![[Impressionist Music] A Selection of Classical Works That Evoke the Japanese Spirit](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/QLWW8tIfs8I/maxresdefault.webp)
In the late 19th century, a new school of classical music known as Impressionism emerged, developed chiefly by French composers such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
Among the music born during the Impressionist era, there are several works that were composed under the influence of Japan and Japanese paintings.
There are also Japanese composers who left works that evoke the spirit of Impressionism.
In this feature, we’ll highlight Impressionist works that have some connection to Japan, as well as pieces by Japanese composers influenced by Impressionism.
We’ll introduce them along with stories about the background of the pieces and the composers’ ties to Japan.
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[Impressionist Music] A selection of classical works that evoke the Japanese spirit (1–10)
Requiem for Mixed Chorus and OrchestraMiyoshi Akira
Akira Miyoshi is one of Japan’s leading composers.
His experiences studying at the Paris Conservatoire had a profound impact on his musical sensibility and helped him establish a distinctive style.
One of his major works, Requiem for Mixed Chorus and Orchestra, is a powerful anti-war piece that embodies the composer’s own wartime experiences and his questioning of senseless death.
With its grand scale, meticulous structure, and profound message, this work is one that should be heard not only by classical music enthusiasts but by all who hope for peace.
Suite ‘Mirrors’ No. 3 ‘A Boat on the Ocean’Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel, a French composer, is a leading figure of Impressionist music who flourished from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
His music is renowned for its precision and impeccable style, and works like Boléro are widely beloved.
The third piece, “Une barque sur l’océan” (A Boat on the Ocean), from the suite Miroirs composed between 1904 and 1905, is a beautiful work that evokes the flow of the sea’s waves and the rocking of a boat.
Although it demands a high level of piano technique, its beautiful sonorities are irresistibly captivating.
It is a recommended piece for those who wish to feel the beauty and mystery of the sea, and for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the world of Impressionist music.
Symphonic Poem ‘The Sea’Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy, who spent his childhood in Cannes, France, cherished a lifelong longing for the sea—so much so that he once said, “If I hadn’t become a musician, I would have become a sailor.” It was this Debussy who expressed his impressions of the sea in music with the three-movement symphonic sketch La Mer.
A notable feature is that the score’s cover uses an ukiyo-e print by Katsushika Hokusai.
Pastel Pictures of Old Japan, Op. 24: No. 2 ‘Koto Song with No One to Listen’Marcel Tournier
Marcel Tournier was a French harpist, composer, and educator.
He expanded the possibilities of harp music and made many contributions to its repertoire.
Tournier’s works are characterized by delicate harmonies, poetic expression, and a distinctive sensitivity for musically depicting specific cultures and landscapes.
As its title suggests, Pastels of Old Japan, Op.
24 is a work that conveys a deep empathy for Japanese scenes and culture.
Influenced by Impressionism, its musical language paints beautifully picturesque scenes, like a work of art brought to life.
Japanese Suite, Op. 33Gustav Holst
Gustav Holst, the British composer active in the early 20th century, is best known for The Planets, but his Japanese Suite, Op.
33, composed in 1915, is another work not to be missed.
Commissioned by the Japanese dancer Michio Ito, the suite weaves music based on traditional Japanese melodies through Holst’s distinctive interpretation.
From the Prelude through four dances and an Interlude, it skillfully depicts Japanese landscapes and scenes.
The finale of “Dance of the Wolves” is particularly stunning, making it a recommended piece not only for classical music enthusiasts but also for those interested in cross-cultural works.
Spring SeaMiyagi Michio
Michio Miyagi, a composer who breathed new life into traditional Japanese music.
His 1929 duet for koto and shakuhachi, “Haru no Umi” (The Sea in Spring), depicts a gently rippling sea accompanying the arrival of spring.
While incorporating influences from Western music, the piece overflows with admiration for nature and the beauty of Japan’s four seasons, offering listeners a sense of calm.
A celebrated work frequently included in Japanese music education, it is beloved not only by the Japanese but by people around the world.
It’s a recommended piece for anyone who wants to savor the charm of traditional Japanese music or spend a soothing, peaceful moment.
Parodic fourth movementFukai Shirō
Shiro Fukai, a composer who made a splash in Japan’s classical music world.
His orchestral work Parodic Four Movements, which evokes an homage to Impressionism, is one of his signature pieces—pursuing a unique mode of expression even as it draws on Western music.
The satirical “portraits” of composers that appear in each movement reflect Fukai’s humorous musical outlook.
At the same time, the work carries a profound message about the importance of Japanese composers studying Western music, making it a masterpiece recommended not only for classical music aficionados but for anyone studying music.