Home People Pieces Recordings Bibliography Schools Glossary Sites & Events Teachers Join the ISS Log In

Miki Minoru

三木 稔

Miki Minoru
3/16/1930 - 12/8/2011

Composer
http://www.m-miki.com/

Minoru MIKI was born in Tokushima, Japan in 1930 and graduated from Tokyo National University of Music a composition major. He founded Pro Musica Nipponia in 1964 and served as Artistic Director for 20 years, leading the contemporary Japanese instrumental world and producing over 160 performances abroad in his efforts to internationalize traditional Japanese instruments. Among his acclaimed works are Paraphrase After Ancient Japanese Music,Convexity, Four Seasons, Hote, Concerto Requiem, Ki-no-Kane, and many others. His four records phonograph album "The Music of Minoru Miki" took the Grand Prize in Japan's 1970 National Arts Festival.

He composed variable pieces for the 20-string koto, but main solo works are Tennyo, Venus in Spring and Autumn, From the East and 20 Ballades for koto solo including Hanayagi (Greening). His next four records album "Minoru Miki- Keiko Nosaka/Music for 20-string koto" won the Prize of Excellence in 1979 Festival.

He composed Kyu-no-Kyoku (Symphony for Two Worlds), commissioned by the Leipzig Gewandhous Orchestra for its bicentennial celebration and world premiered in 1981 conducted by Kurt Masur (American premiered by the New York Philharmonic in 1994). Thus completed Eurasian Trilogy (Jo-no-Kyoku, Ha-no-Kyoku, Kyu-no-Kyoku) which links Japanese instruments with a symphony orchestra.

In 1993, when Orchestra Asia(ORA) was founded combinding Japanese-Chinese-Korean instruments, he was installed as Artistic Director and composed Folk Symphony “Den-Den-Den” , Loulan as a Dream, Pipa Concerto, and Soul 2000. Its Japanese instrumental section has started activities as ORA-J in 1998 under Miki’s direction.

Albums

Collection of Choral Masterworks 21 - Requiem Collection of Choral Masterworks 21 - Requiem

Contemporary Music in Japan 21 Contemporary Music in Japan 21

Minoru Miki Ballades for Koto Solo Disc 1 Minoru Miki Ballades for Koto Solo Disc 1

Minoru Miki Ballades for Koto Solo Disc 2 Minoru Miki Ballades for Koto Solo Disc 2

Minoru Miki Selected Works I Minoru Miki Selected Works I

Minoru Miki Selected Works II Minoru Miki Selected Works II

Minoru Miki Selected Works IV Disc 1 Minoru Miki Selected Works IV Disc 1

Minoru Miki Selected Works IV Disc 2 Minoru Miki Selected Works IV Disc 2

Minoru Miki Selected Works V Disc 1 Minoru Miki Selected Works V Disc 1

Minoru Miki Selected Works V Disc 2 Minoru Miki Selected Works V Disc 2

Minoru Miki Selected Works VI Minoru Miki Selected Works VI

Composed or Arranged

Shakuhachi Compositions
Title Kanji Year Alternate Title
Autumn Fantasy


Convexity - Concerto for Three Ensembles and Japanese Drums Part 1 凸 三群の三曲と日本太鼓のための協奏曲 一


Convexity - Concerto for Three Ensembles and Japanese Drums Part 2 凸 三群の三曲と日本太鼓のための協奏曲 二


Figures for Four Groups - 2. Iki 四群のための形象


Kuradando - Cantata for Mixed Chorus and Japanese Instruments くるだんど 奄美の旋律による混声合唱と日本楽器のためのカンタータ


Paraphrase - after Ancient Dances: Gaika 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ: 耀歌


Paraphrase - after Ancient Dances: Prelude 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ: 前奏曲


Paraphrase - after Ancient Dances: Sōmon 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ: 相聞


Paraphrase - after Ancient Dances: Song of Ruika 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ: 誄歌


Paraphrase - after Ancient Dances: Tanomai 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ: 田舞


Sonnet ソネット
1962

Kurudando くるだんど
1963

Tsugaru ni Yoru Paraphrase 津軽によるパラフレーズ
1966

Yongun no Tame no Keisho Iki 四群のための形象 居機
1967

Habataki no Uta はばたきの歌
1968

Jo no Kyoku 序の曲
1969

Kokyo 孤響
1970

Kyosokyoku Totsu
1970
Concerto Totsu
Awa no Kotanukitan
1971

Miyabi no Uta - Hinaburi no Odori
1971

Dance Konserutanto Dai Ichiban Shiki 〈四季〉ダンス・コンセルタント I
1973
Dance concertanto no.1 Shiki
Ne - Tori
1973

Yukage no Uta 夕影の詩
1973

Ki Do Ai Raku 喜・怒・哀・楽
1974

Koei 孤影
1974

Opera Shunkinsho
1975

Hote 巨火
1976

Wa
1976

Dance Concertanto Dai Niban Narutohicho
1977
Dance concertanto no.2 Narutohicho
Taro Otogi Zoshi (cantata) Rokkei
1977

Ai - Shika no Tône
1978

Kagaku Tsuru
1978

Matsu Yo 松よ
1979

Aki no Kyoku (Modern) 秋の曲
1980
Autumn Fantasy
Dance Concertanto Dai Sanban Hachiro Monogatari
1980
Dance concertanto no.3 Hachiro monogatari
Sho Kumikyoku - 1980
1980
A little suite
Concerto Requiem (Koto Kyosokyoku Dai Sanban) コンチェルト・レクイエム(箏協奏曲第三番)
1981
Concerto requiem (Koto concerto no.3)
Iwaki Odori いわきおどり
1981

Kyu no Kyoku
1981
Symphony For Two Worlds
Sonnet II Tanabata no Kyoku
1982

Sonnet III Yama Chidori
1982

Sonnet IV ソネットⅣ
1982

Sonnet V Kinkakufu
1982

Toge no Muko Ni Nani Ga Aruka 峠の向かうに何があるか
1982

Musical Opera Uta Yomizaru
1983

Saiko Jokyoku 彩紅序曲
1983
Overture Saiko
Dance Concertanto Dai Yonban Kita no Uta
1984
Dance concertanto no.4 Kita no uta
Matsu no Kyosokyoku - Koto Kyosokyoku Dai Yonban
1984
Concerto of Matsu (Koto concerto no.4)
Opera Joruri
1985

Ruri Hikyoku 瑠璃秘曲
1985

Yui III
1985
Flowers And Water
SOUL
1989

Soul I - Tamashizume II - Tamafuri
1989

Ki no Kane 黄の鐘
1992

Musical Opera Yomigaeru
1992

Opera Orochi Den
1992

Terute to Oguri 照手と小栗
1993

Folk Symphony Den Den Den
1994

Lotus Poem ロータス・ポエム
1994

Yume Roran - Orchestra Asia no Tame Ni
1996
Loulan as a dream for the Orchestra Asia
Daichi no Kioku
2000
Memory of the Earth
Koto
Aki no hi (Nogiku Michiko) あきのひ (のぎくみちこ)


Autumn Fantasy


Ballades for Koto Solo - Autumn - A West Wind Brings…


Ballades for Koto Solo - Autumn - Migrating Birds


Ballades for Koto Solo - Autumn - Moonlight on the Journey


Ballades for Koto Solo - Autumn - Scarecrows


Ballades for Koto Solo - Autumn - Tower on the Lake


Ballades for Koto Solo - Spring - A Young Sprout


Ballades for Koto Solo - Spring - Around My Country


Ballades for Koto Solo - Spring - March


Ballades for Koto Solo - Spring - Skylark


Ballades for Koto Solo - Spring - The Greening


Ballades for Koto Solo - Summer - A Dewdrop


Ballades for Koto Solo - Summer - A Squall


Ballades for Koto Solo - Summer - Dancing Girls in Sanar


Ballades for Koto Solo - Summer - To the South


Ballades for Koto Solo - Summer - Under the White Wind


Ballades for Koto Solo - Winter - A Winter Night


Ballades for Koto Solo - Winter - Little Overture


Ballades for Koto Solo - Winter - Lullaby for My Doll


Ballades for Koto Solo - Winter - The Coming of Spring


Ballades for Koto Solo - Winter - The Longing


Concerto Requiem


Dentari no Hikkondari (Katatsumuri denkichi) でたりひっこんだり (かたつむりでんきち)


Donguri (Ko nezumi shun) どんぐり (こねずみしゅん)


Figures for Four Groups - 1. Aya 四群のための形象


Figures for Four Groups - 4. Toh 四群のための形象


Fuyu no Hi (Ochiba sei ichi) ふゆのひ (おちばせいいち)


Ha no Kyoku


Hana no Michi (Age wa Yuriko) はなのみち (あげはゆりこ)


Hanayagi 華やぎ


Haru ga Kita (Usagi futa go) はるがきた (うさぎふたご)

Spring is Here (A Pair of Rabbits)
Hi ga Shizumu (Yū hi Osamu) ひがしずむ (ゆうひおさむ)


Jan ken pon (sawaga ni yoshi o) じゃんけんぽん (さわがによしお)

Rock, Paper, Scissors
Jo no Kyoku 序の曲


Kagaku `BERO-DASHI CHOMMA'(words by Saitō Ryūsuke) 歌楽 「ベロ出しチョンマ」(作:斉藤隆介)


Koto Tanshishu


Kyu no Kyoku

Symphony For Two Worlds
Mebae 芽生え

Young Sprout
Min'na ga Utau Tenten no Uta みんながうたう てんてんのうた


Mugi Mugi Ondo (Mugi ren zaburō) むぎむぎおんど (むぎれんざぶろう)


Nana Iro Doremi (Niji hime ko) なないろドレミ (にじひめこ)


Ogawa no Māchi (Guru pumedaka) おがわのマーチ (ぐるーぷめだか)

Ogawa's March (Guru Pumedaka)
Ore wa Kamakiri (Kamakiri ryūji) おれはかまきり (かまきりりゅうじ)


Oto (Ike Shizuko) おと (いけしずこ)


Paraphrase 古代舞曲によるパラフレーズ

Paraphrase after ancient Japanese music
Sabishī yoru (Kōrogi shin saku) さびしいよる (こおろぎしんさく)


Sanpo (Arinkota kuji) さんぽ (ありんこたくじ)


Sao no Kyoku 佐保の曲

Spring Song
Shiyokujinojikan (Ahiru hiyoko) しょくじのじかん (あひるひよこ)


Song of the Birds


Tanjō bi (Kaeru Takuo) たんじょうび (かえるたくお)


Tatsuta no Kyoku


Tennyo 天如


Umi Yo (Yobikake no uta)/ Wata gumo yo (o henji no uta) うみよ (よびかけのうた) / わたぐもよ (おへんじのうた)


Yama no Komori Uta (Kogu ma kyō ko) やまのこもりうた (こぐまきょうこ)


Yoru no Sora (Tsuki Toshiko) よるのそら (つきとしこ)


Higashi Kara
1979

Rhapsody for Twenty-string Koto
1984

SOUL
1989

Shamisen
Figures for Four Groups - 3. Kuse 四群のための形象


Kyoku (Kuse) 曲(くせ)
1969

SOUL
1989

Publications

Title Kanji Publisher Year Pages Language
Composing for Japanese Instruments (translated by Marty Regan; edited by Philip Flavin)

University of Rochester Press 2008 256 English