OHKI: Japanese Rhapsody / Symphony No. 5, “Hiroshima”
About the Composer:
According to Naxos, he lived from 1901-1971. Symphony 5 “Hiroshima” is based on the first six of the “The Hiroshima Panels” – paintings depicting human suffering from Atomic/Nuclear warfare. Hard to find biographical info about this composer. Does anyone have any information besides what Naxos offers (Naxos Bio, MusicWeb Review)?
About the Music:
Japanese Rhapsody is energetic, happy.
“Hiroshima” is an exposition of loss. I read Hiroshima Diary some years ago. The Hiroshima Panels capture the progression indicated in “Hiroshima Diary” very well. The music fits the paintings and the narrative.
Mr Vince,
I get this review for Okhi
(http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2006/Nov06/OHKI_Symphony5_8557839.htm)
but not yet another biography than Naxos. I will try again to find a biography. With my respects.
Charlotte
Hello Charlotte,
Thank you for the link!
Vince
There was a recording on the Japanese Toshiba label in the early 1970s of Masao Ohki’s choral/orchestral antiwar oratorio “Take Back the Human.” There were two LPs, sold and packaged separately, of Parts I and Part II. It was available briefly in the U.S. through the now defunct importer Peters International. I don’t know if it was ever reissued on CD. The musical idiom was somewhat more conservative than the Hiroshima Symphony. I remember a particularly striking movement, “At the Medical Station,” which, as it progressed, took on the character of an ancient temple court procession.
I also more vaguely recall that there was a short orchestral work by Ohki on a Varese Sarabande LP entitled “Night Piece.” It was part of an anthology of Japanese composers. I never heard it.
There could well have been other recordings of his music only released in Japan.
Hi Scott,
Wow, thanks so much for the leads! From an English-speaking perspective, Ohki seems almost a non-person.
I’ve communicated with the Dean of Music at the major University nearby, his colleagues, some of their colleagues…and been unable to track down any information about Ohki. Apparently, he’s not even listed in the Grove Dictionary.
May I ask how you come to have an interest in Ohki and/or how you discovered this information?
Thanks again,
Vince