Bekku, Sadao
Bekku, Sadao
Bekku, Sadao, Japanese composer; b. Tokyo, May 24, 1922. He studied theoretical physics at the Univ. of Tokyo (1943–50), and then studied composition with Milhaud, Rivier, and Messiaen at the Paris Cons. (1951–54). Returning to Japan, he became engaged in pedagogy; was also a member of the Japanese section of the ISCM from 1955 (president, 1968-73). His works are set in neo-Classical forms, with occasional use of authentic Japanese modalities. He publ. a book on the occult in music (Tokyo, 1971).
Works
Opera: Le Dit les trois femmes, opera buffa (Rome, 1964); Prince Arima (1963-67; Tokyo, March 13, 1967); Aoi-no-ue (1979). ORCH.: Deux prières (Tokyo, May 10, 1956); Symphonietta for Strings (Tokyo, Nov. 27, 1959); 4 syms. (1962, 1977, 1984, 1991); Violin Concerto (Tokyo Radio, Nov. 13, 1969); Viola Concerto (Tokyo, March 3, 1972); Piano Concerto (1981); Cello Concerto (1997). CHAMBER: Trio for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1953); Flute Sonata (1954); 2 Japanese Suites: No. 1 for Wind Quintet (1955) and No. 2 for 12 Instruments and Percussion (1958); String Quartet No. 1 (1955); Violin Sonata (1963–67); Viola Sonata (1969; arr. from the Violin Sonata).Piano: Sonatina (1965); Kaleidoscope, suite (1966); 3 Paraphrases (1968); Sonatina in Classical Style (1969). VOCAL: Choruses.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire