Berg

• Frank Pahl
• Discus
• Magical Power Mako

Born:

Oct 8, 1930 in Tokyo, Japan

Died:

Feb 20, 1996 in Tokyo, Japan

Genres:

Music, Classical Music, Modern Classical Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's|1970's|1980's|1990's

Artistic Quality

Low

Ratings Guide

Largely self-taught, worked with the Experimental Workshop in Tokyo in early '50s. Guitarist, pianist. Received Italia Prize in 1958. Influenced by John Cage, jazz, serialism, Debussy, ancient Japanese music, and many world cultures. Unique polyrhythmic and open scoring methods combined with traditional Western notation. First combinations of Western orchestra with traditional Japanese instruments and Gagaku ensembles. Filmscores include Woman in the Dunes (1964), Dode'skaden (1970), Ran (1985), Kwaidan (1964), Under the Cherry Blossoms (1975), Empire of Passion (1978).

- "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide