Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music.
When we hear the term “classical music,” many of us immediately think of works by well-known foreign composers.
These pieces are often used in various everyday contexts with different arrangements, and there are many works that people have naturally heard at least once and can name right away.
However, if you’re asked to name classical works by Japanese composers, fewer people may be able to answer quickly.
Here, we focus on classical music composed by Japanese composers and highlight representative works.
This is recommended even for those who regularly enjoy classical music but haven’t listened much to works by Japanese composers.
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Classical music by Japanese composers. Recommended classical music (41–50)
EARTHMuramatsu Takatsugu
This piece, performed as a flute and piano duo, is a grand work themed around the Earth’s environment and the beauty of nature.
The flute’s gentle melodies and the piano’s rich resonance intertwine exquisitely, evoking the sensation of traveling through the great outdoors.
The structure begins with a quiet introduction, gradually unfolds into a dramatic development, and finally moves toward a tranquil close.
This dynamic contour brings deep emotional expression to the music and captivates listeners.
It’s a recommended piece for those who want to feel their love for nature and the Earth through music, and for anyone who wishes to fully savor the charm of the flute.
Lament from Symphony No. 5 “Hiroshima”Ōki Masao
Symphony No.
5 “Hiroshima” is an orchestral work composed by Masao Ohki, inspired by The Hiroshima Panels collaboratively created by Iri Maruki and Toshi Maruki.
A sense of overwhelming terror—evoking the city after the atomic bombing and the condition of the survivors—permeates the entire piece.
Including the final movement, “Elegy,” there is no solace anywhere in the symphony; it seems to speak in sound of the utter horror of the atomic bomb.
It is a symphony that can be painful to listen to, yet it contains vital history that must not be forgotten.
Theme and Variations for Piano and OrchestraMatsudaira Yorinori
While pursuing a distinctly Japanese essence in his composition work, Mr.
Matsudaira encountered gagaku.
This piece is a masterpiece in which the theme of the gagaku piece “Banshikicho Etenraku” is elaborately varied, weaving a splendid and elegant melody that even incorporates jazz techniques.
Its sound is captivating, at once somehow nostalgic yet refreshingly novel.
Symphony No. 3MOROI Saburō
Composed in the late stages of the Pacific War in 1944, this over-30-minute large-scale work is said to have been written by Mr.
Moroi as a farewell letter just before he was drafted into the military.
The third movement bears the subtitle “Various Notions of Death.” The composer’s heartrending feelings in the depths of despair are reflected in the sound.
Violin ConcertoŌguri Yutaka
Composed in 1963 on a commission from Mainichi Broadcasting System, it was premiered by the Osaka Philharmonic with Hisako Tsuji as the soloist.
The second movement is a set of variations based on the Osaka children’s song “Tōgoku.” The piece proceeds to a sudden end, driven by the raucous rhythms of Tokushima’s Awa Odori.
It is a work with a strong ethnic character.
In conclusion
Classical music has developed primarily in Europe through the work of many composers and performers from countries such as Germany, Italy, and Russia.
As for pure classical music by Japanese composers, Kósçak Yamada’s Overture in D major, composed in 1912, marked the birth of Japan’s first symphony, so it is still a relatively young field.
However, these works are every bit as compelling as their European counterparts.
Many Japanese composers have also created a great deal of background music for films, TV dramas, and commercials, so you may have recognized some names.
Take this opportunity to dive deeper into classical music by Japanese composers!