Akira Nishimura

Akira Nishimura
was a Japanese composer from Osaka.
Biography
Nishimura studied composition and musical theory on a graduate course at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He also studied Asian traditional music, religion, aesthetics, cosmology and the heterophonic concepts, all of which had a lasting influence on his music.
Nishimura won several national and international awards, including the 36th Suntory Music Award (2004) and was commissioned by many overseas music festivals.
Nishimura was the judge at the 2007 Toru Takemitsu composition award.
Akira Nishimura died from jaw cancer on 7 September 2023, one day short of his 70th birthday.
Works
Operas
Asters (premiered February 2019)
Hot Rain in August, television opera (1986).
Works with orchestra
"Mantra of the Light", for female choir and orch.
Prelude (1974);
2 symphonies (1976, 1979);
Mutazioni (1977);
2 piano concertos {1979; 1982);
Nostalgia (1983);
Heterophony for 2 Pianos and Orch. (1987);
Navel of the Sun for Hichiriki and Orch. (1989);
Cello Concerto (1990);
Into the Light of the Eternal Chaos (1990);
Tapas, concerto for Bassoon, Percussion, and Strings (1990);
A Ring of Lights, double concerto for Violin, Piano, and Orch. (1991);
Music of Dawn for Japanese Instruments and Orch. (1991);
Hoshi-Mandala (1992);
Astral Concerto: A Mirror of Lights for Ondes Martenot and Orch. (1992);
Birds Heterophony (1993);
Birds in Light (1994);
Fugaku (1994);
A Mirror of Mist for Violin and String Ensemble (1995);
Melos Aura (1995);
Vision in Twilight (1995);
Canticle of Light (1996);
Flame and Shadow, viola concerto (1996);
Monody (1996);
Padma Incarnation (1997);
A Stream—After Dark for Piano and Chamber Orch. (1997);
River of Karuna I for Violin and Strings (1997) and II for Clarinet and Chamber Orch. (1997);
After Glow, violin concerto (1998);
Corps d'arc-en-ciel for chamber orch.(2008);
Serpent in the Sky for Yokobue and Orch. ;
Vision and Mantra for orch.;
Kavira for clarinet and orch.
Chamber works
3 string quartets (Heterophony, 1975, rev. 1987;
Pulse of the Lights, 1992; Avian, 1997);
Kecak for 6 Percussionists (1979);
Tāla for 6 Percussionists (1982);
Khyal for Flute and Piano (1985);
Mãtra for Marimba, Timpani, and 5 Percussionists (1985);
Gaka I: Concrete of Heterophony for Shakuhachi, Flute, Koto, and Cello (1987), III: Generalize of Heterophony for Violin and 2 Pianos (1987), and IV: Heterophonyon Drone for Violin and Cello (1988);
Padma in Meditation for 6 Percussionists (1988);
Timpani Concerto for Timpani and 5 Percussionists (1988);
Kāla for Marimba and 6 Percussionists (1989);
Organums for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Piano, and Vibraphone (1989);
Pipa for 3 Guitars (1989);
Honey of Lights for Nonet (1990);
Voice of the Sun for Marimba, Oboe, Soprano Saxophone, and 2 Percussionists (1991);
Ektāl for 3 Marimba Players and 2 Percussionists (1992);
Silver Cord for Ondes Martenot and Cello (1993);
Mirror of the Moon for Yokobue and 6 Percussionists (1995);
Fragment and Echo for Piano Trio (1996);
Acquatic Aura for Clarinet and Piano (1996);
Light of Padma for Violin and Organ (1996);
Duologue for Timpani and Piano (1996);
Concerto for Flute, Winds, and Percussion (1997);
Lamento for Saxophone and Piano (1997);
Halos for Trumpet and Piano (1998);
Utpala for clarinet (2009);
Bardo I, quintet clarinet and strings.
Piano works
Sonata (1972);
Tritrope (1978);
Penguin Suite (1983; rev. 1989);
Vibrancy Mirrors for 2 Pianos (1985);
Because (1991);
Mirror of the Stars (1992).
Vocal works
Ceremony for 2 Sopranos and Orch. (1973);
Gaka II: Abstraction of Heterophony for Soprano, Clarinet, Violin, and 2 Pianos (1987);
Mana II for Mezzo-soprano and 5 Percussionists (1989);
Mantra of the Light for Women’s Chorus and Orch. (1993);
5 Lyrics from “The Blue Cat” for Women’s Chorus, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano (1996).
Other activities
Tokyo College of Music: professor (composition)
See also
Music of Japan
References
External links
Zen-On Contemporary Composers - Akira Nishimura – Biography, works and discography
A Nishimura Profile
Toru Takemitsu Composition Award homepage
1953 births
2023 deaths
Concert band composers
International Rostrum of Composers prize-winners
Japanese classical composers
Japanese male classical composers
Japanese opera composers
Male opera composers
Musicians from Osaka
Recipients of the Medal with Purple Ribbon
Prize-winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition
Tokyo University of the Arts alumni
Deaths from cancer in Japan