! Informations prior to 2002: update is coming
Joji Yuasa
Japanese composer born 12 August 1929 in Koriyama; died 21 July 2024.
Joji Yuasa was born in Koriyama in 1929. After studying medicine, Yuasa decided to pursue music, studying composition at the “Experimental Workshop” in Tokyo (1951-1957). Arguably the most prominent Japanese composer of his generation after Takemitsu, Yuasa played a significant role in the development of the electro-acoustic music scene in Japan during the 1950s, and remains one of the most influential experimental composers in his home country to this day.
Along with Ichiyanagi, Matsudaïra, Takemitsu, and others, Yuasa was a member of the “TranSonic” group. He has composed the scores for many documentaries and experimental films, and has spent considerable time teaching abroad, i.e., in Germany and Canada, and in San Diego from 1982. He was in residence at IRCAM in 1988, culminating in the premiere of his work, Nine Levels by Ze-Ami, for seventeen musicians and tape.
His music is characterised by an acute sensitivity to sound colour and a highly formalised, logical conception of musical form.
© Ircam-Centre Pompidou, 1999
- Solo (excluding voice)
- Cosmos Haptic for piano (), 6 mn 30 s, Schott
- Melodies for piano (), 8 mn, Schott
- On the Keyboard for piano (), 7 mn, Schott
- Projection Esemplastic for piano (), 7 mn, Schott
- Projection Topologic for piano (), 7 mn, Schott
- Reigaku In Memoriam Isang Yun, for alto flute (), 10 mn, Schott
- Serenade Chant pour "Do" for piano (), Zen On Music Co
- Three Score-Set for piano (), Zen On Music Co
- Two Pastorales for piano (), Zen On Music Co
- My Blue Sky No. 3 for violin (1977), 12 mn, Schott
- Domain for flute (1978), 10 mn, Schott
- elec Towards "The Midnight Sun" for quadraphonic computer-generated tape and amplified piano (1984), 18 mn, Schott
- Cosmos Haptic II Transfiguration, for piano (1986), 13 mn, Schott
- Mai-Bataraki II for alto flute (1987), 7 mn, Schott
- Terms of Temporal Detailing Homage to David Hockney, for bass flute (1989), 12 mn, Schott
- Viola Locus (1995), 9 mn, Schott
- Waltz from Ballet Circus Variation, for piano (2012), 2 mn, Schott
- Chamber music
- Cosmos Haptic IV for cello and piano (), 10 mn, Schott
- Inter-posi-play-tion I for flute, piano and percussion (2 players) (), Zen On Music Co
- Inter-posi-play-tion II for flute, harp and percussion (), Zen On Music Co
- Projection for String Quartet II (), 9 mn, Schott
- Triplicity for three double basses and three gongs (), Zen On Music Co
- A Winter Day Homage to Bashô, for flute, clarinet, percussion, harp and piano (1981), 18 mn, Schott
- Interpenetration No. 2 for two percussions (1983), 10 mn, Schott
- Solitude in Memoriam T.T. for piano trio (1997), 15 mn, Schott
- Four Imaginary Landscapes from Bashô for violin and piano (2007-2011), 16 mn, Schott
- Instrumental ensemble music
- Scenes from Basho for orchestra (), Zen On Music Co
- Chronoplastic Between Stasis and Kinesis, for orchestra (1972), 14 mn, Schott
- Time of Orchestral Time for orchestra (1975-1976), 19 mn, Schott
- Requiem for orchestra (1980), Schott
- A Perspective for Orchestra (1983), 11 mn, Schott
- elec ircam Nine Levels by Ze-Ami for ensemble and tape (1987-1988), 32 mn, Schott [program note]
- Hommage à Sibelius "The Midnight Sun", for orchestra (1991), 6 mn, Schott
- Eye on Genesis II for orchestra (1992), 13 mn, Schott
- Symphonic Suite "The Narrow Road into the Deep North: Bashô", for orchestra (1995), 21 mn, Schott
- Chronoplastic II Hommage à Edgar Varèse, for orchestra (1999), 16 mn, Schott
- Projection for chamber orchestra (2008), 7 mn, Schott
- Symphonic Suite "Bashô in the Wind of Autumn" for orchestra (2009), 15 mn, Schott
- Locus of the Orchestra for orchestra (2017), 20 mn, Schott
- Concertant music
- Revealed Time for viola and orchestra (1986), 17 mn, Schott
- Violin Concerto "In Memory of Toru Takemitsu", for orchestra (1996), 22 mn, Schott
- Vocal music and instrument(s)
- Projections on Basho's Haiku for mixed choir and vibraphone (), Zen On Music Co
- Observations on weather forecasts for baritone and trumpet (1983), 8 mn, Schott
- Mutterings for soprano (or mezzo-soprano) and seven players (1988), 12 mn, Schott
- Cosmic Solitude for baritone, mixed choir and orchestra (1997), 10 mn, Schott
- Five Haiku from Buson for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, percussion, harp and string quartet (2007), 18 mn, Schott
- A cappella vocal music
- Phonomatopoeia (Vocalisen), for mixed choir (), 9 mn, Schott
- Questions for mixed choir (), Zen On Music Co
- Utterance for mixed choir (1971), Zen On Music Co
Catalog sources and details
Composition pour le cinéma et la télévision
- Water not Weapons: The greening of Afghanistan (documentaire, Tetsu Nakamura, 2017)
- Owls’ Castle (Fukurô no shiro, Masahiro Shinoda, 1999)
- Onna tachi no shôgen - Rôdô undô no naka no senku teki josei tachi (Sumiko Haneda, 1996)
- My Crasy Life (Jean-Pierre Gorin, 1992)
- Osôshiki (Jûzô Itami, 1984)
- Nagaraeba (téléfilm, Seikou Iyoda, 1982)
- Akuryo-To (Masahiro Shinoda, 1981)
- White Hole (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1979)
- Kihachirô Kawamoto (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1978)
- Shijin no shôgai (court-métrage, Kihachirô Kawamoto, 1974)
- Andy Warhol: Re-Reproduction (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1974)
- Kiri no hata (série télévisée, 1972)
- Les Funérailles des roses (Bara no sôretsu, Toshio Matsumoto, 1969)
- Haha-tachi (court-métrage documentaire, Toshio Matsumoto, 1967)
- Les plaisirs de la chair (Etsuraku, Nagisa Ôshima, 1965)
- 2017
- Locus of the Orchestra for orchestra, 20 mn, Schott
- 2012
- Waltz from Ballet Circus Variation, for piano, 2 mn, Schott
- 2011
- Four Imaginary Landscapes from Bashô for violin and piano, 16 mn, Schott
- 2009
- Symphonic Suite "Bashô in the Wind of Autumn" for orchestra, 15 mn, Schott
- 2008
- Projection for chamber orchestra, 7 mn, Schott
- 2007
- Five Haiku from Buson for mezzo-soprano, flute, clarinet, percussion, harp and string quartet, 18 mn, Schott
- 1999
- Chronoplastic II Hommage à Edgar Varèse, for orchestra, 16 mn, Schott
- 1997
- Cosmic Solitude for baritone, mixed choir and orchestra, 10 mn, Schott
- Solitude in Memoriam T.T. for piano trio, 15 mn, Schott
- 1996
- Violin Concerto "In Memory of Toru Takemitsu", for orchestra, 22 mn, Schott
- 1995
- Symphonic Suite "The Narrow Road into the Deep North: Bashô", for orchestra, 21 mn, Schott
- Viola Locus, 9 mn, Schott
- 1992
- Eye on Genesis II for orchestra, 13 mn, Schott
- 1991
- Hommage à Sibelius "The Midnight Sun", for orchestra, 6 mn, Schott
- 1989
- Terms of Temporal Detailing Homage to David Hockney, for bass flute, 12 mn, Schott
- 1988
- Mutterings for soprano (or mezzo-soprano) and seven players, 12 mn, Schott
- elec ircam Nine Levels by Ze-Ami for ensemble and tape, 32 mn, Schott [program note]
- 1987
- Mai-Bataraki II for alto flute, 7 mn, Schott
- 1986
- Cosmos Haptic II Transfiguration, for piano, 13 mn, Schott
- Revealed Time for viola and orchestra, 17 mn, Schott
- 1984
- elec Towards "The Midnight Sun" for quadraphonic computer-generated tape and amplified piano, 18 mn, Schott
- 1983
- A Perspective for Orchestra, 11 mn, Schott
- Interpenetration No. 2 for two percussions, 10 mn, Schott
- Observations on weather forecasts for baritone and trumpet, 8 mn, Schott
- 1981
- A Winter Day Homage to Bashô, for flute, clarinet, percussion, harp and piano, 18 mn, Schott
- 1980
- Requiem for orchestra, Schott
- 1978
- Domain for flute, 10 mn, Schott
- 1977
- My Blue Sky No. 3 for violin, 12 mn, Schott
- 1976
- Time of Orchestral Time for orchestra, 19 mn, Schott
- 1972
- Chronoplastic Between Stasis and Kinesis, for orchestra, 14 mn, Schott
- 1971
- Utterance for mixed choir, Zen On Music Co
- Date de composition inconnue
- Cosmos Haptic for piano, 6 mn 30 s, Schott
- Cosmos Haptic IV for cello and piano, 10 mn, Schott
- Inter-posi-play-tion I for flute, piano and percussion (2 players), Zen On Music Co
- Inter-posi-play-tion II for flute, harp and percussion, Zen On Music Co
- Melodies for piano, 8 mn, Schott
- On the Keyboard for piano, 7 mn, Schott
- Phonomatopoeia (Vocalisen), for mixed choir, 9 mn, Schott
- Projection Esemplastic for piano, 7 mn, Schott
- Projection Topologic for piano, 7 mn, Schott
- Projection for String Quartet II, 9 mn, Schott
- Projections on Basho's Haiku for mixed choir and vibraphone, Zen On Music Co
- Questions for mixed choir, Zen On Music Co
- Reigaku In Memoriam Isang Yun, for alto flute, 10 mn, Schott
- Scenes from Basho for orchestra, Zen On Music Co
- Serenade Chant pour "Do" for piano, Zen On Music Co
- Three Score-Set for piano, Zen On Music Co
- Triplicity for three double basses and three gongs, Zen On Music Co
- Two Pastorales for piano, Zen On Music Co
Catalog source(s)
Composition pour le cinéma et la télévision
- Water not Weapons: The greening of Afghanistan (documentaire, Tetsu Nakamura, 2017)
- Owls’ Castle (Fukurô no shiro, Masahiro Shinoda, 1999)
- Onna tachi no shôgen - Rôdô undô no naka no senku teki josei tachi (Sumiko Haneda, 1996)
- My Crasy Life (Jean-Pierre Gorin, 1992)
- Osôshiki (Jûzô Itami, 1984)
- Nagaraeba (téléfilm, Seikou Iyoda, 1982)
- Akuryo-To (Masahiro Shinoda, 1981)
- White Hole (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1979)
- Kihachirô Kawamoto (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1978)
- Shijin no shôgai (court-métrage, Kihachirô Kawamoto, 1974)
- Andy Warhol: Re-Reproduction (court-métrage, Toshio Matsumoto, 1974)
- Kiri no hata (série télévisée, 1972)
- Les Funérailles des roses (Bara no sôretsu, Toshio Matsumoto, 1969)
- Haha-tachi (court-métrage documentaire, Toshio Matsumoto, 1967)
- Les plaisirs de la chair (Etsuraku, Nagisa Ôshima, 1965)
Liens Internet
- Schott : www.schott-music.com
Bibliographie
- Luciana GALLIANO, The Music of Jōji Yuasa, Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012.
- « Interview with Roger Reynolds, Joji Yuasa, and Charles Wuorinen », in Computer Music Journal, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Winter, 1984), p. 45-54.
- Joji YUASA, « Japan und der Globus. Musik als Reflexion der Kosmologie », in MusikTexte, Heft 180, August 1999, p. 21-27.
- Joji YUASA, « Mind in Art », in Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer, 1993), p. 178-185.
- Joji YUASA, « The World of Nō as I Perceive It, concerning Some Problems in Music », in Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer, 1993), p. 186-191.
- Joji YUASA, « Theater as an Environmental Medium », in Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer, 1993), p. 192-209.
- Joji YUASA, « The Degeneration of Music-What Does It Mean? », in Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer, 1993), p. 210-215.
- Joji YUASA, « Temporality and I: From the Composer’s Workshop », in Perspectives of New Music, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Summer, 1993), p. 216-228.