Matsudaira, Yoritsune 1907 - 2001
Author: Hirano, Takatoshi
Last updated：April 20, 2018
Author: Hirano, Takatoshi
Composer from Tokyo (1907-2001). His father, Viscount Yorinao Matsudaira, was a renowned butterfly collector. In 1923, he enrolled in the French Literature Department at Keio University, but after encountering Henri Gil-Marchex's piano recital, which comprehensively covered works from Bach to Stravinsky, he decided to pursue a career as a composer. He studied piano with Charles Lautrup and composition temporarily with Heinrich Werkmeister and Kosuke Komatsu. In 1930, he co-founded the Shinko Sakkyokuka Renmei (New Composers' League) with Akikiyo Mitsukuri and others. From 1931 to 1934, he held piano recitals, primarily showcasing works by French composers. He became enlightened by Neoclassicism following Alexandre Tansman's visit to Japan in 1932, and was highly praised by Alexandre Tcherepnin, who visited Japan in 1934 and 1935, gaining connections with the international music scene. In 1946, he co-founded the Shin Sakkyokuha Kyokai (New Composers' Group) with Yasuji Kiyose and others. His Theme and Variations for Piano and Orchestra (1951), which combined dodecaphony with elements of Gagaku, was selected for the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) festival. He was subsequently selected a total of 15 times for works such as Figure Sonore (1956), Bugaku for Chamber Orchestra (1961), which incorporated chance operations, and Circulating Movements for Two Orchestras (1971). He served as Chairman of the Japan Society for Contemporary Music (JSCM) from 1956-60, received the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1972, the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class in 1979, and was designated a Person of Cultural Merit in 1996.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: January 1, 2007
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Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Born in Tokyo as the eldest son of Viscount Yorihisa Matsudaira, a descendant of the Tokugawa family. While studying French literature at Keio University, he decided to pursue a career in music after attending a series of concerts by the French pianist Gille-Marchex. He received initial instruction in composition from Werckmeister and Kosuke Komatsu, but thereafter was largely self-taught. In 1930, he formed the "Shin Kō Sakkyokuka Renmei" (New Composers' League) with Yasuji Kiyose, Akiyoshi Mitsukuri, and others, aiming for original creation that broke away from Western imitation. In 1946, he formed the "Shin Sakkyokuha Kyokai" (New Composition School Association) with Yasuji Kiyose, Fumio Hayasaka, and others. From around this time, he established his unique compositional style, combining Gagaku (Japanese court music) and twelve-tone technique. In 1952, his "Theme and Variations on 'Etenraku' for Piano and Orchestra" won an award at an international competition, leading to his international recognition. His compositional approach, which combined Japanese and Western elements while responding to cutting-edge Western movements, can be said to have played a significant role in making the existence of the Japanese contemporary music scene known to the world. After serving as a professor at Ueno Gakuen University and chairman of the Japan Society for Contemporary Music, he passed away at the age of 94 due to illness. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, and was designated a Person of Cultural Merit. His eldest son, Yori-aki, is also a composer.
Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
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Author : Hirano, Takatoshi
Japanese composer born in Tokyo (1907-2001). His father, Yorinari Matsudaira, was a viscount and a famous butterfly collector. In 1923, Matsudaira entered Keio University and majored in French literature, but he decided to be a composer when he went to a piano recital by Henri Gil-Marchex, in which various pieces including those of J. S. Bach and Stravinsky were performed. He studied piano under Charles Lautrup and composition with Heinrich Werckmeister and Kosuke Komatsu. In 1930, he participated in the establishment of the Shinkō Sakkyokuka Renmei (Association for Innovative Composers) with Shūkichi Mitsukuri. Between 1931 and 1934, he organized piano recitals where he played number of works by French composers. He had opportunities to get acquaintance with foreign musicians when Alexandre Tansman introduced neoclassicism to him in 1932, and Alexandre Tcherepnin, who stayed in Japan in 1934 and 1935, praised his works. In 1946, he established the Shin Sakkyokuha Kyōkai (New Composers’ Association) with Yasuji Kiyose. His international reputation as a leading figure in Japanese musical world was confirmed through winning a prize at the ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music) with Tema e variazioni per pianoforte e orchestra (1951), in which elements of gagaku and twelve-tone technique are combined. He won 15 prizes in total at the ISCM: Figures sonores per orchestra (1965), Bugaku per orchestra da camera (1961), Mouvements circulatoires per orchestra in due sezioni (1971), in the latter two of which are featured aleatoric aspects, etc. Chairman of the JSCM (Japan Society for Contemporary Music, Japanese section of the ISCM) from 1956 to 1960, he received the Medal with Purple Ribbon (1972), the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette (1979), and he became
a Person of Cultural Merit (1996).
Works(34)
Concerto
concerto (2)
Works with orchestral accompaniment (5)
Piano Solo
pieces (3)
for children (3)
prelude (5)
variation (2)
Various works (8)
Piano Ensemble