In 1996, Keiichiro Shibuya released a cassette work titled Suiken Shichiku on ATAK, featuring recordings of his two-piano collaboration with Yuji Takahashi as well as their individual works. The release created a sensation at the time, even ranking first in annual sales in the contemporary music section at Tower Records. Since then, the two have continued their collaboration in various forms, including the ATAK albums ATAK002 keiichiro shibuya + yuji takahashi, ATAK006 yuji takahashi, and ATAK007 yuji takahashi + keiichiro shibuya + maria.

Shibuya has openly stated that attending a Yuji Takahashi concert while still in high school inspired him to pursue composition. Regarding this upcoming concert, he commented:
“When I first started composing, I never imagined I would one day be able to produce a concert for Yuji-san. The four pieces chosen for this program are ones I have never heard before, but they have also served as hints for my recent sound installation project, Abstract Music. That’s why I asked him to play them—because I myself wanted to hear them. The piano will be placed at the center of the venue, so the audience can gather around and experience Yuji-san’s performance up close.”

This concert will be limited to 150 seats on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage you to reserve early.

Artist
Yuji Takahashi (Composer, Pianist)

Born in 1938, Takahashi studied with Minao Shibata, Akira Ogura, and Iannis Xenakis. From 1963 to 1966 he was active as a pianist of contemporary music in France and Germany, and from 1966 to 1971 he continued performing and researching computer music in the United States. Returning to Japan in 1972, he co-founded the composers’ group Transonic with Toru Takemitsu and others, editing its quarterly journal from 1974 to 1976. From 1978 to 1985 he arranged and performed songs of resistance from around the world with the Suigyu (Water Buffalo) Orchestra, and from 1980 to 1987 he published the monthly newsletter Suigyu Tsushin. His books include Yuji Takahashi / Collection 1970s and The Silence of Sound, The Sound of Silence (Heibonsha), as well as Music as Catalyst and Kafka Notes (Misuzu Shobo).