(b. 1951, Tōkyō – d. 16 September 2018, Tōkyō).
Japanese composer of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world; he was also active as a conductor.
Mr. Matsushita studied composition with Hiroaki Minami at the Tōkyō Geijutsu Daigaku – Tōkyō University of the Arts from 1973–77, where he then studied composition with Toshirō Mayuzumi from 1977–79. He studied composition with Isang Yun at the Universität der Künste Berlin from 1979–86.
Among his honours were Erster Preis in the competition of the festival Ensemblia in Mönchengladbach (1985, for Toki-no-ito 1 – Threads of Time 1) and the Yoshirō Irino Memorial Award from the Asian Composers League (1986, a commission to write Toki-no-ito 2). His music has been performed in Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Japan, Singapore, and the USA, including at the Olympic Games in Nagano (1998).
As a conductor, he served as music director of Ensemble Kōchi in Berlin from 1982–86 and again served as its music director in Tōkyō from 1999–2018. In addition, he served as music director of Camerata Nagano from 1990–2018 and of the Bunkyō Civic Orchestra in Tōkyō from 1993–2018. He worked as a guest conductor of orchestras in Germany and Japan.
He was also active in other positions. He organised concerts for the Asian Arts Festival of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 1999 and served as executive chair of the Asian Music Week in Yokohama in 2000, the Nagano Music Festival in 2000 and the Asian Music Festival in Tōkyō in 2003. Moreover, he served as vice-president of the Japan Federation of Composers in Tōkyō from 1997–2005 and as chair of the Asian Composers League from 1999–2004. He later served as vice-president of the Japan Federation of Composers from 2008–12 and as its president from 2012–18 and again as chair of the Asian Composers League from 2014–18.
He taught composition at the Tōkyō Geijutsu Daigaku from 1987–2018, where he served later as its vice-president and taught as an associate professor of contemporary music from Asia and other subjects at its Performing Arts Centre from 2003–18.
His primary publishers are Kawai, Ongakunotomo Edition and Zen-on.
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE:
Bōfuri – Mosquito Larva (kyōgen [traditional form of comic theatre from Japan] opera, libretto by Tokuro Miyake), kyōgen cast, small orchestra, 1995
A Midsummer Night's Dream (kyōgen opera, libretto by Motohide Izumi, after William Shakespeare), kyōgen cast, small orchestra, 1995
Shinano-no-kuni – Zenkō-ji Story (opera in 3 acts, libretto by Jun Maeda), 1997
Fujito (incidental music, play by Zeami Motokiyo), noh cast, string quartet, 1999 (also version for noh cast, string orchestra, 1999)
Minasoko-no-kan (traditional ballet, after Natsume Sōseki), noh dancer, small orchestra, 2002
Togakushi Story (ballet in 1 act, scenario by Mamoru Kondō, after a traditional story from Japan), orchestra, 2004
Amano-Iwato – The Cave of the Sun God (ballet, scenario by Mamoru Kondō, choreography by Tamae Tsukada), orchestra, 2004
The Transfer Student (musical), 2009
Kentoshi (opera in 4 acts), 2009–10
Misaki-no-kufi (musical), 2011
The Sky Is Always Blue from the Clouds (musical), 2012
ORCHESTRAL:
Etwas, piano, symphonic band, 1974
Diffusion, large orchestra, 1976
Alabaster, 3 orchestras, 1977–79
Toki-no-ito 2, piano, large orchestra, 1986–87
Legacy of a Dream (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1989
Chikugo (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1990
Grand Atoll, 4 saxophones, large orchestra, 1992
Toki-no-ito 3, large orchestra, 1993
Hi-ten-yu – Fly-Heaven-Play (concerto no. 1), wadaiko (drums from Japan), large orchestra, 1994 (version of chamber work; also version for wadaiko, orchestra of instruments from Japan, 2010)
Ondo-no-funauta, large orchestra, 1994
Yume-no-shirabe-ni – To the Air of a Dream, viola, small orchestra, 1995
Paraphrase on 'Shinshū' (Olympic march), large orchestra, 1998
Tōryanse (fantasy), large orchestra, 1999
Concerto, saung (arched harp from Myanmar), large orchestra, 1999
Concerto, futozao shamisen (wide-necked lute from Japan), large orchestra, 2000
Hiten-no-mai – Dance of the Flying God, symphonic band, 2002
Dharani – Time for Prayer (symphony), calligrapher ad libitum, small orchestra/large orchestra, 2002
Kaze-no-mantra, 14 flutes, 2002
Kisaragi-ni – To February, ryūteki (bamboo flute from Japan)/nohkan (bamboo flute from Japan), small orchestra, 2003
Brilliant Time, 2003
A Time for Prayer (concerto), 2 violins, orchestra, 2005
Festival Overture, 2005
Kaze, Soshite take-no-otoni – Of Wind Rustling Bamboo, shakuhachi (bamboo flute from Japan), string orchestra, 2006
Izanai-no-mai – Invitation Dance, ensemble of instruments from Japan, orchestra, 2006
Tenku-no-mai – Dance of the Firmament (concerto), 2 shakuhachi, orchestra of instruments from China, 2007 (also versions for 2 shakuhachi, orchestra, 2007; 2 shakuhachi, small orchestra, 2007; 2 shakuhachi, string orchestra, 2007)
Hiten-no-inori – Prayer of the Flying Gods, symphonic band, 2007
Tenku-no-hikari – A Shining Firmament, 2008
Kono-koto, ensemble of 13-string koto (zithers from Japan), orchestra, 2009
Prayer of the Firmament – Ode to Precious Life, 2011
Air of the Firmament (concertino), violin, small orchestra, 2011
Ten-Chi-Kyo-Ō (concerto no. 2), wadaiko, large orchestra, 2011
Sumō Jinku (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 2013
Asakusa Jazz Rhapsody, saxophone, small orchestra, 2014
CHAMBER MUSIC:
Sonata, oboe, piano, 1974
Layer, 9 French horns, 1976
Ashi-no-sho, oboe, 1979
Seseragi-no, clarinet, percussion, 1980
Interstellar 1, trumpet, organ, 1981
Interludium 2, cello, 1982
Atoll 1, 4 saxophones, 1982
Atoll 2, alto saxophone, piano, 1982
Astral, 4 ensembles (flute, harp, violin; English horn, viola, percussion; clarinet, cello, percussion; bass clarinet, double bass, piano), 1982
Ashi-no-ha-ni, 13-string koto, violin, 1983
Kōchi 1 – Eastern Wind 1, clarinet, 2 A-clarinets, 1983
Astral Alpha, clarinet, cello, marimba, 1983–84
Toki-no-ito 1, string quartet, 1984
Fanfare, 2 French horns, trumpet, trombone, tuba, 1984 (version of vocal work)
Airscope 1, flute, harp, 1984
Airscope 2, improvisational shakuhachi/marimba, fixed media (2 tracks), 1984
Kagiroi-no, nohkan, percussion, 1985
L'Aurore, violin, piano, 1985
But All Can Hear (B-A-C-H), marimba, 1985
Go-un – Five Buddhist Aphorisms, cello, ensemble (flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, percussion), 1985
Airscope 3, timpani, marimba, 1986
Nami-no-hazama-ni, shakuhachi, shamisen, 2 13-string koto, 1986–87
Azusayumi, 13-string koto, ensemble (3 13-string koto, 17-string koto), 1987
Optical Poem, double bass, piano, 1987
Optical Time, timpani, 1987
Hingashi-no, shakuhachi, shamisen, 13-string koto, 1987
Kaze-no-rosho 1, nohkan, 1988
Quartet for the Glory of Vice, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, 1988
Interwaves 1, 6 percussion, 1988
Interwaves 2, 2 marimbas, 1989
Aki-no-mai 1 – Autumn Dance 1, kokyū (bowed 3-string instrument from Japan), 1989
Kōchi 2, clarinet, 1989
Aki-no-mai 2, 3 shakuhachi, shamisen, futozao shamisen, biwa (lute from Japan), 2 13-string koto, kokyū, 4 percussion from Japan, 1989
Interwaves 3, percussion, 1990
Sea Space, 13-string koto, violin, piano, 1990
Optical Scope 1, electronic organ, percussion, 1990
Optical Scope 2, French horn, violin, piano, 1991
Kaze-no-rosho 2, 20-string koto, 1991
Optical Wave, 6 percussion, 1992
Quintet, oboe, French horn, violin, cello, piano, 1992
Lyrical Time, organ, 8 rototoms (1 player), 1992
Hi-ten-yu (concerto no. 1), wadaiko, ensemble (clarinet, bassoon, French horn, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass), 1993 (also versions for wadaiko, large orchestra; wadaiko, orchestra of instruments from Japan)
Toward a Time of Dreaming, 2 French horns, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, 1994
Awayuki-no-mai – Dance of the Snowflakes, marimba, 6 percussion, 1994
Aki-no-haoto-ni – To the Sounds of Autumn Leaves, flute, 20-string koto, 1994
DAAD (fanfare), 3 trumpets, 1996
Toki-no-shirabe-ni – To the Air of Time, violin, piano, 1996
Yume-no-omoi-ni – For the Love of a Dream, cello, piano, 1998
Kaze-no-utage I – Festival of the Wind I, any number of yokobue (family of flutes from Japan), 2000
Fantastic Dream, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 2000
Hibiki-no-utage – Festival of Sounds, any ensemble, 2001
Mantra, violin, 2001
Ashi-no-mai – Reed Dance, oboe, 2001
Mantra of Flame, 4 percussion, 2004
Minazuki no oto – Sounds of June, vibraphone, fixed media, 2005
Yobikawashi, shakuhachi, 13-string koto, 2007
Fanfare, ensemble of shakuhachi, 2007
Tisarana – Prayer of the Firmament, oboe, bassoon, piano, 2008
Kaze-no-utage II, trombone, 2010
Prayer (fanfare), 10 trumpets, 2010
Oh, This Tiny Planet Earth (variations), trumpet, organ, 2011
Toward a Brilliant Time (fanfare), 8 trumpets, 2012
Time of Birds, 2 flutes, harp, 2012
Yuragi-hitoha, 30-string koto, 2013
Ikaruga no sō hiki uta – The Koto-Playing Song of Ikaruga, oboe, violin, 2014
CHORAL:
Sorushikosuteki-yoru (text by Katsue Kitasono), 16 mixed voices, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, double bass, 1977
Fanfare, mixed chorus, 1984 (version of vocal work)
Ao-no-rosho (text from a Buddhist sūtra), 1987 (its four sections may be performed separately: Blue; Absolute Poem; Ao-no-sochi; Optical Poem, mixed chorus)
Gogatsu-o-okuru-uta (text by Katsue Kitasono), mixed chorus, piano, 1989
Black Landscape (concertino, text by Katsue Kitasono), female chorus, piano, 1991
Haru-no-garasu – Glass in Spring (text by Katsue Kitasono), mixed chorus, piano, 1992
October Nocturne (text by Katsue Kitasono), female chorus, piano, 1993
Madrigal (concertino, text by Katsue Kitasono), female chorus, piano, 1995
Minami-no-ehon – Picture Book from the South (text by Kunio Kishida), female chorus, 1996
Tenjiku shokei (oratorio, texts from Buddhist sūtras), shōmyō (Buddhist chanter), speaker, children's chorus, mixed chorus, large orchestra, 2000
Tosa-no-fuyu – Winter in Tosa (text from a traditional story from Tosa Province), female chorus, small orchestra, 2003
Festival Overture, 'Yakushi Nyorai', mixed chorus, orchestra, 2009
Aoi-kaze, mixed chorus, 2010
Watashi-ha mirai, children's chorus, 2013
VOCAL:
Yuzukuyo – Moonlit Evening (text from the Kokin Wakashū [10th-century anthology of poems from Japan]), mezzo-soprano, piano, 1974
Ju-kyō (vocalise), soprano, small orchestra, 1975
Koyaseru-tabito (text by Prince Shōtoku), soprano, piano, 1976
Hitori – Alone (text from the Man'yōshū [8th-century anthology of poems from Japan]), soprano, piano, 1984
Fanfare (vocalise), voice, 1984 (also versions for voice, piano, 1984; mixed chorus; 2 French horns, trumpet, trombone, tuba)
Three Haiku of Bashō (text by Matsuo Bashō), soprano, flute, clarinet, bassoon, harp, percussion, 1985
Ao-no-haikei – Blue Background (Buddhist chant, texts from Buddhist sūtras), shōmyō, percussion, 1986
Blue, voice, shakuhachi, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately)
Absolute Poem, soprano, 13-string koto, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately)
Ao-no-sochi, speaker, shamisen, 1987 (section of Ao-no-rosho; may be performed separately)
Azusayumi-mayumi (text from the Nihon Shoki [8th-century collection of classical history from Japan]), voice, 1988
Optical Poem (text by Katsue Kitasono), female voice, flute, violin, cello, piano, 1989
Three Variants (text by the composer), voice, piano, 1994
Hagoromo-no-mai – Dance of the Flying Goddess (text by the composer), speaker, ryūteki, percussion, 1995
Yume-no-ato – Ruins of a Dream (text by Matsuo Bashō), soprano, alto saxophone, 2000
Gasshō – A Prayer (symphony, texts from Buddhist sūtras), shōmyō, small orchestra, 2004
Hiten (cantata), shōmyō from the temple Yakushi-ji in Nara, orchestra, 2008
Ashibiki-no–Nubatama-no (text from the Man'yōshū), voice, 13-string koto, 2008
Mikyo Denrai, shōmyō, 2 small orchestras, 2008
Renri-no-eda, shōmyō, shakuhachi, 2 17-string koto, violin, 2012
Sumō jinku (symphonic poem), yobidashi (voice from sumō), orchestra, 2013
Somedono-no-kisaki, Oni-no-tame ryōran seraruru go, voice, 13-string koto, 2013
PIANO:
Interludium 1, 1981
For Three Times, piano 4 hands, 2001
Time-Rhyme-Light, piano 4 hands, 2003
ORGAN:
Interstellar 2, 1981
Airscope 4, electronic organ, 1988
HARPSICHORD:
Sazanami-ni – To Ripples, 1982
DIDACTIC MUSIC:
Dance Suite for Children, piano, 1983
A Fountain on a Distant Star, piano, 1984
MULTIMEDIA/PERFORMANCE:
Ko-kyō, shakuhachi/ryūteki, double bass, piano, wadaiko/percussion, light installation/calligraphy, 1985
Go-un kai-kuh – Sounds and Lights, variable ensemble of instruments from Asia, light installation, 1991
Dhammapada 1, harp, violin, percussion, ikebana (flower arrangement from Japan), 2001
Dhammapada 2, harp, violin, percussion, kōdō (incense ritual from Japan), 2002
Dhammapada 3, harp, violin, percussion, chadō (tea ceremony from Japan), 2002
Dhammapada 4, harp, violin, percussion, calligraphy, 2003