" Yes, I studied music by myself -
I did not go to any school. Of course I studied privately for
a very short period with Mr.Yasuji Kiyose. I brought some of
my pieces to him for evaluation, but he did not teach me any
technical fundamentals about music. He just spoke very
much about literature, about art, paintings - so I am very much
influenced by his personality and his way of living.
My music is very much influenced by American radio, because
after the war Japan was occupied by the American Army and they
had a radio station for the American soldiers.
Every afternoon they broadcasted three hours of beautiful
classical music - Bruno Walter, Toscanini, or Paul Whiteman from
the Hollywood Bowl.
I listened radio every day.
My first teacher was the radio."
Excerpt from: W. Breyer in conversation with Toru Takemitsu: My music is like a garden, and I am the gardener. In: Soundtrack! Mars 1996, Vol.15 No 57, p.8.
In the seventies a new world came very close to me, listening
to Toru TAKEMITSU. This Japanese composer (1930-1996) said that
one of his afflictions was that he was not a performer. He did
try to bridge this gap becoming one with the performer. The fascinating
solo percussionist in Takemitsu's piece "Cassiopeia"
was STOMU YAMASH'TA, playing together with the Japan Philharmonic
Orchestra (conductor Seiji OZAWA).
At that time I listened every day to "Cassiopeia" piece
of Takemitsu.
Yes, Takemitsu was one of my best teachers.
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