Masaru Kawasaki

Masaru Kawasaki
Native name 川崎 優
Born (1924-04-19) April 19, 1924
Tokyo
Genres Classical
Occupation(s) Composer, conductor, teacher, flautist
Instruments Flute
Years active 1955-present
Website sites.google.com/site/masarukawasaki/

Masaru Kawasaki (川崎 優 Kawasaki Masaru, born 19 April 1924) is a Japanese conductor and composer.[1] He is known for writing original compositions specifically for marching bands, as did Toshio Akiyama and Ichitaro Tsujii,[2] but has also written many works for the flute.[3][4][5][6][7]

Biography

Born in Tokyo, Japan as the son of an opera singer, he was in his second year[8] at music school when he was drafted into the Second Unit, Hiroshima Transport Corps[8] of the Japanese army, age 19.[9] This took him to Hiroshima, where he worked on sonar due to his good hearing (but poor sight).[9] He was there when the city was obliterated by the atomic bomb in 1945,[9] suffering horrendous injuries which were still being treated 60 years later.[8][10] He is thus a Hibakusha.[8]

After the war he studied at Tokyo University of the Arts under Saburō Moroi,[5] graduating in 1949. Later, in 1965-66 he had the opportunity to study further at the Juilliard School of Music, in New York, under Vincent Persichetti and Václav Nelhýbel.[8]

He was professor of composition, music theory and flute at Tokoha Gakuen University,[11] lecturer in flute and woodwind ensemble at Tokyo University of the Arts,[11] and director of 'Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra' ja:東京吹奏楽団.[8]

He was active in WASBE, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and the Japanese Bandmasters Association.[11]

He also was musical director from 1979 to 1994 of the "International Youth Musicale" in Shizuoka, Japan,[11] and took part as adjudicator in many international music competitions. He himself won numerous awards, such as the Composition Prize of the Ministry of Education (1956),[6] NHK Presidential Composition Prize (1956; both at the National Arts Festival),[7] and UNESCO fellowship for Creative Artist (1966-1967).[5]

He has written opera, solo and ensemble pieces including many for wind band, and published many works for and about this format.[8]

Despite initially being reluctant to take up the atomic bombing as a theme in his music,[9][10] he eventually felt he had a "mission as an A-bomb victim"[10] and in 1975[10] composed the first in a series of "Prayer music",[10] the "Dirge" which was requested by[9] and dedicated to the city of Hiroshima[10] and has since been played every year on August 6 at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.[9][10] As of 2012 he was still composing pieces in this series,[7] and has said "I have made it a personal commitment to continue creating compositions in tribute to all the victims of the atomic bomb".[9]

He now lives in Chigasaki, with his dog.[8] He has two sons from his wife Taeko Koide, and enjoys gardening.[11] Some of his children and grandchildren have worked or attended university in the U.S.A.[9] and his own works have also been published in America.[5][10]

Selected Works

Orchestral Works

Wind Band Works

Stage Works

Vocal/Choral Works

Chamber Music etc.

Works for flute choir or flute orchestra

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ "川崎優 - pastport". pastport.jp.
  2. ↑ American Influences on Japanese Bands, Timothy J. Groulx in Music Education Research International, Volume 3, 2009, citing Wright, A. G. (1970). Marching Bands in Japan. Instrumentalist, 25(4), 50-51. and Wright, A. G. (1975). Marching Bands in Japan. Instrumentalist, 30(3), 32-34.
  3. 1 2 3 4 http://www.suntory.co.jp/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2002.pdf
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.suntory.co.jp/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2004.pdf
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 http://www.suntory.co.jp/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2006.pdf
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 http://www.suntory.co.jp/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2009.pdf
  7. 1 2 3 4 http://www.suntory.co.jp/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2011.pdf
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "神奈川・川崎優さん〈核といのちを考える　遺す〉". 朝日新聞デジタル.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Composer continues to honor victims of Hiroshima". Colorado Springs Gazette.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - The Asahi Shimbun". asahi.com.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 March music notes, Norman E. Smith, Program Note Press, 1986, page 235
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "川崎優　作品". so-net.ne.jp.

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