Kenjiro Ezaki (Japanese: 江崎健次郎, Hepburn: Ezaki Kenjiro, born 27 October 1926) is a Japanese composer of contemporary classical music, especially famous for his electronic music and computer music.

Kenjiro Ezaki
江崎 健次郎
Born(1926-10-27)27 October 1926
Occupationcomposer

Biography

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Kenjiro Ezaki was born in Tainan (Taiwan). He studied at the Nihon University in Tokyo from 1953 to 1957 under Yoritsune Matsudaira and later under Vladimir Ussachevsky at the Columbia-Princeton Electronic Music Center.[1] During his early years he received two composition awards: The first prize at Music Composition of Japan in 1956 and a first prize at the ISCM World Music Days in 1962[2] where his composition Beating was performed[3]

After his return to Japan Kenjiro Ezaki founded his own electronic music studio and was a member of a composer group called "Group Design"[4] which focused on electronic and computer music. Other members of this group were Norihiko Wada, Satoshi Sumitani, and Komei Hayama. Ezaki was also a member of GROUP 20.5, a circle of Japanese composers of avantgarde music that was founded by Hifumi Shimoyama.[5]

Ezaki composed the first known Japanese fully computer-based composition, which was premiered at the Expo '70 in Osaka.[4]

Compositions

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  • Symphonic poem for orchestra Japanese scenery (1958)
  • Presage by the system of mobile Configuration for Full Orchestra (1964 )
  • Omen for Full Orchestra by the Modified System (1964)
  • Concretion for violin, viola and cello (1962)
  • Piano trio (1964)
  • Pharos No.2 for flute, clarinet, oboe and piano (1964)
  • Composition 5, for flute, 2 guitars, cello, percussion and soprano (1965)
  • Nodule for guitar (1964)
  • Discretion for female voice (女声のためのディスクレション), for soprano and piano (1961)
  • Discretation for soprano (1962)
  • Concretion for three voices for soprano, tenor and baritone (1960)
  • Beating for three voices and percussion (1960)
  • Instruments, for soprano, tenor, bass and percussion (1961)
  • Dim Light for chorus and six instruments, for mixed chorus and flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, cello and percussion (1962)
  • Moving Pulses (三声と打楽器のための動く鼓動) for three voices and percussion (1965)
  • Music for guitar and electronic sound (ギターと電子音のための音楽)(1967)

References

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  1. ^ Slonimsky, Nicolas & Laura Diane Kuhn (2001): Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. New York: Schirmer Books.
  2. ^ Suntory Foundation (Ed., 2006): Works by Japanese Composers 2005-2006. Can be found at http://www.suntory.com/sfa/music/publication/pdf/list2006.pdf
  3. ^ "国際現代音楽協会(Iscm) | 特定非営利活動法人日本現代音楽協会(国際現代音楽協会日本支部)". 16 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b Shimatzu, Takehito (1993). "Zur Situation der Computer Musik in Japan. Decime E Mitteilung 10, Technische Universitaet Berlin". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  5. ^ website of the composer Hifumi Shimoyama, see: http://shimo123.music.coocan.jp/text1.html