Mamiya, Michio

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Mamiya, Michio

Mamiya, Michio, Japanese composer; b. Asa-hikawa, Hokkaido, June 29, 1929. He was a student of Ikenouchi at the Tokyo National Univ. of Fine Arts and Music. In his works, Mamiya cultivates national Japanese music in modern forms, with inventive uses of dissonant counterpoint and coloristic instrumentation.

Works

dramatic: Mukashi banashi hitokai Tarobê (A Fable from Olden Times about Tarobê, the Slave Dealer), opera (1959); Elmer’s Adventure, musical (Tokyo Radio, Aug. 28,1967); Narukami, opera (1974); Yonagahime and Mimio, chamber opera (1990). orch.:4 piano concertos: No. 1 (1954), No. 2 (1970), No. 3 (1989–90; Savonlinna, July 22,1990), and No. 4, Scenes for an Unborn Opera (1997); Sym. (1955); 2 violin concertos: No. 1 (Tokyo, June 24, 1959) and No. 2 (1975); 2 Tableau (1965); Serenade (1974); Cello Concerto (1975); Tableau ’85 for Orch. and 8 Tenors (1985); Antler (1989); Singing Birds in the Mountains for Strings (1991). chamber:Cello Sonata (1950); Violin Sonata (1953); Sonata for 2 Violins (1958); Uta for Cello and Piano (1960); 3 Movements for Wind Quintet (1962); Quartet for Japanese Instruments (1962); 2 string quartets (1963, 1980); Sonata for Violin, Piano, Percussion, and Double Bass (1966); Sonata for Solo Cello (1966; rev. 1969); Sonata for Solo Violin (1971); Concerto for 9 Strings (1972); 4 Visions: Tomb of the Fireflies for Chamber Ensemble (1987); Trobriand for Clarinet, Marimba, Percussion, and Double Bass (1997); Cello Sonata (1998). piano:3 Inventions (1955); 3 sonatas (1955; 1973; Spring, 1987); Diferencias (1983); 3 Préludes (1983); Friends of the Earth for Piano, 4-Hands (1985); Piano Trail (1986). vocal:Composition for Chorus Nos. 1-13 (1958–93; many with varying instrumental accompaniment); King of Crow, oratorio (1959); June 15, 1960, oratorio (1961); Serenade I for Soprano, String Quartet, and Piano (1971) and II for Soprano, Viola, and Piano (1986); Brahma-nada for Narrator, Soloists, 2 Pianos, Synthesizer, and Percussion (1987); Nilch’i Ligai for 5 Singers and 3 Percussionists (1992); Wild Pear for Narrator, Flute, String Quartet, and Piano (1996); Kadha for Singer and Cello (1998); cantatas; choruses; songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire