Mayuzumi, Toshiro 1929 - 1997
Author: Sudoh, Eiko
Last updated：April 23, 2018
Author: Sudoh, Eiko
Born in Yokohama City in 1929, Toshiro Mayuzumi taught himself composition from his junior high school days. He studied under Kunihiko Hashimoto, Tomojiro Ikenouchi, and Akira Ifukube at the Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts). From that time, he not only learned neoclassical styles, including those of Stravinsky, but also became familiar with non-Western music such as jazz and gamelan.
His piano solo piece “All Doublé” (1947), written while he was a student, shows the influence of jazz. His graduation work, “Divertimento for 10 Instruments,” composed in 1948, garnered immediate attention for its outstanding compositional technique and was later released as a record. “Symphonic Mood,” a work commissioned by the NHK Symphony Orchestra in 1950, shows a strong influence of gamelan music. Furthermore, his chamber music work “Sphenogram” (1951), inspired by Indian and Javanese music, was selected for the International Festival of Contemporary Music. At a young age, he made his name known both domestically and internationally.
After completing his postgraduate studies in 1951, he enrolled in the Conservatoire de Paris as a French government scholarship student, studying under Tony Aubin. However, after discerning the possibilities and limitations of Western music, he withdrew after one year. After returning to Japan, he successively released works incorporating the avant-garde techniques he encountered during his studies abroad. “X・Y・Z,” composed in 1953 under commission from Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, garnered attention as Japan's first work of musique concrète and significantly influenced contemporary composers such as Toru Takemitsu. In 1956, he released the electronic music “Seven Variations” in collaboration with Makoto Moroi, and the following year, “Piece for Prepared Piano and Strings,” solidifying his presence as a cutting-edge composer of his time.
From 1953, he formed “Sannin no Kai” (The Group of Three) with Yasushi Akutagawa and Ikuma Dan. They held brilliant concerts, primarily featuring orchestral works, and led the post-war Japanese composition scene. Subsequently, Mayuzumi gradually turned his attention to Japanese traditions, releasing “Nirvana Symphony” in 1958, which incorporated Buddhist temple bells (bonshō) and shōmyō (Buddhist chant). He also successively created works based on Buddhist themes and traditional music, such as the orchestral work “BUGAKU” (1962) and the opera “Kinkaku-ji” (The Golden Pavilion) (1976).
Toshiro Mayuzumi gained widespread public popularity through his film scores and his role as host of the television program “Untitled Concert” for over 30 years. After 1970, his political statements increased, and from 1991, he also served as chairman of the “National Congress to Protect Japan.” He was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 68.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 23, 2018
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Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Toshirō Mayuzumi: A Biographical Sketch
Early Life and Influences
Toshirō Mayuzumi was born in Yokohama in 1929. From the time he was a junior high school student, he studied composition by himself. He studied with:
- Kunihiko Hashimoto
- Tomojirō Ikenouchi
- Akira Ifukube
at Tokyo Music School (currently named Tokyo National University of Arts). At the same time, he studied the neoclassical style music of neoclassical composers such as Stravinsky, and also became familiar with non-European music such as:
- Jazz
- Gamelan
Early Works and Recognition
The piano solo music “Hors d’oeuvre” (1947), which Mayuzumi wrote as a student of the university, was influenced by jazz. His graduation thesis work “The Divertimento for Ten Instruments”, composed in 1948, attracted a lot of attention through outstanding composition techniques, which was recorded later. The influence of Gamelan music is remarkable in “Symphonic Mood”, commissioned by the NHK Symphony Orchestra in 1950. Also, a chamber music piece “Sphenogram” (1951), inspired by Indian and Javanese music, was awarded at an international contemporary music festival. Mayuzumi’s name became known to not only domestic but also overseas audiences at his young age.
Studies Abroad and Avant-Garde Period
After completing his study at the university in 1951, he entered the Paris Conservatory of Music with scholarship from the French Government, and studied with Tony Aubin. But he dropped out after a year because he felt he fully understood the possibilities and limits of Western music. After returning home, he introduced his works one after another while incorporating the avant-garde technique that he studied in Paris. Notable works from this period include:
- “X · Y · Z” (1953), commissioned by Japan Culture Broadcasting, attracted attention as the first work in Japan using the technique of musique concrète, and had a great influence on many composers such as Tōru Takemitsu.
- Electronic music “Variations on Numerical Principle of 7” (1956), which was composed in cooperation with Makoto Moroi.
- “Pieces, for prepared piano and string quartet” (1957).
He became recognized as a leading composer of the times.
Shift to Japanese Traditions and Later Works
From 1953, he formed ‘Sannin no kai (Group of Three)’ with Yasushi Akutagawa and Ikuma Dan. They had several gorgeous orchestral concerts to announce their works, and became the leaders of the Japanese music world in the postwar era. After that, Mayuzumi began to gradually turn his interest to Japanese traditions, and announced:
- “Nirvana Symphony for male chorus and orchestra” (1958), which used Buddhist temple bells and the chanting of Buddhist hymns.
- Orchestral work “BUGAKU” (1962).
- The opera “Kinkakuji” (1976).
These and other works also had traditional Japanese styles in their musical concepts.
Public Figure and Later Life
Mayuzumi became a socially popular composer through his music for film and as a host of a TV program, “Untitled Concert” for over 30 years. After 1970, he often spoke out on his political opinions, and also served as chairman of the National Conference to Protect Japan from 1991. He received the Medal with Purple Ribbon. He died at the age of 68 in 1997.
Works(8)
Piano Solo
Reduction/Arrangement (3)
Various works (2)