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CD
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OPA 020CD
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The details of Shikisokuzekuu-Kuusokuzeshiki (1964) are unknown except that it was created at the NHK electronic music studio. According to Toshi Ichiyanagi, there were various discussions about the title, but it would seem to have been eventually broadcasted on the radio with the title Kuu after a producer renamed it. Here, the original title is used, following Ichiyanagi's initial intention. This work has no relation to the short experimental film Shikisokuzekuu (1974), produced by filmmaker Toshio Matsumoto with tape music by Ichiyanagi. Extended Voices was released in 1967 on the Extended Voices LP on Columbia's Odyssey sublabel; a new version mixing baritone voices of Takashi Matsudaira to a monaural tape part was released by Omega Point in 2014 (OPX 013CD), but since the stereo version was found later, it is added here as a tape work without voice. Tape recording provided by Gregor Meyer. Gatefold cardboard sleeve. Liner notes in Japanese and English. Edition of 500 copies.
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OPA 017CD
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"Funakakushi" [1]: This electronic work was composed for the opening ceremony of the hotel "Funakakushi-en" in Kagawa prefecture in 1963. It was realized as a sound installation and used many speakers inside a built-in stone sculpture. They were designed by sculptor Mitsu-aki Sora (b. 1933) and were arranged here and there in the main garden of the hotel. The sound was made from a modified Japanese traditional instrument, biwa, as well as from a sea wave sound [2]. The engineer Junosuke Okuyama [3] assisted on electronic devices. "Life Music (tape version)": "Life Music" was originally composed as a tape version in 1964. After that, this work was played in another version with an electronic modified orchestra (contact microphones were placed on all the instruments in the orchestra) [4] at Nissei Theatre in 1966. [5] Junosuke Okuyama designed a special effect machine named Electronics Sound Breaker (=ESB) for the concert. Kuniharu Akiyama, music critic, wrote about this machine in the liner notes to the Orchestral Space LP as follows, "... amplified sound of the orchestra was sent to some effect machines and ESB, and they were driven by tape version. Just then, electronic amplification was cut off synchronously by silent parts of the tape, and only non-effect live sound was played ...."; Housed in a cardboard paper gatefold sleeve. Includes newly-written liner notes in Japanese and English. Edition of 500 copies.
1: "Funakakushi" is the name of the region originated from a tradition in the 14th century.
2: The sea wave sound is not on this source.
3: Okuyama was an engineer for the Sogetsu Art Center. He assisted with electronic effects on John Cage's first Japan concert tour.
4: Unfortunately, Yomi-uri Nippon Orchestra refused this instruction at the concert, and an ordinary microphone was used for the modulation. Therefore, complete realization of this work planned by Ichiyanagi has not been carried out yet.
5: This version was recorded and published as part of the Orchestral Space LP series.
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OPX 011CD
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The Music for Piano series was written under John Cage's influence in his New York years. This CD is the premiere complete recording without simultaneous playing. The series was played and recorded by pianist Takuji Kawai at KEN in Tokyo in October 27, 2012. "Music for Piano No. 1-No. 7" was composed between 1959 and 1961. All the works were written using graphic notations (No. 1, No. 2, No. 5 and No. 6) and instructions (No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6). "This period of my compositions such as 'Music for Electric Metronomes,' 'Stanzas for String Instrument,' 'Duet for Piano and String Instrument,' and 'Sapporo' were all written by graphic notations, which expanded my idea of space in music in later compositions. The premiere of 'Music for Piano No.2' took place in 1959, performed by David Tudor at Living Theatre in New York. No. 5 was by Yuji Takahashi, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 7 were by myself. This is the first time collecting all seven pieces played open to the public and recorded at the same time. Various techniques as well as different qualities of the sounds were created in an amazing manner by pianist Takuji Kawai through my graphic notations. He played all the noises and concrète sounds without using any electronic device but with live natural sounds only to reflect 1950s to early '60s social situations." --Toshi Ichiyanagi
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OPA GQ
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A quarterly magazine for graphic work, gq was issued in the 1970s. The magazine was re-produced in 2008, and the newest issue devoted to kinetic sculptor Jean Tinguely was completed in 2009. Edition Omega Point made a special CD for the edition comprised of rare sound materials from Toshi Ichiyanagi's Music For Tinguely, released here for the first time ever. Also includes the track released on OPA 005CD. Toshi Ichiyanagi is a well-renowned Japanese avant-garde composer who made brilliant pieces of tape music. Most of his works have not been issued on CD, or have only been issued in very small editions. Housed in a cardboard paper gatefold sleeve. Newly-written liner notes in Japanese and English by Toshi Ichiyanagi. Limited edition of 300 copies only.
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OPA 008CD
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This is volume 8 in Omega Point's Obscure Tape Music of Japan series, featuring the recorded live performance of Japanese avant garde maestro Toshi Ichiyanagi. He has stood out from the other more moldy academic groups of composers due to his groundbreaking and mindblowing work during the '60s. Thus, he was invited to perform as part of the concert series "Japanese Experimental Music 1960s" at the Art Tower Mito in Ibaraki in 1997. The noisy and radical sound of this performance shows the composer has not changed the tone of his experimentalism one bit. Ichiyanagi improvised on a prepared piano and the sound was modulated by live-electronics. Painter Sadamasa Motonaga (b.1922, a member of Gutai) projected abstract figures on the walls of the performance space. Limited edition of 700 copies.
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OPA 005CD
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This is volume 5 of Omega Point's newly-reissued Obscure Tape Music of Japan series, available in a limited edition of 1000 copies, also with an LP version in a limited edition of 300 copies. Toshi Ichiyanagi is a well-renowned Japanese avant-garde composer who made brilliant pieces of tape music. Most of his works have not been issued on CD, or have only been issued in very small editions. This CD consists of three of his obscure tape works. "Music for Tinguely" (1963) was made from the junk objects by kinetic sculptor Jean Tinguely. "Appearance" (1967) is the artist's first live electronic performance, also featuring John Cage and David Tudor -- very noisy and hardcore! "Music For Living Space" (1969) was composed for the inner "Future Section" of the Sun Tower at the World Expo in Osaka. A computer-generated voice reads Sun Tower architect Kisyo Kurokawa's artistic manifesto. Strange!
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LP
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OPA 005LP
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LP version. This is volume 5 of Omega Point's newly-reissued Obscure Tape Music of Japan series, available in a limited edition vinyl version of 300 copies. Toshi Ichiyanagi is a well-renowned Japanese avant-garde composer who made brilliant pieces of tape music. This release consists of three of his obscure tape works. "Music for Tinguely" (1963) was made from the junk objects by kinetic sculptor Jean Tinguely. "Appearance" (1967) is the artist's first live electronic performance, also featuring John Cage and David Tudor -- very noisy and hardcore! "Music For Living Space" (1969) was composed for the inner "Future Section" of the Sun Tower at the World Expo in Osaka. A computer-generated voice reads Sun Tower architect Kisyo Kurokawa's artistic manifesto. Strange!
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