Toru Takemitsu Vinyl Records

Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) was a Japanese composer who is often referred to as the “Father of Japanese Music.” He was a pioneer in blending traditional Japanese music with western classical music, creating a unique and captivating sound. Takemitsu was also a highly influential figure in the world of film music, writing scores for more than 90 films, including Akira Kurosawa's acclaimed films Ran and Dreams.

Takemitsu’s most acclaimed works are the film scores he wrote for Ran and Dreams. Other standout works include his concerto for shakuhachi and orchestra, "November Steps" (1967) and his solo guitar work, "Toward the Sea" (1981). His most acclaimed song is probably “Paths in the Air” (1989), which is a captivating mix of traditional Japanese music and modern western classical music.

An interesting fact about Toru Takemitsu is that he was self-taught. He never studied music formally and never attended a music school. He learned music by listening to records and studying scores from the library.