Toshio Hosokawa “Neben Dem Fluss…”

Toshio Hosokawa

Neben Dem Fluss…

ALM Records (Japan) 1984

AL-28 (LP) w/insert.

sleeve : NM-

media : EX-/EX-(some light noises.)

This is the debut album, released in 1984, by Japanese composer Toshio Hosokawa, who began his serious composition work in the late 1970s under the tutelage of Akio Yashiro and Yun Isang. The title track, A1, is a solo harp piece performed by Fumiko Shinzaki. B2 is a string quartet, B1 features a violin solo by Shizuko Imai, and B2 is an accordion solo performed by Mieko Miyachi. Each of these compositions evokes a sense of stillness, as if ripples on water, sudden bursts of passion, sustained sounds, and percussive elements are melded into a harmonious and almost natural musical landscape. It's a free musical journey that, far from being discomforting, paints a vivid picture of nature through sound. This early masterpiece is truly remarkable, and it's hard to believe it's Hosokawa's debut work. B2, in particular, is a piece that even ambient music enthusiasts should explore, delving into a realm beyond

A1: Neben Dem Fluss…