Odaka, Hisatada 1911 - 1951

Author: Sudoh, Eiko
Last updated:April 20, 2018
Author: Sudoh, Eiko
Born in Tokyo in 1911, Otaka developed an affinity for music from an early age. While attending Seijo High School, he studied piano with Seely Watanabe and composition with Eitaro Katayama. In 1931, he dropped out of high school to study at the Vienna Academy of Music, where he studied piano with Jan Beirl and theory with Stöhr, among others. After studying for a year and a half, he returned to Japan temporarily, where he studied piano with Leo Sirota and composition with Pringsheim, while also teaching music theory at Musashino Music School (now Musashino Academia Musicae).
In 1934, he returned to Vienna, studying with Josef Marx in the master class for composition and with Weingartner in the conducting class at the Academy. His piano piece Japanese Suite, composed in 1936, was later arranged into an orchestral version as his graduation work and received the Weingartner Prize. After graduation, he was active as a conductor with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmonic.
Upon his return to Japan in 1940, Otaka debuted as a conductor and composer the following year with the New Symphony Orchestra, the predecessor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, performing his own orchestral works alongside those of Mozart and Brahms. From 1942, he became the permanent conductor of the same orchestra, working devotedly through the chaotic period from the end of the war to the immediate post-war defeat. He also actively pursued creative activities, primarily focusing on orchestral works. He successively premiered many orchestral works with the same orchestra, including Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (1943), Symphonic Fantasy "Sōgen" (1944), Cello Concerto (1944), Symphonic Song "Itsukushimauta" (1945), and Concert Suite for Piano and Orchestra (1946). Other works include Sonata for Violin and Piano (1932), Sonatina for Piano (1940), and Piano Trio (1941). His style can be seen as a sophisticated coexistence of German Romanticism and Japanese sensibility.
Otaka subsequently died in 1951 at the young age of 39, triggered by overwork due to the busy wartime and post-war periods. On the first anniversary of his death, the Otaka Prize was established, funded by the prize money from the Minister of Education Award he received posthumously, to recognize orchestral works by Japanese composers. His wife was pianist Setsuko Otaka. His sons, Atsutada, is active as a composer, and Tadaaki, as a conductor.
Author : Maruyama, Yoko
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
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Author : Maruyama, Yoko
Biography
While attending Seijo High School, he studied composition under Eitaro Katayama. In 1931, he went to Europe and enrolled in the Meisterklasse (Master Class) of the composition department at the Vienna Academy of Music, where he diligently studied composition and piano under Janber and Stöhr. From 1932 to 1934, he temporarily returned to Japan and taught music theory at Musashino Music School (now Musashino Academia Musicae), but his studies in composition and piano continued uninterrupted. After returning to Europe, he continued his studies in composition under Josef Marx and Franz Moser, and in conducting under Felix Weingartner. In 1937, he completed the Meisterklasse and began performing as a conductor with orchestras in Europe. After returning to Japan in 1940, he became a professor at Tokyo Academy of Music (now Kunitachi College of Music). Thereafter, as a conductor, he served as the permanent conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra (then known as the New Symphony Orchestra) from shortly after his return in 1942 until his death. His sons include composer Atsutada Otaka and conductor Tadaaki Otaka, and his maternal grandfather was Eiichi Shibusawa.
Works and Style
He is recognized as a composer who, while being a proponent of German Romanticism, incorporated characteristics of Japanese music. He already demonstrated great talent during his studies in Vienna, notably by being selected for the Weingartner Prize for his orchestral work Japanese Suite. After returning to Japan, while active as a conductor, he simultaneously performed European music and presented his own compositions. His debut in the Japanese music scene was in 1941 with his self-conducted performances of the symphonic poem Ashiya Otome and Midare. The NHK Symphony Orchestra, to which Otaka belonged, played a particularly important role in the presentation of his works, with many of his orchestral compositions being premiered by the orchestra. On the other hand, his chamber music works were not few, and in 1942, he held a concert dedicated to the presentation of his own compositions. While Otaka made significant contributions to the Japanese music scene, he passed away prematurely in 1951 due to exhaustion, amidst the turmoil of war and post-war instability. The orchestral version of his Flute Concerto, published in 1948, remained an unfinished final work and was completed by his disciple, Hikaru Hayashi.
Awards
Weingartner Prize during his studies, Art Encouragement Prize, Mainichi Music Award, and Minister of Education Award. Furthermore, the prize money from the Art Encouragement Prize (Minister of Education Award) awarded posthumously was donated to the NHK Symphony Orchestra, leading to the establishment of the "Otaka Prize" in 1952, awarded to orchestral works by Japanese composers, which continues to exist today.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Hisatada Otaka
Hisatada Otaka was born in Tokyo in 1911. He enjoyed music starting from early childhood. He learned the piano with Sealy Watanabe and composition with Eitaro Katayama, while studying at Seijo High School. In 1931, he dropped out of high school and went to the Vienna Music Academy. There, he studied the piano with Yahn Bale and music theory with Steel. After learning for a year and a half, he returned home and taught music theory at Musashino Music Academy , while studying the piano with Leo Shirota and composition with Pringsheim.
In 1934, Otaka returned to Vienna again, studied composition with Joseph Marx, and conducting with Weingartner at Master Class of the Academy of Music. “Nihon Kumikyoku (Japanese Suite)” was composed for the piano in 1936 and later arranged for orchestra as his graduation work. This work was awarded the Weingartner prize. After graduation, he was active as a conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic. Otaka returned home in 1940. In the next year, he played his own orchestral music together with works of Mozart and Brahms at the New Symphony Orchestra (currently named the NHK Symphony Orchestra), debuting as conductor and composer. Starting in 1942, he became a permanent conductor of the Orchestra. He dedicatedly worked during and just after the World War. He composed a lot of works mainly for Orchestra. He played his several works, one after another, at the concert of his Orchestra, such as:
- “Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra” (1943)
- “Symphonic Fantasia ‘The Prairie’ “ (1944)
- “Cello Concerto” (1944)
- “Concert Suite for Piano and Orchestra”(1946)
Otaka’s other works include:
- “Sonata for Violin and Piano” (1932)
- “Sonatine for Piano” (1940)
- “Piano Trio” (1941)
and others. His musical style is regarded as elegant consisting of German romanticism and Japanese beauty.
Otaka died at the age of 39 in 1951, because of overworking during and after the War. On the first anniversary of his death, “The Otaka Prize” was established with the prize money from the Minister of Education Award which Otaka won after his death. This Prize aimed at orchestral works of Japanese composers. In addition, his wife is pianist, Setsuko Otaka. His oldest son, Atsutada is a composer, and his second son Tadaaki is a conductor.
Author : Maruyama, Yoko
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Maruyama, Yoko
Career
Otaka received composition lessons from Eitaro Katayama during his time at Seijo High School. In 1931, he traveled to Europe to enroll in the Meisterklasse (Master Class) of the composition department at the Vienna Music Academy, where he studied composition and piano. Temporarily returning to Japan (1932-34), he taught music theory at Musashino College of Music (now Musashino Academia Musicae) while continuing his studies in composition and piano. Upon returning to Europe, he studied composition with Josef Marx and Franz Moser, and conducting under Felix Weingartner. After completing the Meisterklasse in 1937, he was active as a conductor with European orchestras. Upon his return to Japan, he became a professor at the Tokyo Music Conservatory (now Kunitachi College of Music). From 1942 until his death, he dedicated himself to the New Symphony Orchestra (currently known as the NHK Symphony Orchestra) as its conductor.
His sons are the composer Atsutada Otaka and the conductor Tadaaki Otaka. The renowned Japanese industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa was his maternal uncle.
Works and Style
While adhering to the German Romantic style, he is recognized for integrating characteristics of Japanese music into his compositions. The Weingartner Prize, awarded for his orchestral suite Nihon Kumikyoku (Japanese Suite), demonstrated his significant musical talent already during his Viennese period. While active as a conductor in Japan, he presented his own works alongside European repertoire. He first gained recognition within the Japanese musical scene with the performances of his symphonic poems Ashiya-Otome and Midare. The NHK Symphony Orchestra, his affiliated orchestra, played a significant role in premiering many of his orchestral works. His chamber works were also numerous; he organized a concert in 1942 specifically for their premieres.
His contributions to the Japanese musical scene are indispensable. However, the political instability before and after World War II led him to overwork, resulting in his early death. His last, unfinished work, an orchestral arrangement of his flute concerto, was completed by his student Hikaru Hayashi.
Works(9)
Concerto
Works with orchestral accompaniment (2)
Piano Solo
Various works (3)