After some good news:-) John Smyth wrote:

>The bad news? I will humbly say that, more often than not, the lack
>of contrast and forward momentum in this very delicate, stream of
>consciousness music causes Takemitsu's rarefied soundworld to lose some of
>its impact.

Contrast is there for those who seek it, forward momentum indeed is not.
Through pulsation rather than rhythm, vertical textures, harmonic clusters,
and complex chords unfold and develop in arcs, bringing sound to dwell and
fade, and break up to give way to new surges of sound.  Multi-levelled
textures become increasingly dense before moving to transparency.  Sound
ripples across the orchestra, which is sometimes spaced out in distinct
instrumental groups, 'antiphony' being written into the music.

His music is the development of sound, not of thematic line. The point is
not expectancy, it is dwelling, dwelling in the moment.

Takemitsu's music is powerful - rich, exquisite, delicate, refined, but -
powerful. His orchestration is outstanding. One can suppose the influence
of Debussy, Scriabin, Berg, Messiaen, Ravel in later life, and of his
native Japan, but his music has its own distinct, highly original voice.

Yes, well, my enthusiasm knows no bounds ;-)  All the above IMHO ...

May I recommend three favourites? They do not 'prettify' his music, but
give it its full dramatic force. Quite beautiful.

1. "Iwaki conducts Takemitsu"; Melbourne S.O./Iwaki; M. Dauth, violin;
guitar, Norio Sato; J. Crellin, oboe d'amore; (Dreamtime, Nostalghia, Vers,
l'Arc-en-Ciel, Palma, Far calls,. Coming, Far!, A Flock descends into the
Pentagonal Garden) ABC Classics 8. 77000 6

2. "Quotation of Dream"; London Sinfonietta/Oliver Knussen; Paul Crossley,
Peter Serkin, pianos; (Quotation of Dream, How Slow the Wind,Twill by
Twilight, Archipelago S, Dream/Window, Day Signal, Night Signal) DG
453495-2 DDD

3. "Chamber Music by Toru Takemitsu", Ensemble Kai; (Between Tides;
Landscape 1, Distance de Fee, Rocking mirror, daybreak, Hoka, A Way a Lone)
BIS-CD-920

(There is an interesting  review of the Knussen by Raymond Tuttle on Dave's
http://www.classical.net/).

Don't heed the titles too soon. Takemitsu's music is not programmatic.

Regards,

Christine Labroche - standing up for Takemitsu ...