Vintage Electronic Music from Japan, Part 2

Vintage Electronic Music from Japan, Part 2

Western Influence to Eastern Identity: Electronic Music in Japan between 1960 and 1975.

Playlist:

1. Toru Takemitsu, “Water Music” (1960) for magnetic tape (1969, RCA Victrola).
2. Matsuo Ohno, Takehisa Kosugi, “B.G.M. Parts A-F” from Roots Of Electronic Sound (1963). Music and effects later used for Astroboy.
3. Maki Ishii, “Kio-oo” for piano, orchestra and electronic sounds (excerpt) from Mt. Fujiyama Suite and Dipol For Orchestra (1968, Aries).
4. Toshi Ichiyanagi, “Love Blinded Ballad (Enka 1969)” from the Opera "From The Works Of Tadanori Yokoo" (1969). Tape collage.
5. Toshi Ichiyanagi, “Electric Chant” from the Opera "From the Works of Tadanori Yokoo" (1969). Military music with electronic tones.
6. Toshi Ichiyanagi, Music for Living Space (1969, Bijutsu Shuppan-Sha), composed for the Electric Faculty of Engineering of Kyoto University. Early Computer Music combined with Gregorian chant for Osaka Expo '70.
7. Shibata, “Improvisation for Electronic Sounds” (1968) from Japanese Electronic Music (1971, Philips).
8. Toru Takemitsu, “Stanza II” (1971) for harp, tape, and natural sounds from Miniatur II: Art Of Toru Takemitsu (1973, DGG)
9. Yoshi Wada ‎– Earth Horns with Electronic Drone, excerpt, (1974, Edition Omega Point) Electronics by Liz Phillips. Pipehorn players Barbara Stewart, Garrett List, Jim Burton, Yoshi Wada. Composed by, recorded by Yoshi Wada. Recorded at Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, New York, Sunday 2-5pm, February 24, 1974.
10. Joji Yuasa, “My Blue Sky (No. 1)” (1975. Tape parts realized at NHK Electronic music studio.

NHK = Nippon Hoso Kyokai (Japanese Broadcasting Corp.)

 

The Archive Mix in which I play two additional tracks at the same time to see what happens. Here are two more tracks of vintage Japanese electronic music:

1. Toshi Ichiyanagi, “Sound Materials for Music for Tinguely” (1963).
2. Makoto Moroi, “Shōsanke”for electronic sounds and Japanese traditional instruments (1968).

 

For more information about the history of Japanese electronic music, read my book: Electronic and Experimental Music (sixth edition), by Thom Holmes (Routledge 2020).