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Koyama Kiyoshige

小山 清茂

Koyama Kiyoshige
2/15/1914 - 6/6/2009

Composer

Kiyoshi Koyama was born in Nagano Prefecture in 1914. His composition teachers included Kornei Abe, a student of composer/conductor Klaus Pringsheim, and Tomojiro Ikenouchi. He didn't turn to composing music until he was almost 30, and although he was strongly nationalistic and influenced by such figures as his contemporary Akira Ifukube, whose work was heavily based on traditional material, Koyama's musical voice didn't emerge until after Japan's imperialist period was over. Known in the postwar era for such works as Shinano-bayashi for Orchestra (1946), Koyama went on to become one of the leading musical figures of his generation, composing one opera, Sanshyo-Dayu, and numerous orchestral works, including the symphonic suite Masque of Noh Play during the 1950s, Hinauta No. 1 for Orchestra and Hinauta No. 2 for Orchestra in the 1970s, as well as pieces for solo piano and chamber ensemble. One of Koyama's most popular and successful works was Kobiki-uta (A Woodcutter's Song), a hauntingly beautiful piece for orchestra, with a striking part for cello. It was derived from a traditional woodcutter's work song heard in Kyushu, western Japan, and the 1957 vintage work is a hybrid mixing Japanese folk sources, timbres, and textures with the shape and substance of western orchestral music traditions. At the outset of the new century, Koyama's work retained its following in Japan, with leading conductors and orchestra performing his music.

Composed or Arranged

Shakuhachi Compositions
Title Kanji Year Alternate Title
Ubusuna うぶすな
1962

Wagakki no Tame no Shijusokyoku 和楽器のための四重奏曲
1962
Quartet for Japanese instruments
Okume - Okiku
1963

Waggaki no Tame no Gassokyoku 和楽器のための合奏曲
1964
Ensemble piece for Japanese instruments
Urashima Taro Kodomo no Yume
1965

Fudo Yonsho 風土四章
1966

Wagakki no Tame no Shijusokyoku Dai Niban 和楽器のための四重奏曲第二番
1968
Quartet for Japanese instruments no.2
Wagakki no Tame no Gojusokyoku 和楽器のための五重奏曲
1973
Quintet for Japanese instruments
Wagakki no Tame no Hensokyoku 和楽器のための変奏曲
1978
Variations for Japanese instruments
Nenyamonya Hensokyoku ねにゃもにゃ変奏曲
1985
Variations Nenyamonya