Nakada, Yoshinao 1923 - 2000

Author: Iida, Arisa
Last updated:April 21, 2018
Author: Iida, Arisa
Born in Tokyo, he was the son of Akira Nakada (1886–1931), known as the composer of “Soshunfu” and a professor of theory and organ at Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts). His elder brother was Ichiji Nakada (1921–2001), a bassoonist and composer. From childhood, he was familiar with piano and composition, creating songs and piano pieces. After graduating from the piano department of Tokyo Music School in 1943 and serving approximately two years in the military, he began his full-fledged compositional activities. He joined “Shinseikai,” a composers’ group founded by Yoshiro Irino, Minao Shibata, and others. In 1947, he published the song cycle Six Children’s Songs.
In 1949, he won second prize in the chamber music category of the 18th Music Competition (now Japan Music Competition) composition division with his Piano Sonata. Among his piano works, suites such as Jikan (Time) (1952), Hikari to Kage (Light and Shadow) (1957), and the four-hand duet suite Nihon no Shiki (Japanese Seasons) were published. Subsequently, he created numerous masterpieces in the field of songs, with “Natsu no Omoide” (Memories of Summer) and “Yuki no Furu Machi o” (In the Town Where Snow Falls) becoming popular through NHK radio broadcasts. While active in the contemporary compositional scene where atonal and avant-garde styles were becoming predominant, he eschewed innovative techniques. Instead, he produced numerous masterpieces that were easily hummable by the public, characterized by lyrical melodies that richly conveyed Japanese landscapes and accessible harmonies based on tonality. Children’s songs like “Kawaii Kakurenbo” (Cute Hide-and-Seek) and “Medaka no Gakko” (Killifish School) were also widely loved, and most of his works were recorded and released. From 1953, he began instructing younger generations as a lecturer in the Music Department of Ferris Women’s College Junior College. The suite for women’s chorus Utsukushii Wakare no Asa (Beautiful Morning of Farewell), the suite for mixed chorus Uma to Fukei (Horses and Scenery), the choral suite Mienai Mono (Invisible Things), and the choral suite Tokai (City), all written in the 1960s, received the Art Festival Encouragement Prize. He composed numerous school songs for elementary, junior high, and high schools nationwide, as well as company anthems.
He also dedicated himself to piano education, leaving many collections of works for children, such as Kodomo no Piano Kyoku (Children’s Piano Pieces), Chiisai Te no Tame no Piano Kyokushu (Piano Pieces for Small Hands), and Kodomo no Yume (Children’s Dreams). Based on his own experience of struggling with playing due to small hands, he advocated that narrow-key pianos were suitable for Japanese people and children with small hands, and he also dedicated efforts to the “narrow-key keyboard movement.”
After serving as president of the Japan Children’s Song Association and professor at Ferris University, Faculty of Music, he passed away at the age of 76. He received numerous awards, including:
- The Mainichi Music Award
- The Art Festival Award
- The Medal with Purple Ribbon
- The NHK Broadcast Culture Award
- The JASRAC 60th Anniversary Special Award
- The Japan Record Award Japan Composers Association Achievement Award
He passed away on May 3, 2000, due to rectal cancer.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: January 1, 2007
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Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Born in Tokyo. Under the guidance of his father, musician Akira Nakada (composer of "Soshunfu"), he became familiar with piano and composition from an early age. After graduating from the piano department of Tokyo Music School (now Tokyo University of the Arts), he embarked on a full-fledged composing career. In 1949, he joined "Shinseikai", a group formed by Yoshiro Irino, Minao Shibata and others. In the same year, he won an award in the composition division of the Japan Music Competition for his "Piano Sonata". Subsequently, in the style of tonal music, he composed numerous renowned songs that are still sung today, such as "Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa" (Found a Small Autumn), "Medaka no Gakko" (Killifish School), and "Natsu no Omoide" (Summer Memories). He also dedicated himself to piano education, leaving behind many collections of works for children, such as "Kodomo no Piano Kyoku" (Children's Piano Pieces) and "Kodomo no Yume" (Children's Dreams). After serving as president of the Japan Children's Song Association and professor at the Faculty of Music, Ferris University, he passed away at the age of 77. He received numerous awards, including the Mainichi Music Award, Arts Festival Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, NHK Broadcast Culture Award, and Japan Record Award's Japan Composers Association Distinguished Service Award.
Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
Last Updated: January 1, 2010
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Author : PTNA Piano Encyclopedia Editorial Department
Born in Tokyo.
Graduated from Tokyo Academy of Music (now Tokyo University of the Arts).
Studied under Noboru Toyomasu and others.
In 1947, he published the song cycle "Six Children's Songs". In 1949, his "Piano Sonata" won second prize at the Japan Music Competition. In 1955, he formed the Roba no Kai (Donkey's Group) with Megumi Oonaka and others. Aiming to create new songs and choral pieces, including children's songs, he composed works such as "Chiisai Aki Mitsuketa" (Found a Small Autumn), "Natsu no Omoide" (Summer Memories), and "Yuki no Furu Machi o" (Town Where Snow Falls). In 1964, he became a professor at Ferris Women's College Junior College.
Works(41)
Piano Solo
suite (2)
for children (16)
Various works (3)
Piano Ensemble
pieces (1)
Piano Suite “The Four Seasons of Japan” for four hands
Composed in: 1977 Playing time: 20 min 00 sec
for children (4)
Lied
Various works (7)