was a Japanese composer of classical music with a modern approach. Nagasawa composed for traditional Japanese musical instruments (e.g., Shakuhachi,

Koto Koto may refer to: * Koto (band), an Italian synth pop group * Koto (instrument), a Japanese musical instrument * Koto (kana), a ligature of two Japanese katakana * Koto (traditional clothing), a traditional dress made by Afro-Surinamese women * K ...

, Shamisen). Nagasawa was born in 1923 in Tokyo and graduated from

Nihon University , abbreviated as , is a private university, private research university in Japan. Its predecessor, Nihon Law School (currently the Department of Law), was founded by Yamada Akiyoshi, the Minister of Justice (Japan), Minister of Justice, in 1889. ...

. He was one of the founding members of Pro Musica Nipponia (日本音楽集団) in 1964, a group of famous Japanese composers and musicians who aim at performing classical and contemporary compositions from both Japan and the West. The group's music is performed by traditional Japanese musical instruments. From 1949, he was also the musical supervisor for the puppet theater “Puk.” In 1990, he received the Purple Ribbon Medal from the Japanese government. He has been part of six overseas tours with Pro Musica Nipponia.

Major works

*''Two Dances'' for Japanese traditional music ensemble *''One Day in Spring'' for Japanese traditional music ensemble *''Shikyokyu'' for shakuhachi solo *''Hoshun'' for shakuhachi and koto *''Mayudama-no-uta'' for shakuhachi and koto *''Quartet for koto and jushichigen'' *''Two Pastorals'' for shakuhachi, koto and jushichigen

References

External links

The International Shakuhachi Society - Biography: Nagasawa Katsutoshi - 長沢勝俊

1923 births 2008 deaths 20th-century classical composers 20th-century Japanese composers 20th-century Japanese male musicians Japanese classical composers Japanese male classical composers Nihon University alumni {{Japan-composer-stub