With his autobiographical novel Confessions of a Mask, Yukio Mishima became an overnight star of the Japanese literary scene at age 24. The novels to follow described passion, addiction, a desire for heroism, with characters tormented by obsessions and unreachable ideals who are driven to murder or suicide. Mishima’s works like The Temple of the Golden Pavilion or Forbidden Colors exposed his own strong obsession with death and masochism. He became obsessed with the act of Harakiri, subjected his body to intensive training, and attracted a large group of young student followers. They thought of themselves as the “embodiment of Japanese Culture”, including the Samurai tradition and emperor worship. Mishima’s ritual suicide in the offices of the Defense Ministry on November 25 1970 after a failed hostage taking was a huge shock for Japanese society and the world of literature.
Philip Glass’ beautiful and striking music, composed in 1985, follows closely the structure of the biographical drama film Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters by Paul Schrader, but the music stands strongly on it’s own. Maki Namekawa asked his long time collaborator conductor/pianist Michael Riesman to make a piano version of this wonderful score and recorded it in 2018.
Philip Glass said this about his Piano Sonata:
“I had written a sonata for violin and piano, but never just for piano. I wanted to give Maki a substantial piece for her program, and something she would work on herself, and be able to use her talent and energy in a way that was personally made for her.”
“…and I can say this truly for the Piano Sonata, this piece is not only original, it’s original for me. I haven’t written this piece before.”
Programme:
Philip Glass (arr. for Piano Solo by Michael Riesman) from „Mishima“ November 25: Morning Temple of the Golden Pavilion Runaway Horses Mishima / Closing
Philip Glass: Piano Sonata
Movement I
Movement II
Movement III
