The International Shakuhachi Society

Home

Schools

Discography

Lineage Charts

Pieces

People

Glossary

Other Sites

Teachers

Governors

For Sale

Member's Area

This is a Modern piece . Ugetsufu is also known as: Rain and Moon music. This piece was composed for shakuhachi by Yoshimatsu Takashi in 1980 . This piece was composed for koto by Yoshimatsu Takashi in 1980 .

History (from Sugawara Kuniyoshi)
In 1980, composer Yoshimatsu and Sugawara were members of an odd group which combined jazz and traditional Japanese music. This work, written for and premiered by Sugawara, is one of Yoshimatsu's first compositions. Rather than a work which is scored in the conventional manner, there are four sheets of music, one for each season of the year. The form develops freely as each performer realizes his or her own individual part. The parts sound together, but with an improvisatory feeling. Ugetsufu means Rain and Moon Music. The composer chose this title to lyrically represent the bringing together of traditional Japanese instruments in a purely Western-style ensemble.

Ugetsufu appears on the following albums:

Album	Shakuhachi	Koto	Shamisen
Masters of Zen - Ugetsufu  (Listen)	Sugawara Kuniyoshi	Kuribayashi Hideaki
In 1980, composer Yoshimatsu and Sugawara were members of an odd group which combined jazz and traditional Japanese music. This work, written for and premiered by Sugawara, is one of Yoshimatsu's first compositions. Rather than a work which is scored in the conventional manner, there are four sheets of music, one for each season of the year. The form develops freely as each performer realizes his or her own individual part. The parts sound together, but with an improvisatory feeling. Ugetsufu means Rain and Moon Music. The composer chose this title to lyrically represent the bringing together of traditional Japanese instruments in a purely Western-style ensemble.
Ugetsufu  (Listen)	Sugawara Kuniyoshi
In 1980, composer Yoshimatsu and Sugawara were members of an odd group which combined jazz and traditional Japanese music. This work, written for and premiered by Sugawara, is one of Yoshimatsu's first compositions. Rather than a work which is scored in the conventional manner, there are four sheets of music, one for each season of the year. The form develops freely as each performer realizes his or her own individual part. The parts sound together, but with an improvisatory feeling. "Ugetsufu" means "Rain and Moon Music." The composer chose this title to lyrically represent the bringing together of traditional Japanese instruments in a purely Western-style ensemble. Takashi Yoshimatsu was born in Tokyo in 1953, and is a graduate of the College of Engineering at Keio University. While pursuing his love of jazz and rock music, he taught himself composition. He is particularly interested in contemporary music. He has written works for both Western and non-Western instruments and several of his compositions have been recorded. In 1985 his "Concerto for Guitar" received a prize from the Japanese Cultural Affairs Agency.