TAKEMITSU, Toru
b Tokyo, 8 October 1930
d Tokyo 20 February 1996, aged sixty-six

Largely self-taught, he has a very individual style with unorthodox structures. In 1964 he lectured with Cage in Hawaii. He was made director of the Space Theatre in the Steel Pavilion at Expo '70 in Osaka. In 1975 he taught composition at Yale University. Travels widely as lecturer and guest composer.

1951 (21)

The Joy to Live, ballet

1955 (25)

Chamber Concerto

1957 (27)

Requiem for strings

1958 (28)

Solitude sonore, for orchestra

Black Painting, for reciter and small orchestra

1961 (31)

Tree Music, for orchestra

1961 (31)

Arc, for piano and orchestra

1962 (32)

Coral Island, for soprano and orchestra

1966 (36)

Dorian Horizon, for strings

1967 (37)

November Steps, double concerto for Japanese instruments

1968 (38)

Asterism, for piano and orchestra

1969 (39)

Stanza 1, for ensemble

Crossing, for orchestra

1971 (41)

Cassiopeia, for percussion and orchestra

1972 (42)

Gemeaux, for oboe, trombone and two orchestras

1973 (43)

Autumn, for two Japanese instruments and orchestra

1975 (45)

Gitimalya, for orchestra

Quatraine, for clarinet, violin, cello, piano and orchestra

1976 (46)

Marginalia, for orchestra

Mar Concerto

Green, for harp, cello and strings

1977 (47)

A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden, for orchestra

1980 (50)

Far Calls Coming, Far, for violin and orchestra

1981 (51)

Rain Tree, for three keyboards

Towards the Sea, for alto flute and guitar

A Way Alone, for string quartet

1982 (52)

Grass, for male chorus

Rain Tree Sketch, for piano

Rain Spell, for flute, clarinet, harp, piano and vibraphone

Rain Coming, for chamber orchestra

1983 (53)

From far beyond Chrysanthemums and November fog, for violin and piano

Rocking Mirror Daybreak, for violin duo

Star Isle, for orchestra

Orion, for cello and orchestra

1983-4

Towards the edge of dream, for guitar and orchestra

1984 (54)

Vers l'arc en ciel, Palma, for guitar, oboe d'amore and orchestra