Matsushita, Shinichi

Matsushita, Shinichi, Japanese composer; b. Osaka, Oct. 1, 1922; d. there, Dec. 25, 1990. He graduated in mathematics from the Kyushu Univ. in Fukuoka in 1947 and concurrently studied music. In 1958 he went to work in an electronic music studio in Osaka. He taught both mathematics and music at the Univ. of Osaka City. In his music, he followed cosmopolitan modernistic techniques, mostly of a functional, pragmatic nature.

Works

dramatic: radio opera:Comparing Notes on a Rainy Night (1960); Amayo (1960). orch.: Ouvrage symphonique for Piano and Orch. (1957); Isomorfismi (1958); Sinfonia “Le Dimensioni” (1961); Successioni for Chamber Orch. (Radio Palermo, Oct. 1, 1962); Serenade for Flute and Orch. (1967); Sinfonie Pol for Orch., Harp, and Piano (1968); Astrate Atem for Orch., Harp, and Piano (1969–70); Idylle, violin concerto (1983); Ein Neues Lied (1984); Ethno (1984); Nippon Capriccio (1987); Sym. No. 7 (1988). chamber: Correlazioni per 3 gruppi for 12 Players (1958); Composizione da camera per 8 (1958); 5 tempi per undid for 11 Instruments (1958–59); Faisceaux for Flute, Cello, and Piano (1959); Cube for 3 Players for Flute, Celesta, and Viola (1961); Meta-Musique No. 1 for Piano, Horn, and Percussion (1962); Uro for Chamber Ensemble (1962); Sinfonia “Vita” (1963); Fresque sonore for 7 Instruments (1964); Hexahedra A, B and C for Piano and Percussion (1964–65); Kristalle for Piano Quartet (1966); Alleluja in der Einsamkeit for Guitar, Piccolo, and 2 Percussionists (1967); Subject 17 for Piano, Percussion, Horn, Trumpet, and Trombone (San Francisco, Oct. 31, 1967); Haleines astrales for Chamber Ensemble (1968); Musik von der Liebe for Flute, Vibraphone, Harp, Piano, Electone, and Tape (1970); Musik der Steinzeit for Violin, Ondes Martenot, Tape, and the sound of Cracking Stone (1970); String Quartet (1988). keyboard: piano: Spectra 1-4 (1964; 1967; for 2 Players, 1971; 1971); Ostinato obbligato (1972); Spectra No. 6, 12 Bagatelles (1984). organ:Mini- Max for Organ, 4-Hands (1984); Konzentrazion (1988). vocal:Le Croitre noir for Chorus, Electronic and Musique Concrète Sounds, Piano, Harp, and Percussion (Osaka, Nov. 14, 1959); Jet Pilot for Narrator, Orch., String Quartet, and Women’s Chorus (1960); Musique for Soprano and Chamber Ensemble (Osaka, Sept. 14, 1964); Requiem on the Place of Execution for 4 Soloists, Chorus, Orch., and Tape (1970).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire