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10/11/1967 - Young Composers and Mr. Watanabe by Roger Reynolds

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD A FFAIRS Uguisudani machi Young Composers Mr Watanabe Shibuya Tokyo October Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue York N Y Dear Dick Art produce tends comfortable experience because methods often familiar saf___e experience because challenge indeed raised remote places finally perhaps significantly respectable experience because value certified sieve laurels commentators For advanced societies truism honored preserved The process preservation broadly institu tionalized Governments expected support maintain their country cultural heritage public taste ceased demand understand This certainly Japan Although assimilation always prime factor evolutio Japanese culture effect strong during centuries Chinese Korean influences stimulated redirected shaped taste Japanese patrons hence artists More recently their encounter West Japanese tended adopted procedures traditional There Japanese Painting Painting Japanese Music Western Music Each discipline sponsors separate training system these produc_ specialists The Japanese orchestral flutist likely about technique literature shakuhachi corder instrument capable stunning subtlety power while flutist traditional Nob Drama probably acquainted either Western flute staple Bach Sonatas Not study compart mentalized until recently traditions Japanese Western taught under After Second World War department Japanese Music formed Tokyo University Arts governmentally supported school several departments smallest oward primary traditional forms N Bunraku Kabuki Gagaku Japanese government responsive It sponsored recently completed National lheater Tokyo special facilities traditional productions under possible circum stances The building somewhat controversial archi tecturally being compromise between traditional moaern concepts seems ideal spectator point Further government certified number objects places persons national treasures while others designated important treasures In effect financial social stability legislated items concerned contemporary artist working field Western style music tunate In cities there numerous galleries which distribute paintings prints sculpture cover gamut taste There apparently normal paths obscurity recognition prizes notorious activities stature accompanying income makes relative gentlemen youthful perimentalists elsewhere The artist sculptor advantage musician course production objects Having something which bought owned least potentially solvent given talent sufficient sense Galleries stables publish catalogs advertise entertain visiting critics potential buyers familiar fashion If artist success likely means moving New York Paris likely sometimes seems The composer normally requires longer period artist order produce composltion except electron music secure performance before merits emerge In product successful possessed No symphony In willing privilege unfamiliar piece music recording The pressure fresh invention today composers stronger their colleagues plastic A painter sculptor striking Or novel safely allow proliferate because represents performance central image outlook A musical performed diversely widely basis single score master diversity built The poser restrained contemporary techniques fashion generating dozens sonatas symphonies manner predecessors These conditions understood composers simple matters however regrettable Having accepted essentially thing which But commodity albeit minimal always Some countries provide governmental support others through private foundations sible combine practical personal It notable incidentally private sponsorship sense individual sponsorship musical works almost disappeared though wealthy avidly collect objects which considered investments declined important factor exercise connolsseur individ judgement oppose collective thereby compro mised choice In Japan neither government private foundations assisting young composers develop their abilities through which opportunity public private hearings There teaching positions course composers important inter industrial freedom iving writing television movies radio still facile enough devote serious personal projects In United States generally The worlds Broadway Hollywood television separate inviolate One belongs exhausting financially rewarding master But lancing where possible entirely satisfactory compromise since bread butter generally involves total commitments deadlines associated strains compromises One reject proposal another ready source cannot found These factors particularly meaningful which lacks speed producing common practice conventions which surely guide composer fective rearrangements familiar sound patterns fragmented lance compo demands large scale compositions forcing compromise trunca Commissions supply entirely satisfactory answer dilemma differ prizes important feature award stipend before rather after The composer allowed aside certain period months depending amount money involved dimension planned which devoted completing project A commission expression confidence It offers enticement secure performance commitment allows relatively distraction These important matters because without structure supports composer avoid difficult musical entanglements Ease other natural feature contemporary musical environment The above fanfare offered assuring subject report prcperly assessed important factor certainly contempora Japanese musical RR Toshiro Mayuzumi PHONOLOGIE SYMPHONIQUE Akio Yashiro SYMPHONY Ito CONCEI TO F01 JAPANESE FLUTES Michio Mamiya VIOLIN CONCERTO Yoshiro Irino SYMPHONY Kiyoshige Koyama NOH MASKS Akira Miyoshi THREE SYMPHONIC MOVEMENTS Minao Shibata SINFONIA Toru Takemitsu MUSIC OF TREE Kiyoshige Koyama SYMPHONIC POEM Sado Bekku SYMPHONY No Toru Takemitsu CORAL ISLAND Toshiro Mayuzumi ESSAY FOR STIINGS Naozumi Yamamoto RHAPSODY FOR JAPANESE INSTRUMENTS AND ORCHESTRA Yoritsune Matsudaira TWO MOVEMSNTS FiOM BUGAKU Yasuji Kiyose SKETCH OF JAPAN Sabura Takada WORDLESS TEARS POEMS BY KENJI MIYAZAWA Komel Abe SYMPHONETTA Teizo Matsumura SYMPHONY Makoto Morol SYMPHONIC SKETCHES Mich Mamiya DOUBLE ONC3RT0 GROSS0 Teru3rukl Noda SYNFONIE Op Yusushi Akutagawa OSTINATO SINFONICA Joji Yuasa PROJECTION FOR KOTOS AND ORCHESTRA FLOWER BII D WIND MOON Above A Japan Philharmonic Bunka Network Commissions Right Conductor Akeo Watanabe rehearsal RR In Akeo Watanabe approached incoming director Nihon Cultural Broadcasting System Shigeo Mizuno proposal sponsor creation orchestra Mr Mizuno agreed Japan Philharmonic began concerts following Spring The orchestra under Watanabe direc given seasons concerts since dozens recordings Its membership entirely Japanese exception concertmasters formerly Broadus Erle presently Louis Graeler Mr Watanabe trained Tokyo University Arts where presently senior professor conducting Japanese Finnish ancestry He speaks quietly confidently modest pride about achievements orchestra In meetings I particularly interested hearing about commissioning series Japan Philharmonic sponsored Watanabe explained program basic orchestra inception Like clear headed colleagues Watanabe believes without support contemporary products superior quality orchestra survive culture another thirty fifty years Unless composers continue produce music which reflects contemporary society values methods orchestra museum archive rather forum It opinion admirable orchestral institutions already final stages process Another incentive commission series Watanabe belief order achieve genuine understanding Western music tradition Japanese audience needs experience native excellence projected insights craft Japanese composer Western approaches materials might appear revealing light Being largest vehicle Western musical expression orchestra accept widest range approaches Attempts orchestrating traditional Japanese musical materials strike Watanabe being conscious somewhat artificial inclusion Oriental ingredients Western composers strikes exotic strict sense fully acclimatized The desirable feels gradual emergence music which though internationally intelligible retains evidences special manners outlooks nation whose artists produced Mr Watanabe condemn nationalistic however points composers abstract nationalistic always coexisted Nonetheless impression looking orchestra programs prefers abstract international approach The commission program began admirable objective providing equivalent months living expenses award Cost living risen since though RR Watanabe regrets commission stipend The amount still substantial exceed given United States cases The composer allowed months complete composition Watanabe smilingly noted FULL always consumed tradition final rehearsal observed elsewhere Unlike conductors Watanabe invites encourages composer attend rehearsals pleased comment If composer differs conductor usually receives demonstration If persists conduc accept On point Watanabe observed composers broad classes those encourage whatever expressive liberties feels appropriate those desire performance exactly tailored score While conductors inhibit comment another grouping composers acquiescent class default Watanabe technical clarity personal graciousness probably allow quite direct exchange views He careful student scores conducts whether Handel Mayuzumi performances tapes contemporary music welcome encouraging impres authority This skill attitude It unreasonable expect Watanabe should immediately comfortable style content genuinely contemporary musical expression delighted composer available questions The includes Japan Philharmonic commissions additional sponsoring Bunka Network The awards committee including orchestra manager orchestra members conductort primary responsibility sugges final decision consistently Watanabe excellent instance individual taste action A notes should appended Approximately composers young under thirty relatively unknown received commissions Overall commissioning twenty sixties Less quarter pieces traditional Japanese musical materials though impetus Japanese those which Yamamoto RHAPSODY includes spicuously elements improvisation The importance opportunity which these commissions provide younger composers attested scale which decide Mayuzumi Miyoshi Moroi Noda Takemitsu produced works running excess twenty minutes These products represent major steps development steps which probability could taken certainly early stage without multiple support Watanabe commissions Awards contests welcome commissions respective responsibilities where ought RR The Japan Philharmonic intended issue performances recordings through Japanese Columbia possible A number recordings issued significantly performances taped available composers Conductor Watanabe given essential repeat performances commissions Japan guest conductor America urope There remains question evaluating music itself granted prOject impressive paper It pleasure report hours listening revealed level quality terms skill content Watanabe himself generally pleased result choices I understand orchestra fully cooperative Having attended several premieres I testify enthusiasm audiences The substantial ambitious works include Takemitsu MUSIC TREE CORAL ISLAND Matsumura SYMPHONY Mayuzumi PHONOLOGIE SYMPHONIQUE THREE SYMPHONIC MOVEMENTS Akira Miyoshi These works strength relevance strong impression concert programs anywhere And conservative modest products older generation honesty craft which admire With exception several members avant garde notably Toshi Ichiyanagi Yujl Takahashi commissions would catholic quite complete The precision Watanabe taste estimated composers first received second invitations though formative stages indisputably emerged Japan leading composers Takemitsu Mayuzumi They received widespread performance Europe America published C F Peters Corporation New York recordings their credit There question about importance which early repeated confidence before providing essential condition which composer serious gTips No number stolen hours after crowded teaching schedule between appointments lance assignments collection interims short provide quality insight consistency essential optimum results Received New York October