Mayuzumi’s Electronic Studies

What is it about?

The author examines the study and implementation of serial electronic music techniques of the Cologne School—specifically those Karlheinz Stockhausen employed in his 'Studie I & II' (1953/54)—by Japanese electronic music pioneer Toshiro Mayuzumi through his works 'Music for Sine Waves by Sequences of Prime Number Ratios' (1955) and, in collaboration with Makoto Moroi, '7 Variations' (1956), both realized at the NHK Electronic Music Studio. Mayuzumi's account of 'Music for Sine Waves' in his essay 'The Principles of Electronic Music' is cross-examined with Stockhausen's account of 'Studie I' in his essay 'Komposition 1953 Nr. 2'; while technical details from Mayuzumi's program note and Moroi's essay about '7 Variations' are compared with those in Stockhausen's score for 'Studie II'. Attention is also given to Mayuzumi's own assessment of the works and his ultimate abandonment of electronic music composition.

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Why is it important?

This article serves as a companion to the author's translation of Mayuzumi's historic essays, 'The Principles of Electronic Music' (1956) and 'Electronic Music "7 Variations"' (1957), providing context, commentary, and analysis.