Publication of the final volume in the "Contemporary Japanese Music" series of musical scores in January, 2008 completed a project of ten year's duration. The bulk of the works contained are pieces commissioned by the National Theatre, Tokyo during the 1980s and 1990s. The collection includes facsimiles of actual scores handwritten by leading contemporary composers of Japan, CD recordings of premiere performances and explanatory notes, with English translations.

Founded in 1966 with a mission of preserving and promoting Japan's traditional performing arts, the National Theatre, Tokyo commissions new musical works that are grounded in traditional methods of staging and performing and hosts the premiere performances of these works. As of January, 2008, the theatre had commissioned 94 works, including gagaku (ancient court music) shomyo (Buddhist-style chanting) and many other genres. Whether one listens for the new possibilities these compositions open up for traditional music or simply takes them as uniquely Japanese contemporary music, this is a collection of much more than passing interest.

Given the relatively few opportunities for repeat performances of these works, this collection of scores and CDs will surely be treasured by music specialists and ordinary music lovers alike.

Note: This site has profiles of three composers included in the collection: Akira Nishimura (Vol. 10), Takashi Yoshimatsu (Vol. 12) and Masataka Matsuo (Vol. 19).

Works Commissioned by the National Theatre, Tokyo
Contemporary Japanese Music (20 volumes)

Edited by	the Japan Arts Council
	Theatre Research and Library Resources Division, Research and Training Department, National Theatre

Published by Shunjusha Publishing Company
TEL +81 (0)3 3255 9611 FAX +81 (0)3 3253 1384 E-mail info@shunjusha.co.jp

Each volume comes with a facsimile of a score handwritten by the composer and a CD of the premiere performance. Volumes marked with an asterisk (*) are priced at 7,350 yen. The price of all others is 6,300 yen each.


Contents (Names of composers and their works)
[ ] = Year composed
◆=Works not commissioned by The National Theatre, but included here for reference.


Vol. 1 ICHIYANAGI Toshi
"Cloud Shore, Wind Roots" for ancient instruments and instruments of the traditional gagaku ensemble [1984]

Vol. 2 MAMIYA Michio
The Path of the White Wind, Nilch'i Ligai - First man and first woman were born from ears of the corn - [Based on KANASEKI Hisao's Japanese translation of Native American myths] [1992]

Vol. 3 ISHII Maki
Kaeru no Sho-Myo [Buddihist Chant of Frogs] Opus 61
for Sho-Myo and Buddhist percussion
-Based on poems by KUSANO Shinpei- [1984]

Vol. 4 TAKAHASHI Yuuji
Astray Among Decayed Strings: Looking Back of My Pieces for Reconstructed Instruments
Song: Zanshi no Kyoku (Gossamer) on a poem by LI He [1988], Ten wo Yumemu (Dream of Heaven) [1989], Unebiyama (Mt. Unebi) [1992], Tori no Asobi (Bird Play) [1993] ◆, Kisshoo-kyoo (Mangalsutta) [1996]
Monograph: Steven G. NELSON, Reconstruction of the Music Instruments of Ancient East Asia - Recovering the Lost Music of an Ancient Epoch

Vol. 5  KANNO Yoshihiro
Sigyoo-Prosession of Light
for gagaku, shoomyoo and and reigaku
- Based of poems by Saigyoo [1995]

Vol. 6  KIKKAWA Kazuo
Rongi Grand Vegetarian Festival
for shoomyoo and kyoogen [1991]

Vol. 7  MIZUNO Shuukoo (*)
Ko no Aiki [1984]
Koshin [1985]
Ten no Ko, Chi no Ko [1986]

Vol. 8 NODA Teruyuki
DAGAKU Sanshoo [1982]
TENRAI [1992]

Vol. 9 NIMI Tokuhide
Yuuhjaku no Mai [1986]
Shigen no Shinju [1995]

Vol. 10 NISHIMURA Akira
Iris of Time -Heterophony for Koto ensemble [1987]
Seishin-Kagura [1992]

Vol. 11 KITAZUME Michio
EISHOO for 2 biwa, 3 sangen and percussions [1989]
YUUEN [1994]

Vol. 12 YOSHIMATSU Takashi
GAGAKU "BIRD DREAM DANCE" [1997]

Vol. 13 FUJIEDA Mamoru
Summer in the Heaven [1988]
Night Chant no.1 [1993]

Vol. 14 MIYASHITA Shin
KOORU [1985]

Vol. 15 NODAIRA Ichiroo
Voyage interieur pour huit instrumentistes de Gagaku [1995-96]
Voix interieur pour shoo [1989] ◆
Interfluve pour shakuhachi, biwa, flute a bec, et luth [2000] ◆
Memoire vive pour trois instruments reconstitues [2000] ◆

Vol. 16 TORIKAI Ushio
Aun no Koe [1995]
Sonbou no Toki [2002] ◆

Vol. 17 YAMAMOTO Hoozan
"Soen" for 2 Shakuhachi [1993]
"Hibiki" for 2 Shakuhachi, Percussion, and Voices [1975] ◆
"Wakyo" for Shakuhachi and Percussion [1995] ◆
"Dialogue and Harmonization" for Shakuhachi and Piano [1979]

Vol. 18 YUASA Jooji
Suite "Fuushi Kooun" [1988]
Koto Uta "Five Haiku from Bashoo" [1978]◆
Cosmos Haptic No.3 "Kokuh" [1990] ◆
To the Genesis for Shoo [1988] ◆

Vol. 19 MATSUO Masataka
KOKO-YUYU [1999]
Utsukushi-no-Miyako III [1996] ◆
SYMPHONIETTA [1996] ◆
DISTRACTION V [1998/2005] ◆
BIWA-YUYU [2007] ◆

Vol. 20 HIROSE Ryoohei
NANMEI GYOHKA [1998]
HARE for Three Shakuhachi [1969] ◆
Ten nights, Ten dreams [1973] ◆