Popularity ranking of composer Toru Takemitsu’s works—he was a contemporary musician renowned as “Takemitsu of the world.”
Toru Takemitsu was a contemporary composer who began studying music on his own after the end of the war and made his debut as an avant-garde composer in 1950.
In the 1960s, he composed numerous film scores, all of which received high acclaim, leaving a significant impact on the Japanese music scene.
Moreover, thanks to the international attention drawn—particularly in the United States and Canada—by November Steps, a work incorporating traditional Japanese instruments, he came to be recognized as a composer of global stature.
This time, we’ll introduce a ranking of Takemitsu’s popular pieces—so please enjoy his avant-garde music.
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Ranking of popular pieces (11–20) by Toru Takemitsu, the contemporary composer known worldwide as “Takemitsu of the world”
Just singTakemitsu Tōru15rank/position
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
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
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
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’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
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.
Popularity ranking (21–30) of pieces by Tōru Takemitsu—the contemporary composer celebrated worldwide as “Takemitsu of the world.”
Uninterrupted restTakemitsu Tōru21rank/position
Toru Takemitsu, a leading figure in Japanese contemporary music, lived through the hardships of war and continually pursued a singular musical language.
Among the gems he left for the piano, “Uninterrupted Rests” stands out for its striking use of silence and resonance.
Comprising three movements, the work embodies Takemitsu’s distinctive aesthetics and philosophy.
Its timbres, which draw out profound emotions within quietude, deeply move the listener.
It is highly recommended not only for those interested in contemporary music but also for anyone wishing to experience the beauty of Japanese tradition.