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Ugetsufu

雨月譜

[Genre]Modern
[Also Known As]Rain and Moon music
[Composed]Yoshimatsu Takashi - Shakuhachi - 1980
Yoshimatsu Takashi - Koto - 1980

History (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 Artist
Play ButtonMasters of Zen - Ugetsufu Koto : Kuribayashi Hideaki
Shakuhachi : 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.
Play ButtonUgetsufu Shakuhachi : 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.