Popularity ranking of composer Toru Takemitsu’s works—he was a contemporary musician renowned as “Takemitsu of the world.”

Rain Tree Sketch II – In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen –Takemitsu Tōru11rank/position

Toru Takemitsu / Rain Tree Sketch II — In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen

Toru Takemitsu, a leading composer of contemporary Japanese music, also left remarkable works for piano, and his pieces are still frequently performed in concerts today.

He said he absorbed new harmonic language from the French composer Olivier Messiaen, and this piece is dedicated to Messiaen.

Rain Tree Sketch II — In Memoriam Olivier MessiaenTakemitsu Tōru12rank/position

2018 PTNA Special Class Semifinal – Saki Takeoka – Toru Takemitsu: Rain Tree Sketch II – In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen –

Toru Takemitsu, a composer of global renown, sought to fuse Japanese tradition with Western music and established a unique musical language.

His piano piece Rain Tree Sketch II – In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen is characterized by a quiet, meditative atmosphere.

Through compositional techniques that prize resonance, it evokes a profound world imbued with reverence for nature.

It is an homage to Olivier Messiaen, the French composer who influenced Takemitsu from a young age, and although it is a demanding work that requires precise control of tempo and dynamics, taking on its performance can open a path to new horizons in contemporary music.

Ghost StoryTakemitsu Tōru13rank/position

Composed by Toru Takemitsu, “Kaidan” (Ghost Story)

Toru Takemitsu was born on January 8, 1930.

A self-taught musician, he developed avant-garde musical activities for film and television.

The film Kwaidan, released in 1965 (Showa 40), adapts four ghost stories from Lafcadio Hearn’s collection Kwaidan: “The Black Hair,” “The Snow Woman,” “Hoichi the Earless,” and “In a Cup of Tea.” The use of sound effects is exquisite, allowing viewers to vividly imagine the scenes of terror.

What the dead man left behindSakushi: Tanikawa Shuntarō / Sakkyoku: Takemitsu Tōru14rank/position

What a Dead Man Left Behind - Ryoko Moriyama

This is a work for unaccompanied chorus with lyrics by Shuntaro Tanikawa and music by Toru Takemitsu.

It was created in 1965 for a “Citizens’ Rally for Peace in Vietnam.” Characterized by a simple structure and highly message-driven lyrics, it has been covered by various singers and is frequently performed at classical concerts and the like.

Just singTakemitsu Tōru15rank/position

Toru Takemitsu – I Just Sing for piano (1981)

Toru Takemitsu continued composing during the war and gained worldwide acclaim as an innovator in contemporary music.

“Just Singing” is one of his most popular songs—simple yet rich in emotional expression—and it is also well loved as a piano piece.

In this work, Takemitsu’s characteristic harmonies and melodies blend to bridge Japanese tradition and Western music, showcasing his diverse musical sensibilities.

The sound world, delicately weaving subtle shades of feeling, will quietly resonate in the listener’s heart.

It’s a piece I recommend even to those unfamiliar with contemporary music.

Piano Miniature for Children No. 1 “Breeze”Takemitsu Tōru16rank/position

Toru Takemitsu: Piano Pieces for Children 1. Breeze pf. Nanako Sugiura: Nanako Sugiura

Piano Pieces for Children No.

1 “Breeze.” This is one piece from a collection of piano works for children by Toru Takemitsu, a master of contemporary music who survived the turbulent postwar era and earned worldwide acclaim for his innovative style that fused Eastern and Western music.

As the title “Breeze” suggests, this work is marked by gentle, pleasant sonorities, and within its soft melodic character one can sense Takemitsu’s distinctive aesthetic sensibility.

It is a piece that allows listeners to perceive the beauty of nature and the world through music, and I recommend it to all who love the piano—from beginners to seasoned players.

FoliosTakemitsu Tōru17rank/position

Folio(s): Toru Takemitsu

Toru Takemitsu, a composer who blends the ancient five-tone scales of Japan with the distinctive colors of Western contemporary music, also left remarkable works for the guitar.

His piece Folios consists of three movements, each with a contrasting structure.

The novelty of its sounds and forms will likely be striking to those unfamiliar with contemporary music.

Litany — In Memory of Michael VynerTakemitsu Tōru18rank/position

Takemitsu – Litany

Toru Takemitsu is one of Japan’s most renowned composers.

His works are known for a distinctive musical language that fuses traditional Japanese instruments with Western ones.

Litany — In Memory of Michael Vyner is a piano piece written as a tribute to Michael Vyner, a close friend of Takemitsu.

It is a deeply committed work in which he reconstructed the lost score from memory, breathing new life into it.

The music is serene yet marked by warmly resonant harmonies.

It is recommended not only for those already familiar with Takemitsu’s music, but also for anyone interested in contemporary music.

Quotation of a Dream —Say sea, take me!—Takemitsu Tōru19rank/position

Toru Takemitsu – Quotation of Dream for Two Pianos and Orchestra [Quotation of Dream — Say sea, take me! —]

Toru Takemitsu’s “Quotation of Dream — Say sea, take me!” features a gentle, delicate melody evocative of a quiet night sky.

Commissioned for Japan Festival 1991, it is a fantastical work for two pianos and orchestra.

The subtitle, which includes a quotation from American poet Emily Dickinson, reflects the dream world Takemitsu envisioned.

Comprising twelve fragmentary episodes, the piece resembles music that appears and fades within memory.

It is a mysterious and beautiful work that showcases Takemitsu’s distinctive sonorities and aesthetic.

Highly recommended not only for those interested in contemporary music, but also for anyone who loves the sound of the piano.

Minamoto no YoshitsuneTakemitsu Tōru20rank/position

Taiga Drama 'Minamoto no Yoshitsune' Theme Song – 1966 Production

This is the theme song for Minamoto no Yoshitsune, composed by Toru Takemitsu.

Minamoto no Yoshitsune was the fourth Taiga drama, broadcast from January 2 to December 25, 1966.

At that time, the lead role of Yoshitsune was played by Kikunobu Onoe.

Thirty-nine years later, in the Taiga drama Yoshitsune, the lead was played by Hideaki Takizawa, and both actors set records as the youngest to star.