Toshi Ichiyanagi

was a Japanese avant-garde composer and pianist. One of the leading composers in Japan during the postwar era, Ichiyanagi worked in a range of genres, composing Western-style operas and orchestral and chamber works, as well as compositions using traditional Japanese instruments. Ichiyanagi is known for incorporating avant-garde techniques into his works, such as chance music, extended technique, and nontraditional scoring. Ichiyanagi was married to artist Yoko Ono from 1956 to 1962.

Early life and education

Ichiyanagi was born in Kobe on 4 February 1933. He studied composition with Tomojirō Ikenouchi, , and John Cage. From 1954 to 1960, Ichiyanagi resided in New York City, where he studied at the Juilliard School and The New School for Social Research.

Ichiyanagi was married to Yoko Ono from 1956 to 1962. His decision to return to Japan, while Ono remained in New York, rendered the marriage untenable.

Career

Returning to Japan in 1960, Ichiyanagi collaborated with the anti-art collective Neo-Dada Organizers.

Many of Ichiyanagi's early scores use graphic notation: Sapporo (1963) is one of the better known examples. Another notable early work is the 1960 composition ''Kaiki'', which combined Japanese instruments, '' shō'' and koto, and western instruments, harmonica and saxophone. Another work, ''Distance'' (1961), required the performers to play from a distance of three meters from their instruments. ''Anima 7'' (1964) stated that chosen action should be performed "as slowly as possible". In 1963, Ichiyanagi co-founded an avant-garde music collective called New Direction along with fellow composers Takehisa Kosugi, Yūji Takahashi, and Kenji Kobayashi, and others. The group disbanded in the late 1960s when most of its members relocated to New York, while Ichiyanagi remained in Japan.

Ichiyanagi's later works shifted away from experimental means toward more conventional forms, including symphonies, operas and concertos. He was the recipient of the 33rd Suntory Music Award (2001) and the Foundation for Contemporary Arts John Cage Award (2018). He has been honored with Japan's Order of Culture.

Personal life and death

Ichiyanagi's father, Shinji, was a cellist, while his mother, Mitsuko, gave piano lessons in their home and was her son's first piano teacher. After Ichiyanagi's marriage to Yoko Ono ended in 1962, he was married a second time in 1963 to Sumiko, who died in 1993. They had a son, Kei (b. 1964), who is still living as of 2022.

Ichiyanagi died in Tokyo on 7 October 2022, at the age of 89.

Works

As listed in Schott Music catalogue:

Operas

*''Opera “From the Works of Tadanori Yokoo” (''electronic music) (1969)
*''Hiraizumi Enjo'' (1989)
*''The Last Will of Fire'' (1995)
*''Momo'' (1995/98)
*''Hikari'' (2002)
*''Ikuta-gawa Monogatari'' (2004)
*''White Nights'' (2005)

Orchestral works

*''Asma'' for piano and orchestra (1962)
*''The Field'' for koto and orchestra (1964)
*''Life Music'' for modulators, tape and orchestra (1965)
*''Up To Date Applause'' for orchestra, rock band and tape (1968)
*''Chi'' for noh flute and orchestra (1973)
*''In the Reflection of Lighting Image'' for percussion and orchestra (1980)
*Piano Concerto No. 1 "Reminiscences of Space" (1981)
*''Engen'' for koto and orchestra (1982/86)
*Violin Concerto "Circulating Scenery" (1983)
*''Paganini Personal'' for marimba and orchestra (1983–86)
*''Time Surrounding'' for percussion and orchestra (1984)
*Symphony for Chamber Orchestra "Time Current" (1986)
*''Interspace'' for string orchestra (1987)
*Piano Concerto No. 2 "Winter Portrait" (1987)
*Symphony "Berlin Renshi" for soprano, tenor, orchestra (1988)
*''Voices from the Environment'' (1989)
*Symphonic Movement "Kyoto" (1989)
*Concerto for Koto and Chamber Orchestra "The Origin" (1989)
*''Existence'' for organ and orchestra (1989)
*Piano Concerto No. 3 "Cross Water Roads" (1991)
*''Luminous Space'' for sho, ondes martenot and orchestra (1991)
*''Interplay'' for flute and string orchestra (1992)
*Symphony for Chamber Orchestra No. 2 "Undercurrent" (1993)
*''Cosmos Ceremony'' for ryuteki, sho and orchestra (1993)
*Symphony No. 4 "Recollection of Reminiscence Beyond" (1994)
*''"Coexistence" for shakuhachi and string orchestra (1994)
*Symphony No. 3 "Inner Communications" (1995)
*''Coexistence'' for ondes martenot and orchestra (1996)
*Symphony No. 5 "Time Perspective" – on the theme of opera ''Momo'' (1997)
*Symphony No. 2 "Undercurrent" (1997)
*''Coexistence'' for orchestra (1997)
*''Bridging'' (2001)
*Symphony No. 6 "A Hundred Years From Now" (2001)
*''Between Space and Time'' for chamber orchestra (2001)
*''Returning to Sounds Environment'' for shakuhachi and orchestra (2002)
*''To the Memory of Nugshead'' for wind orchestra (2003)
*Concertato for harp and chamber orchestra (2004)
*Symphony No. 7 "Ishikawa Paraphrase" (2007)
*Piano Concerto No. 4 "Jazz" (2009)
*Piano Concerto No. 5 "Finland" (2011)
*Symphony No. 8 "Revelation 2011" (2011/12)
*Concerto for marimba and orchestra (2012)
*Symphony No. 9 "Diaspora" (2014)
*Piano Concerto No. 6 "Zen" (2016)
*Symphony No. 10 "Scenes of Various Memories" (2016)
*Double Concerto for violin, cello and orchestra (2017)

Chamber works

*Sonata for violin and piano (1954)
*Trio for 2 flutes and harp (1956)
*String Quartet (1957)
*''Stanzas'' for string instrument(s) (1960)
*''For Strings'' (1961)
*Duet for piano and string instrument(s) (1961)
*''Sapporo'' for any number of players up to fifteen (1962)
*''Activities'' for brass instruments (1962)
*String Quartet No. 1 (1964)
*''Modulator'' for Japanese instruments, string instruments, piano and modulator (1966)
*''Appearance'' for 3 players and 2 operators (1967)
*''Distance'' for noh flute, noh performer and ensemble (1978)
*''Scenes I '' for violin and piano (1978)
*''Scenes II'' for violin and piano (1979)
*''Recurrence'' for flute, clarinet, percussion, harp, piano, violin and cello (1979)
*''Wa'' for 13-string koto, 17-string koto, piano and percussion (1981)
*''Time in Tree, Time in Water'' for percussion and piano (1981)
*''Scenes IV'' for violin and piano (1981)
*''Before Darkness Appears'' for accordion and piano (1981)
*''Scenes V'' for violin and piano (1982)
*''Paganini Personal'' for marimba and piano (1982)
*''Flowers Blooming in summer'' for harp and piano (1982)
*''Wind trace'' for three keyboard percussion (marimba, vibraphone and antique cymbal) (1984)
*Piano Quintet "Prāna" (1985)
*''Yami o Irodoru Mono'' for 2 violins and piano (revised 2006 for 2 violins, cello and piano) (1985)
*''Yochô'' for ryuteki and piano (1985)
*''Présage'' for 6 ondes martinots (1986)
*String Quartet No. 2 "Interspace" (1986)
*''Interspace'' for sho and harp (1986)
*''Transfiguration of the Moon'' for sho and violin (1988)
*''Ten, Zui, Ho, Gyaku'' for shakuhachi and ondes martenot (1988)
*''Wind Gradation'' for ryuteki and piano (1989)
*''Troposphere'' for ondes martenot and marimba (1990)
*''Interrelation I'' for cello and piano (1991)
*''Trio Interlink'' for violin, piano and percussion (1990)
*''Aquascape'' for marimba, flute, piano and 2 percussions (1992)
*''Cosmos of Coexistence'' for marimba and piano (1992)
*''Reflection'' for 9 players (1992)
*''Brightening Wind'' for sho and piano (1992)
*''Tenryuji'' for ryuteki, sho, shakuhachi, koto, ondes martenot and percussion (1992)
*''Intercross'' for violin and piano (1993)
*''Toki Sayuru'' for koto and piano (1993)
*String Quartet No. 3 "Inner-landscape" (1994)
*''Trio Fantasy'' for piano, violin and cello (1994)
*''Cosmic Harmony'' for cello and piano (1995)
*''Music for Violin, Shô and Piano'' (1995)
*''Existence −In Memory of Kuniharu Akiyama−'' for clarinet and piano (1997)
*''Interrelation II'' for violin and piano (1998)
*''Mirage'' for English horn and double bass (1998)
*''Mirage'' for accordion and harpsichord (1998)
*''Mirage'' for sho and harpsichord (1998)
*''Mirage'' for shakuhachi and piano (1998)
*String Quartet No. 4 "In the Forest" (1999)
*''Metamorphosis'' for bassoon quartet (1999)
*Piano Quintet "Bridging" (2001)
*''Spiritual Sight II'' for gagaku, reigaku, shomyo and cello (2001)
*''Encounter'' for cello, ancient instruments, gagaku and shomyo (2002)
*''Space Line'' for viol consort (2005)
*Variation "White Nights" for percussion ensemble (2006)
*''Space Scene'' for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, accordion and piano (2006)
*''Resonant Space'' for clarinet and piano (2007)
*''Circular Space'' for flute, clarinet, cello, piano and percussion (2008)
*''Hen'yo suru No-Kukan'' for Noh performers and 2 pianos (2008)
*''Trio Webster'' for flute, clarinet and piano (2008)
*''Paganini Personal'' for violin and piano (2011)
*''Duo Interchange'' for violin and cello (2011)

Works for keyboard

*''Music for Piano No. 1 – No. 7'' (1959–61)
*''Piano Media'' for piano (1972)
*''Bi no Bi'' for piano (1975)
*''Multiple Spaces'' for organ (1976)
*''Time Sequence'' for piano (1976)
*''Two Existence'' for 2 pianos (1980)
*''Cloud Atlas I–X'' for piano (1985–99)
*''Inter Konzert'' for piano (1987)
*''Piano Nature'' for piano (1989)
*''Inexhaustible Fountain'' for piano (1990)
*''Dimensions'' for organ (1990)
*Fantasy for organ (1992)
*''Farewell to... – To the Memory of Luigi Nono'' for piano (1992)
*''In Memory of John Cage'' for piano (1992)
*''Imaginary Scenes'' for piano (1995)
*''Piano Space'' for piano (2001)
*''Piano Poem'' for piano (2003)
*''Sen no Image no tame ni'' for 2 pianos (2009)
*''Piano Craft'' for piano (2010)
*Sonatina for piano (2010)
*''Paganini Personal'' for 2 pianos (2011)
*''Waltz Solemnity'' for piano (2012)

Works for other instruments

*''Vein of Sounds'' for harp (1972)
*''Arrangements'' for percussion (1972)
*''Scenes III'' for solo violin (1980)
*''Wind Nuance'' for flute (1980)
*''Portrait of Forest'' for solo marimba (1983)
*''Cloud Figures'' for solo oboe (1984)
*''Wind Trace'' for 3 keyboard percussion players (1984)
*''Perspectives'' for solo violin (1986)
*''Still Time III'' for harp (1987)
*''Wind Stream'' for flute (1989)
*''The Source'' for marimba (1989)
*''Friends'' for violin (1990)
*''Aki o Utu Oto'' for marimba (1991)
*''Intoxicant Moon'' for ondes martenot (1991)
*''Rhythm Gradation'' for timpani (1993)
*''Omniscape'' for violin (1993)
*''Generation of Space'' for double bass (1995)
*''Still Time IV'' for flute (1996)
*''Perspectives II'' for percussion (1996)
*''In a Living Memory'' for flute solo (2000)
*''Innervoice'' on the theme of Gagaku for marimba (2001)
*''Ballade'' for marimba (2002)
*''Green Rhythms'' for marimba (2007)

Vocal works

*''Voice Act'' for mixed chorus and bassoon (1967)
*''Voice Field'' for children's chorus and percussion (1973)
*''Syntax'' for mixed chorus (1977)
*''Aru Toki'' for soprano and piano (1981)
*''Kinderkreuzzug'' for mixed chorus (1983)
*''Kodomo no Jujigun'' for mixed chorus (1983)
*''Heso no Uta'' for children's chorus (1984)
*''Nadare no Toki'' for mixed chorus, marimba and piano (1985)
*Requiem for male chorus (1985)
*''Mangetsu no Yoru no Kaiwa'' for mixed chorus and percussion (1986)
*''Music for Art Kites'' for soprano and flute (1989)
*''Genshiryoku Sensuikan "Onagazame" no Seitekina Kokai to Jisatsu no Uta'' for mixed chorus (1989)
*''Song of Morning'' for female chorus and sho (1991)
*''Desire'' for mixed chorus (1992)
*''Hikari no Toride, Kaze no Shiro'' for mixed chorus (1992)
*''White Horse'' for mixed chorus and tubular bells (1993)
*''Scenes of Poems I '' for mixed chorus and cello (1994)
*''My Song'' for mezzo-soprano and marimba (1994)
*''Sora ni Kotori ga Inakunatta Hi'' for clarinet and mixed chorus (1995)
*''Toge'' for soprano and harpsichord (1995)
*''Voice Perspectives'' for voice and sho (1996/98)
*''Oral Poetry of the Native American'' for mixed chorus and flute (1997)
*''Scenes of Poems I '' for mixed chorus (1998)
*Three Songs for children's chorus (or female chorus) and marimba (1998)
*''Furusato no Hoshi'' for mixed chorus and viola (2001)
*''Futatsu no Uta'' for soprano and piano (2001)
*''Michizane in Sanuki'' for mixed chorus and piano (2001)
*''Attendance Flowers Funeral'' for soprano and piano (2005/07)
*''Legend of the Water Flame'' for mixed chorus and piano (2005/07)
*"White Nights" Suite for mixed chorus and piano (2007)
*''Coexistence'' for male chorus and traditional Japanese instrumental ensemble (2008)
*Three Songs for mixed chorus (2008)
*''Mirai e'' for mixed chorus and piano (2008)

Japanese instrumental works

*''Ôgenraku'' for gagaku ensemble, versions with and without shokyo (1980/86)
*''Enenraku'' for gagaku ensemble (1982)
*''Rinkaiiki'' for solo sangen (1983)
*''Galaxy'' for solo sho (1983)
*''Hikari-nagi'' for ryuteki and percussion (1983)
*''Density'' for shakuhachi, 2 koto and sangen (1984)
*''Clouds Shore, Wind Roots'' for reigaku and gagaku ensemble (1984)
*''Still Time I'' for solo sho (1986)
*''Still Time II'' for solo kugo (ancient harp) (1986)
*Reigaku Symphony "The Shadows Appearing through Darkness" (1987)
*''Katachi naki Mugen no Yoha'' for solo koto (1987)
*''Voices of Water'' for hitsu (1988)
*''Sensing the Color in the Wind'' for shakuhachi and 2 kotos (1988)
*''Prāna'' for ryuteki, hichiriki, sho, kugo, hensho and dancer (1988)
*''Transfiguration of the Flower'' for koto, sangen and shakuhachi (1988)
*''Water Relativity'' for hitsu and kin (1989)
*Reigaku Symphony No. 2 "Jitsugetsu Byobu Isso - Kokai" (1989)
*''The Way'' for 2 ryuteki, 2 hichiriki, 2 sho, shakuhachi, biwa, 2 koto, 2 percussion and female dancer (1990)
*''Linked Poems of Autumn'' for solo koto (1990)
*''The Way II'' for 4 ryuteki, 4 hichiriki, 5 sho, shakuhachi, biwa, 2 koto, 3 percussion and 10 shomyo (1990)
*''Projection'' for solo koto (1991)
*''Compound Tune'', "Resonance, Luster and Color" for shakuhachi and 2 koto (1992)
*''Unchu Kuyo Bosatsu'' for gagaku, reigaku and shomyo (1994)
*''Land Mystery'' for shakuhachi and 20-string koto (1997)
*''Still Time V'' for solo hōkyō (similar to Chinese ''fangxiang'') (1998)
*''Reigaku Kokyo'' for reigaku ensemble (1998)
*''Ceremonial Space'' for ryuteki, hichiriki, sho, shakuhachi, 2 koto and percussion (2001)
*''Hakko'' for sho and koto (2001)
*''Coexistence 2008'' for ancient instruments (2008)
*''Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu'' for Japanese instruments (2009)

Electronic music

*'' Music for Electric Metronomes'' (1960)
*''Parallel Music'' (1962)
*''Life Music'' (1966)
*''Situation'' for biwa, koto, violin, double bass, piano and multiplier (1966)
*''Tinguely Mixture No.1, No. 2'' (1966)
*''Extended Voices'' for voices and synthesizer (1967)
*''Expansions'' for rock band and modulators (1969)
*''Tokyo 1969'' for various modulators, street sounds and rock band (1969)
*''Theater Music'' (1969)
*''Mandalama'' (1969)
*''Environmental Music 1, 2 and 3'' (1970)
*''Music for Living Space'' (1970)
*''The World'' (1975)
*''Perspectives'' for noh dancer, flute, violin, viola, cello, percussion and electronic music (1978)
*''Transfiguration'' for harp and electronics (2009)

Theater pieces

*''Event and Musique Concrète'' happening (1961)
*''Pratyāhārā Event'' (1963–73)
*''Chair Event'' happening (1966)

Film scores

*''Farewell to the Summer Light'', directed by Yoshishige Yoshida (1968)
*''Eros + Massacre'', directed by Yoshishige Yoshida (1969)
*'' Heroic Purgatory'', directed by Yoshishige Yoshida (1970)
*''Confessions Among Actresses'', directed by Yoshishige Yoshida (1971)
*''Metastasis'', directed by Toshio Matsumoto (1971)
*''Martial Law'' directed by Yoshishige Yoshida (1973)
*''Everything Visible Is Empty'', directed by Toshio Matsumoto (1975)
*'' Ātman'', directed by Toshio Matsumoto (1975)
*''Jun'', directed by Hiroto Yokoyama (1980)
*''Saya: Perspective in Love'', directed by Seiji Izumi (1986)

References

Tokyo Concerts biographical page on Ichiyanagi (in Japanese), accessed 4 February 2010

* (accessed 10 January 2014)

External links

*
*

Julian Cope's Japrocksampler entry on Toshi Ichiyanagi

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ichiyanagi, Toshi
1933 births
2022 deaths
20th-century Japanese classical composers
20th-century Japanese male musicians
21st-century Japanese classical composers
21st-century Japanese musicians
21st-century Japanese male musicians
Japanese opera composers
Japanese male opera composers
Persons of Cultural Merit
Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon
Recipients of the Order of Culture