Music Reviews

Darius’s “MAIN THEME – CHAOS” by Hisayoshi Ogura (OGR): A Uniquely Original Masterpiece

The game music of the 1980s is home to a number of experimental and distinctive masterpieces, an...
Music Reviews

The Serene Aesthetics of Fusion in Tigran Hamasyan’s “The Poet”

In the music scene, the name Tigran Hamasyan is known as that of an innovator who creates a musi...
Book Reviews

Review: “Encyclopedia: The Book of World Music” edited by Yoshihiko Tokumaru, Yuji Takahashi, Masakazu Kitanaka, Hiroshi Watanabe

(Original posted on December 17, 2008)When one sees the title "The Book of World Music," the fir...
Book Reviews

Review: “Throwing Sounds: The Range of Compositional Thought” by Jo Kondo

(Original posted on January 4, 2009)While releasing distinctive works through his unique composi...
Book Reviews

Review: “Talks with Great Composers” by Arthur M. Abell

(Original posted on January 23, 2009)(*This book is a revised and re-edited version of "I Shall ...
Liner Notes

“Phantom Gleam” Liner Notes

Phantom Gleam by MasaharuThe title track, "Phantom Gleam," progresses as ambiguous drone sounds...
Liner Notes

“City of Gravity” Liner Notes

City of Gravity by MasaharuTo abstractly organize the 12-tone equal temperament scale based on ...
Essays

A Further Look at Composition: Why is Empathy Through Music Possible?

(Originally posted on November 12, 1999)In a previous column, "Gazing at Composition," I attempt...
Book Reviews

Review: ‘Introduction to Music Aesthetics’ by Yō Kuniyasu

(Originally posted on April 9, 2002)This book is a still-excellent introduction and guidebook th...
Essays

Music Theory from a Composer’s Perspective: Two Types of Music Theory and How to Approach Them

(Originally posted on October 22, 1999)Chapter 1: The Story Called TheoryFirst, let's look up th...