Hirai, Kozaburo

Hirai, Kozaburo, Japanese composer; b. Kochi, Sept. 10, 1910. He studied violin with Robert Pollak and composition and conducting with Klaus Pringsheim at the Tokyo Imperial Academy of Music (1929–34). He taught at the Academy (1937–47), and in 1966 he organized the Assn. of Composers and Authors (ACA).

Works

dramatic: Operetta: Taketori-Mono-gatari (1949). Ballet: Spirit of the Snow (1942; rev. 1968). ORCH.: Festival of Insects, suite (Tokyo, Sept. 15, 1941); Pastoral for Clarinet and Strings (1943); On the Grass, suite (1947);

Koto Concerto (Tokyo, Nov. 12, 1950); Festival, concerto grosso for 3 Koto Soli and Koto Orch. (1962); Symphonic Ballad (1963); Seaside Sketch for Chamber Orch. (1967); Marriage of the Whale, symphonic chorus for 3 Voices, Chorus, and Orch. (Tokyo, Nov. 27, 1969); Hakusan for Shakuhachi, Solo Koto, Chorus, Percussion, and Koto Ensemble (1970); Tosa Fudoki, symphonic poem (1981); Echoes from the Ancient Capital of Mars (1983); Divertimento for Strings (1985). CHAMBER: Trio for Flute, Viola, and Guitar (1942); String Quartet No. 1, Japanese Suite (1943); String Trio (1946); Fantasy for Strings (1954); Cello Sonata (1956; rev. 1989); Sonata for Koto and Oboe (1956); Duet for Violin and Trombone (1966); 3 Capriccios for Violin (1971); Sakura Sakura, fantasy for Piano (1971); Variations on “Sakura, Sakura” for Viola and Cello (1987); Andante for Viola and Piano (1988); Concert Études for Koto (1990); Music for Kanagawa Athletic Sports for Brass (1998).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire