Tanaka, Karen

Tanaka, Karen, Japanese composer; b. Tokyo, April 7, 1961. She began formal composition studies at the age of 10. Following training with Miyoshi at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo (1982-86), she studied with Murail in Paris at IRCAM (1986-88). She then had advanced instruction at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, Canada (1989), and was a pupil of Berio in Florence (1990-91). From 1991 to 1993 she worked at IRCAM.

Works

orch: Prismes (Tokyo, Oct. 16, 1984); Anamorphose for Piano and Orch. (1986; Hilversum, Sept. 13, 1987); Hommage en cristal for Piano and Strings (Oslo, Oct. 22, 1991); Initium (1992; Tokyo, June 23, 1993); Wave Mechanics I (Tokyo, Aug. 23, 1994); Echo Canyon (Nagoya, Nov. 26, 1995); Frozen Horizon (Bergen, May 22, 1998). CHAMBER: Tristesse for Flute, Violin, and Piano (Tokyo, Oct. 12, 1983); Lilas for Cello (Amsterdam, Sept. 10, 1988); Wave Mechanics II for Violin and Computer (Kobe, Nov. 26, 1994); Polarization for 2 Percussionists (1994; Radio France, Paris, Feb. 11, 1995); Metallic Crystal for Percussionist, Computer, and Live Electronics (1994-95; Paris, June 26, 1995); Night Bird for Tenor Saxophone (1996); Invisible Curve for Flute, Violin, Viola, Cello, and Piano (Yokohama, June 30, 1996); The Song of Songs for Cello and Computer (Mito, Nov. 10, 1996); Metal Strings for String Quartet (Tokyo, Nov. 27, 1996); At the Grave of Beethoven for String Quartet (1999); Water and Stone for 8 Players (1999; Paris, March 4, 2000). KEYBOARD: Piano: Crystalline I (Tokyo, Sept. 7, 1988) and II (1995-96; Yokohama, Jan. 19, 1996); The Zoo in the Sky (1994-95). Harpsichord: Jardin des herbes (Tokyo, March 3, 1988). TAPE: Inuit Voices (1997); Questions of Nature (1998)

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire