Japanese Literary Awards

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Misato Mochizuki

もちづき みさと

Mochizuki Misato

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1969-01-31 （Tokyo）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Composer, University professor, Columnist
Active Years
1995-
Affiliations
Meiji Gakuin University (Professor, since 2014)
Influenced By
Akira Kitamura, Atsutada Otaka, Yoshio Mamiya, Paul Méfano, Emanuel Nunes, Brian Ferneyhough, Tristan Murail

Education

Tokyo University of the Arts
Faculty of Music (Composition)
Country: Japan
Conservatoire de Paris
Completed advanced composition (doctoral) studies
Country: France
Studied as a French government scholar; served as a researcher at IRCAM

Awards

Japan Music Competition, Composition 1st Prize & Yasuda Prize
1995
Work: Passage en Faille (Passage for five players)
Organization: Japan Music Competition
Result: Winner
Stipendien Prize (Darmstadt)
1998
Organization: Darmstadt Summer Course
Result: Winner
UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers — recommended works (general & under-30)
1999
Organization: UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers
Result: Recommended
Akutagawa Composition Prize (10th)
2000
Work: Camera Lucida
Organization: Suntory Foundation for Arts (Akutagawa Prize)
Result: Winner
Ars Musica Festival Audience Award
2002
Organization: Ars Musica Festival (Brussels)
Result: Winner
Arts Encouragement Prize for New Artists
2003
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: Winner
Idemitsu Music Prize
2003
Organization: Idemitsu Music Prize
Result: Winner
Otaka Prize
2005
Work: Cloud Nine
Organization: Otaka Award
Result: Winner
UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers — Grand Prix (general)
2008
Organization: UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers
Result: Grand Prix

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Camera Lucida

1999 Orchestral work

A large-scale orchestral piece commissioned by Southwest German Radio. Winner of the 10th Akutagawa Composition Prize and an internationally recognized work.

manipulation of harmonic spectracomplex acoustic textures

Passage en Faille

1995 Chamber music

A chamber work for five players. Awarded first prize in the composition category at the 1995 Japan Music Competition.

microtonesmeticulous handling of sound material

Homeo Box

2001 Orchestral work

Commissioned for the Berlin Biennale; characterized by complex orchestration.

distorted harmonic partialsdecorative pitch modulations

The Great Bakery Attack (Die große Bäckereiattacke)

2009 Opera (opera buffa)

A comic opera premiered at the Lucerne Opera House. Noted for natural choral writing and theatrical qualities.

theatrical humorchoral expression

Intermezzi II

2002 Solo (traditional Japanese instrument)

A contemporary solo for koto; an attempt to explore new acoustic expressions using a traditional Japanese instrument.

fusion of traditional instruments and contemporary musicsubtle manipulation of timbre

Bibliography

  • Misato Mochizuki: Si bleu, si calme (2003)
  • Violin Works: Musical Journey - In Search of Lyricism (2007)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Meticulous rendering of delicate sound materialsAcoustic-oriented technique using harmonic partials and microtonesMaintains chamber-like precision even in large-scale works
Recurring Motifs
microtonesdistortion of harmonic spectradelicate texturesincorporation of traditional Japanese instrument timbres

Legacy

An internationally commissioned and awarded contemporary composer. Her works are published by Breitkopf & Härtel and are frequently performed and broadcast; she also contributes as an educator mentoring younger composers.

Trivia

  • All works are published by Breitkopf & Härtel.
  • She wrote a regular column "Music Season Review" for the Yomiuri Shimbun starting January 2008.
  • Studied in France as a French government scholar and served as a researcher at IRCAM.