The Japanese composer Toshiro Mayuzumi died on this date 20 years ago. Born in 1929, his early works are those of an avant-gardist with a marked affection for the music of Edgard Varèse, but already by his late 20s he was settling into a kind of neo-Romantic pan-Asianism. He may be best known to some collectors for his film score to John Huston’s “The Bible.”

I first encountered his music in the record library of WMUH 91.7 FM Allentown, PA during my bush league days in community radio. The album was of his “Nirvana Symphony,” which he composed in 1958. The work was inspired by the sound of Japanese temple bells. It’s hard to believe at the time (circa 1986) Mayuzumi was still very much alive.

Mayuzumi’s “Nirvana Symphony,” from the same LP, with artwork by Yoko Ono:

And in a more vivid, digital remake:

Learn more about my early days in radio at WWFM – The Classical Network’s snazzy new website, which includes, among other things, short biographies of your favorite radio hosts. Search under “About Us.”

http://wwfm.org/#stream/0