A Study On Toru Takemitsu's Film Music

This dissertation focuses on the film music by Toru Takemitsu(Oct.8,1930-Feb.20,1996),an internationally renowned contemporary Japanese composer.By using the theories of composition and compositional techniques,it presents a comprehensive,systematic analysis and interpretation of Takemitsu's representative film music compositions in different periods.In view of the important role and significant effect of the large number of film music works in Takemitsu?s compositional career,this dissertation is intended to supplement,enrich and expand the current researches on Takemitsu's music creation,e.g.the doctoral dissertations by Chinese scholars Dong Liqiang,Wang Cui,Xu Zhibin,Zhang Xin,etc.,which,as we noticed,mainly concentrate on Takemistu's orchestral compositions and his compositional techniques.The abundant results of their studies are,undoubtedly,of great referential significance for the writing of this dissertation in that they've inspired more comprehensive,systematical and complete studies and analyses of Takemitsu's music creation,thus providing reference for the music creation and academic research in modern China.This dissertation consists of an introduction and four major chapters.The first part gives a brief introduction to Toru Takemitsu and his music creation.Chapter 1 provides an overview of the development of film music creation in the world and Japan in the 20 th century.Based on a division of Takemitsu's film music compositional career into four periods,namely,the period of imitation,exploration,meditation,and unification,Chapter 2 further illustrates the changes in the style and artistic characteristics of Takemitsu's film music in the four periods,involving his composition ideas and techniques,the juxtaposition and blending of different music styles,exploration into new sounds and compositional practice,and re-understanding and application of traditional Japanese music and musical instruments.Chapter 3 elaborates and discusses the musical language of Takemitsu's film music from the aspects of pitch organization,sounds and their application,music duration and speed,etc.Chapter 4 investigates and explores into the sound-image thinking in Takemitsu's film music compositions through an in-depth analysis of different types of sound and image combination and their application,the mode of sound design in sound-image combination,as well as the concept and application of sound symbols.During the analyses and discussions in each chapter,topics like the relationship between Takemitsu's film music and his concert music works,and his creative ideas and cultural pursuit are also addressed.