Passing of Japanese composer Isao Matsushita felt throughout Asia Pacific

On September 16 Japan lost its veteran composer Isao Matsushita, who passed away at the age of 66. He was vice president of Tokyo University of the Arts, Professor of Performing Arts Center and President of the Japan federation of Composers (JFC).

His departure was strongly felt throughout the  Asia Pacific region.

According to his biography, Matsushita obtained both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Matsushita has participated in several music festivals, such as the "World Music Days of International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM) Festival in Graz '82, in Hong
Kong 1988, in Mexico 1993", "Horizonte Festival Berlin '85", "European Music Days Copenhagen '85", "Invention Festival Berlin '86" and so on. His composition, "TOKI-NO-ITO 1 (Threads of Time) for String Quartet" took first prize in the Moenchengladbach International Composition Competition in West Germany in 1985. In 1986, Matsushita gained the seventh annual Irino Prize with "TOKI-NO-ITO 2 (Threads of Time) for Piano and Orchestra."


In 1994 his composition ”Hi-Ten-Yu” (Fly Heaven Play) for Japanese Drums and octet was premiered by Berlin Philharmonic Scharoun Ensemble, then it was rewritten by himself as the Concerto for Japanese Drums and Orchestra in 1996, since then it has been performed all over the world. In 2000 it was performed by Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kent Nagano. His Opera "Shinano-no-Kuni, Zenkoji-Story" was premiered as cultural Program of Winter Olympic Game 1998 in Nagano.In 1999 “ Fujito” for Noh and Strings Quartet was premiered inTokyoOn the same year he produced the concerts of “Asian Arts Festival” presented by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.