Masaaki Suzuki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
organist
, harpsichord
ist and conductor
, and the founder and musical director of the Bach Collegium Japan
.
He was born in Kobe
to parents who were both Christians
and amateur musicians. He studied composition and organ at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
, and was later taught harpsichord and organ by Ton Koopman
and Piet Kee
and improvisation by Klaas Bolt
at the Sweelink Conservatory
in Amsterdam
.
In 1983 he began teaching at Kobe Shoin Women's University
, and founded Bach Collegium Japan
, a baroque orchestra
, in 1990. The group began giving concerts regularly in 1992, and made its first recordings three years later. He directs them from the harpsichord and they are currently recording Bach's complete cantata
s for BIS records
. He is also currently recording Bach's complete works for harpsichord and is one of the few keyboard
players to have recorded all four books of Bach
's Clavier-Übung (including book 3
, which is for organ
). In 1995 he commenced a project to record Bach's complete sacred cantata
s on the BIS
label.
He was a professor of organ and harpsichord at the Tokyo University of the Arts. As of July 1, 2009, Mr. Suzuki is Visiting Professor of Choral Conducting and conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum
in a joint appointment between the Yale Institute of Sacred Music
and the Yale School of Music
.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
organist
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
, harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
ist and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and the founder and musical director of the Bach Collegium Japan
Bach Collegium Japan
Bach Collegium Japan is composed of an orchestra and a chorus specialising in Baroque music, playing with period instruments. It was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki with the purpose of introducing Japanese audiences to European Baroque music. Suzuki still remains its music director...
.
He was born in Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
to parents who were both Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and amateur musicians. He studied composition and organ at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
or is one of the oldest and most prestigious art schools in Japan. Located in Ueno Park, it also has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, and Kitasenju, Adachi, Tokyo...
, and was later taught harpsichord and organ by Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman
Ton Koopman is a conductor, organist and harpsichordist.Koopman had a "classical education" and then studied the organ , harpsichord and musicology in Amsterdam...
and Piet Kee
Piet Kee
The Dutch organist and composer Pieter William Kee was born in Zaandam, Netherlands on August 30, 1927. He studied organ, piano and composition at the Amsterdam Conservatory, obtaining the Prix d'Excellence, and won first prize at the annual Haarlem International Improvisation Competition three...
and improvisation by Klaas Bolt
Klaas Bolt
Klaas Bolt was a Dutch organist and improviser. He taught improvisation at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam, where Masaaki Suzuki was among his students. Bolt was a proponent of the use of slow tempi when playing hymns...
at the Sweelink Conservatory
Conservatorium van Amsterdam
The Conservatorium van Amsterdam is a Dutch academy of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, the city's vocational university of arts...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
.
In 1983 he began teaching at Kobe Shoin Women's University
Kobe Shoin Women's University
is a small, all-women's university located in Nada Ward of Kobe. It was founded by missionaries in 1892 and maintains an affiliation with Nippon Sei Ko Kai , although students may be of any religion...
, and founded Bach Collegium Japan
Bach Collegium Japan
Bach Collegium Japan is composed of an orchestra and a chorus specialising in Baroque music, playing with period instruments. It was founded in 1990 by Masaaki Suzuki with the purpose of introducing Japanese audiences to European Baroque music. Suzuki still remains its music director...
, a baroque orchestra
Baroque orchestra
The Baroque orchestra is the type of orchestra that existed during the Baroque period, commonly identified as 1600-1750. Its origins were in France where Jean-Baptiste Lully added the newly re-designed hautboy and transverse flutes to his vingt-quatre violons du Roy...
, in 1990. The group began giving concerts regularly in 1992, and made its first recordings three years later. He directs them from the harpsichord and they are currently recording Bach's complete cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s for BIS records
BIS Records
BIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
. He is also currently recording Bach's complete works for harpsichord and is one of the few keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
players to have recorded all four books of Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's Clavier-Übung (including book 3
Clavier-Übung III
The Clavier-Übung III, sometimes referred to as the German Organ Mass, is a collection of compositions for organ by Johann Sebastian Bach, started in 1735–6 and published in 1739. It is considered to be Bach's most significant and extensive work for organ, containing some of his musically most...
, which is for organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
). In 1995 he commenced a project to record Bach's complete sacred cantata
Bach cantata
Bach cantata became a term for a cantata of the German Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach who was a prolific writer of the genre. Although many of his works are lost, around 200 cantatas survived....
s on the BIS
BIS Records
BIS Records is a record label founded in 1973 by Robert von Bahr. It is located in Åkersberga, Sweden.BIS focuses on classical music, both contemporary and early, especially works that are not already well represented by existing recordings....
label.
He was a professor of organ and harpsichord at the Tokyo University of the Arts. As of July 1, 2009, Mr. Suzuki is Visiting Professor of Choral Conducting and conductor of Yale Schola Cantorum
Yale Schola Cantorum
The Yale Schola Cantorum is a 24-voice vocal ensemble jointly sponsored by the Yale School of Music and the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. The Schola Cantorum is open by audition to any student at Yale University, although most of its singers are affiliated with the School of Music...
in a joint appointment between the Yale Institute of Sacred Music
Yale Institute of Sacred Music
The Yale Institute of Sacred Music traces its roots to the School of Sacred Music founded at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. The seminary's department of church music was brought to Yale in 1972, entering into partnership with the Yale School of Music and the Yale Divinity School...
and the Yale School of Music
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music is one of the twelve professional schools at Yale University and one of the premier music conservatories in the world....
.
External links
- Bach Collegium Japan: Masaaki Suzuki
- Masaaki Suzuki Management
- Masaaki Suzuki (Conductor, Harpsichord, Organ) bach-cantatas
- The Meistersingers from Tokyo on his tour in Germany, by Wolfram Goertz, signandsight.com
- Who dares, wins - Jeal, Erica, The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
(12 May 2006). - Masaaki Suzuki in Conversation from WGBH Radio Boston