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Matsushita, Isao (b. March 1951, Tokyo). Japanese composer of mostly orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world; he is also active as a conductor.
Mr. Matsushita studied composition with Hiroaki Minami at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music from 1973–77, where he then studied composition with Toshiro Mayuzumi from 1977–79. He studied composition with Isang Yun at the Hochschule für Musik Berlin from 1979–86.
His honors include First Prize in the Mönchengladbach competition (1985, for Toki-no-ito – Threads of Time) and the Irino Prize (1986, a commission to write Toki-no-ito 2). His music has been performed in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Japan, and the USA, including at the Winter Olympics in Nagano (1998).
As a conductor, he served as music director of the Ensemble Kochi in Berlin from 1982–86 and has again served as its music director in Tokyo since 1999. He has also served as music director of Camerata Nagano since 1990 and the Bunkyo Civic Orchestra in Tokyo since 1993 and has also guest-conducted orchestras in Germany and Japan.
Mr. Matsushita is also active in other positions. He organized concerts for the Asian Arts Festival of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 1999 and served as executive chairman of the Asian Music Week in Yokohama in 2000, the Nagano Music Festival in 2000 and the Asian Music Festival in Tokyo in 2003. In addition, he has served as vice-president of the Japan Federation of Composers since 1997 and served as chairman of the Asian Composers League from 1999–2004.
He has taught composition at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music since 1987 and has been an associate professor of Asian contemporary music and other subjects at its Performing Arts Center since 2003.
Kawai, Ongakunotomo Edition and Zen-on publish his music.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: m-isao@herb.ocn.ne.jp
Street address: Mr. Isao Matsushita, 532-27 Mizuno, Sayama-shi, Saitama 350-1317, Japan
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: Boufuri – Mosquito Larva (kyogen [traditional comic theatre] opera, libretto by Kyusei Miyake Tokuro), kyogen cast, small orchestra, 1995; A Midsummer Night's Dream (kyogen opera, libretto by Motohide Izumi, after William Shakespeare), kyogen cast, small orchestra, 1995; Shinano-no-kuni – Zenkoji Story (3 act opera, libretto by Jun Maeda), 1997; Fujito (incidental music, play by Motokiyo Zeami), noh cast, string quartet, 1999 (also version for noh cast, string orchestra, 1999); Minasoko-no-kan (traditional ballet, after Soseki Natsume), noh dancer, small orchestra, 2002; Togakushi Story (1 act ballet, scenario by Mamoru Kondo, after a traditional Japanese story), orchestra, 2004
ORCHESTRAL: Etwas, piano, symphonic band, 1974; Diffusion, large orchestra, 1976; Alabaster, 3 orchestras, 1977–79; Toki-no-ito 2, piano, large orchestra, 1986–87; Legacy of a Dream (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1989; Chikugo (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1990; Grand Atoll, 4 saxophones, large orchestra, 1992; Toki-no-ito 3, large orchestra, 1993; Hi-ten-yu, wadaiko (Japanese drums), large orchestra, 1994 (version of chamber work); Ondo-no-funauta, large orchestra, 1994; Yume-no-shirabe-ni – To the Air of a Dream, viola, small orchestra, 1995; Paraphrase on 'Shinshu' (Olympic march), large orchestra, 1998; Toryanse (fantasy), large orchestra, 1999; Concerto, saùng-gauk (Myanmar arched harp), large orchestra, 1999; Concerto, Tsugaru shamisen (3-string lute), large orchestra, 2000; Hiten-no-mai – Dance of the Flying God, symphonic band, 2002; Dharani – Time for Prayer (symphony), calligrapher ad libitum, small orchestra/large orchestra, 2002; Kisaragi-ni – To February, nohkan (bamboo flute), small orchestra, 2003; Brilliant Time, 2003; A Time for Prayer (concerto), 2 violins, orchestra, 2005; Tenku-no-Mai – Dance of the Firmament (concerto), 2 shakuhachi (bamboo flutes), Chinese orchestra, 2007
CHAMBER MUSIC: Sonata, oboe, piano, 1974; Layer, 9 French horns, 1976; Ashi-no-sho, oboe, 1979; Seseragi-no, clarinet, percussion, 1980; Interstellar 1, trumpet, organ, 1981; Interludium 2, cello, 1982; Atoll 1, 4 saxophones, 1982; Atoll 2, alto saxophone, piano, 1982; Astral, 4 ensembles (flute, harp, violin; English horn, viola, percussion; clarinet, cello, percussion; bass clarinet, double bass, piano), 1982; Ashi-no-ha-ni, 13-string koto, violin, 1983; Kochi – Eastern Wind, clarinet, 2 A-clarinets, 1983; Astral Alpha, clarinet, cello, marimba, 1983–84; Toki-no-ito, string quartet, 1984; Fanfare, 2 French horns, trumpet, trombone, tuba, 1984 (version of vocal work); Airscope 1, flute, harp, 1984; Airscope 2, improvisational shakuhachi/marimba, 2-track tape, 1984; Kagiroi-no, nohkan, percussion, 1985; L'aurore, violin, piano, 1985; But All Can Hear (B-A-C-H), marimba, 1985; Go-un – Five Buddhist Aphorisms, cello, ensemble (flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, percussion), 1985; Airscope 3, timpani, marimba, 1986; Nami-no-hazama-ni, shakuhachi, shamisen (3-string lute), 2 13-string koto, 1986–87; Azusayumi, 13-string koto, ensemble (3 13-string koto, 17-string koto), 1987; Optical Poem, double bass, piano, 1987; Optical Time, timpani, 1987; Hingashi-no, shakuhachi, shamisen, 13-string koto, 1987; Kaze-no-rosho, nohkan, 1988; Quartet for the Glory of Vice, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1988; Interwaves, 6 percussion, 1988; Interwaves 2, 2 marimbas, 1989; Aki-no-mai – Autumn Dance, kokyu (violin), 1989; Kochi 2, clarinet, 1989; Aki-no-mai 2, 3 shakuhachi, shamisen, biwa (lute), futozao (wide-necked lute), 2 13-string koto, kokyu, 4 Japanese percussion, 1989
CHAMBER MUSIC: Interwaves 3, percussion, 1990; Sea Space, 13-string koto, violin, piano, 1990; Optical Scope 1, electronic organ, percussion, 1990; Optical Scope 2, French horn, violin, piano, 1991; Kaze-no-rosho 2, 20-string koto, 1991; Optical Wave, 6 percussion, 1992; Quintet, oboe, French horn, violin, cello, piano, 1992; Lyrical Time, organ, 8 roto-toms (1 player), 1992; Hi-ten-yu – Fly-Heaven-Play, wadaiko, ensemble (clarinet, bassoon, French horn, string quartet, double bass), 1993 (also version for wadaiko, orchestra); Toward a Time of Dreaming, 2 French horns, string quartet, double bass, 1994; Awayuki-no-mai – Dance of the Snowflakes, marimba, 6 percussion, 1994; Aki-no-haoto-ni – To the Sounds of Autumn Leaves, flute, 20-string koto, 1994; DAAD (fanfare), 3 trumpets, 1996; Toki-no-shirabe-ni – To the Air of Time, violin, piano, 1996; Yume-no-omoi-ni – For the Love of a Dream, cello, piano, 1998; Kaze-no-utage – Festival of the Wind, any number of yokobue (Japanese flute family), 2000; Fantastic Dream, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2000; Hibiki-no-utage – Festival of Sounds, any ensemble, 2001; Mantra, violin, 2001; Ashi-no-mai – Reed Dance, oboe, 2001; Mantra of Flame, 4 percussion, 2004; Minazuki no oto – Sounds of June, vibraphone, tape, 2005
CHORAL: Sorushikosuteki-yoru (text by Katsue Kitazono), 16 mixed voices, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 1977; Fanfare, mixed chorus, 1984 (version of vocal work); Ao-no-rosho (text from a Buddhist sutra), 1987 (each of its four sections may be performed separately: Blue; Absolute Poem; Ao-no-sochi; Optical Poem, mixed chorus); Gogatsu-o-okuru-uta (text by Katsue Kitazono), mixed chorus, piano, 1989; Black Landscape (concertino, text by Katsue Kitazono), female chorus, piano, 1991; Haru-no-garasu – Glass in Spring (text by Katsue Kitazono), mixed chorus, piano, 1992; October Nocturne (text by Katsue Kitazono), female chorus, piano, 1993; Madrigal (concertino, text by Katsue Kitazono), female chorus, piano, 1995; Minami-no-ehon – Southern Picture Book (text by Kunio Kishida), female chorus, 1996; Tenjiku shokei (oratorio, texts from Buddhist sutras), shomyo (Buddhist chanter), speaker, mixed chorus, children's chorus, large orchestra, 2000; Winter in Tosa (text from a traditional Tosa story), female chorus, small orchestra, 2003
VOCAL: Yuzukuyo – Moonlit Evening (text from the Kokin-wakashū [10th-century poem anthology]), mezzo-soprano, piano, 1974; Ju-kyo (vocalise), soprano, small orchestra, 1975; Koyaseru-tabito (text by Shotoku-taishi), soprano, piano, 1976; Hitori – Alone (text from the Man'yōshū [8th-century poem anthology]), soprano, piano, 1984; Fanfare (vocalise), voice, 1984 (also versions for voice, piano, 1984; mixed chorus; 2 French horns, trumpet, trombone, tuba); Three Haiku of Bashō, soprano, flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, percussion, 1985; Ao-no-haikei – Blue Background (Buddhist chant, texts from Buddhist sutras), shomyo, percussion, 1986; Blue, voice, shakuhachi, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately); Absolute Poem, soprano, 13-string koto, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately); Ao-no-sochi, speaker, shamisen, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately); Azusayumi-mayumi (text from the Nihonshoki [8th-century history collection]), voice, 1988; Optical Poem (text by Katsue Kitazono), female voice, flute, violin, cello, piano, 1989; Three Variants (text by the composer), voice, piano, 1994; Hagoromo-no-mai – Dance of the Flying Goddess (text by the composer), speaker, ryuteki (flute), percussion, 1995; Yume-no-ato – Ruins of a Dream (text by Matsuo Bashō), soprano, alto saxophone, 2000; Gassho – A Prayer (symphony, texts from Buddhist sutras), shomyo, small orchestra, 2004
PIANO: Interludium 1, 1981; For Three Times, piano 4 hands, 2001; Time-Rhyme-Light, piano 4 hands, 2003
ORGAN: Interstellar 2, 1981; Airscope 4, electronic organ, 1988
HARPSICHORD: Sazanami-ni – To Ripples, 1982
DIDACTIC MUSIC: Dance Suite for Children, piano, 1983; A Fountain on a Distant Star, piano, 1984
MULTIMEDIA: Ko-kyo, shakuhachi/ryuteki, double bass, piano, wadaiko/percussion, light installation/calligraphy, 1985; Go-un kai-kuh – Sounds and Lights, variable Asian ensemble, light installation, 1991; Dhammapada 1, harp, violin, percussion, ikebana (flower arrangement), 2001; Dhammapada 2, harp, violin, percussion, kohdoh (perfume ritual), 2002; Dhammapada 3, harp, violin, percussion, tea ceremony, 2002; Dhammapada 4, harp, violin, percussion, calligraphy, 2003
(Last updated on March 21, 2007)
