Ito, Ryûta
Ito, Ryûta
Ito, Ryûta, Japanese composer; b. Kure, March 4, 1922. He graduated from the faculty of medicine of the Univ. of Tokyo in 1946 (Doctor of Medical Science, 1955). He then studied composition with Takata, Moroi, Ikenouchi, and Fukai, subsequently dividing his interests between music and medicine. He became a prof. of pharmacy at the school of medicine of Toho Univ., and also served as secretary and a member of the committee of the Japanese Soc. for Contemporary Music (1952-61).
Works
dramatic: Chamber Opera: The Court of Judgment (1954).ORCH.: Allemand and Aria (1945; Tokyo, May 19, 1950); 2 Moments (Tokyo, Oct. 29, 1947); Divertissement (1950); Festival (1953); Suite for Strings (1954); Ostinato concertanto for Piano and Orch. (Tokyo, Oct. 18, 1957); Temariuta (Handball Song; 1958); Concerto for Japanese Flute and Orch. (Tokyo, Nov. 28, 1958); Suzuka, suite (1959); Suite for Chamber Orch. (1959); Suite (1961); Les Cloches, symphonic suite for Japanese Instruments, Celesta, Percussion, Men’s Chorus, Viola, Cello, and Double Bass (Tokyo, Nov. 9, 1971); Movement for String Ensemble (1983); Concerto for Shakuhachi, Jūshichi-gen, and Orch. (1989); Fantasia alla Yoshizawa (1990). OTHER: Abrasion of a Life, suite for Chorus (1984); several works for Japanese instruments, including 3 duets for Shakuhachi and Jushichiūgen (1987-90).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire