Masaru Kawasaki

Biography

Born in Tokyo, Japan as the son of an opera singer, he was in his second year at music school when he was drafted into the Second Unit, Hiroshima Transport Corps of the Japanese army, age 19. This took him to Hiroshima, where he worked on sonar due to his good hearing (but poor sight). He was there when the city was obliterated by the atomic bomb in 1945, suffering horrendous injuries which were still being treated 60 years later. He is thus a Hibakusha.

After the war he studied at Tokyo University of the Arts under Saburō Moroi, graduating in 1949. Later, in 1965-66 he had the opportunity to study further at the Juilliard School of Music, in New York, under Vincent Persichetti and Václav Nelhýbel.

He was professor of composition, music theory and flute at Tokoha Gakuen University, lecturer in flute and woodwind ensemble at Tokyo University of the Arts, and director of 'Tokyo Wind Symphony Orchestra' ja:東京吹奏楽団.

He was active in WASBE, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and the Japanese Bandmasters Association.

He also was musical director from 1979 to 1994 of the "International Youth Musicale" in Shizuoka, Japan, and took part as adjudicator in many international music competitions. He himself won numerous awards, such as the Composition Prize of the Ministry of Education (1956), NHK Presidential Composition Prize (1956; both at the National Arts Festival), and UNESCO fellowship for Creative Artist (1966-1967).

He has written opera, solo and ensemble pieces including many for wind band, and published many works for and about this format.

Despite initially being reluctant to take up the atomic bombing as a theme in his music, he eventually felt he had a "mission as an A-bomb victim" and in 1975 composed the first in a series of "Prayer music", the "Dirge" which was requested by and dedicated to the city of Hiroshima and has since been played every year on August 6 at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. As of 2012 he was still composing pieces in this series, and has said "I have made it a personal commitment to continue creating compositions in tribute to all the victims of the atomic bomb".

He now lives in Chigasaki, with his dog. He has two sons from his wife Taeko Koide, and enjoys gardening. Some of his children and grandchildren have worked or attended university in the U.S.A. and his own works have also been published in America.

Orchestral Works

Wind Band Works

Stage Works

Vocal/Choral Works

Chamber Music etc.

Works for flute choir or flute orchestra