Three Diverse Works for Trumpet by Japanese Composers: a Study of the Lives and Works of Toru Takemitsu, Marcel Kentsubitsch, and Hisato Ozawa

Abstract

Currently, band is one of the most popular extracurricular activities in Japanese schools, and many people enjoy playing the trumpet not only as professionals but also as a hobby. As band players, trumpeters in Japan frequently have opportunities to play music by Japanese composers. Some of these compositions enjoy international popularity, especially in Asia. However, when Japanese trumpeters play the trumpet as a solo instrument, the availability of Japanese works for solo trumpet is much more limited than the Japanese works for band. The literature for solo trumpet relies heavily on works from the United States and Europe. Even though some professional trumpet players in Japan make serious efforts to discover and perform works for solo trumpet by Japanese composers, most of these Japanese works are out of the mainstream of trumpet literature in Japan. Moreover, very few of these have been performed outside of Japan. This document focuses on three diverse works for trumpet by Japanese composers: Paths—In Memoriam Witold Lutosławski by Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), Contest Piece by Marcel Kentsubitsch (b. 1950), and Trumpet Concerto by Hisato Ozawa (1906-1953). Each of these three pieces employs unique accompaniment or none at all; Takemitsu wrote Paths for unaccompanied trumpet, Contest Piece by Kentsubitsch is written for trumpet and piano, and Ozawa composed his Trumpet Concerto for trumpet, large jazz band, and strings. Through biographical research of these composers and analyses of their works, this document seeks to draw attention to this outstanding Japanese literature for professional performance, enjoyment for non-professional players, and pedagogical value.