Toru Takemitsu / Olivier Messian
November Steps / Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum
Philips (Japan) 197x
PPR-1 (LP) gatefold sleeve.
sleeve : EX-(light dirts on inside of gatefold.)
media : EX-/EX-(some light noises.)
A masterpiece of historical significance, "November Steps" by the renowned Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, who ventured beyond the confines of contemporary music to explore various experimental tendencies, and "Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum" by Olivier Messiaen, performed by the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra under the baton of Bernard Haitink. Although the release year is unspecified, it is likely from the original pressing in 1970. Of particular note is Takemitsu's "November Steps" on side A, featuring the shakuhachi by Katsuya Yokoyama and the biwa by Kinshi Tsuruta. The ethereal world created by the shakuhachi and biwa, drifting through the silence, resonates with the spirit of Noh theater established by Zeami. This masterpiece, which prominently showcases avant-garde tendencies without any sense of antiquity, stands out among notable compositions.
A: Toru Takemitsu “November Steps”
B: Olivier Messian “Et Expecto Resurrectionem Mortuorum”