The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto Contemporary Music Performance “Designing Behavior”
The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto Related Program
Conducted in Japanese
In Sou Fujimoto’s book, When Architecture Is Born, he discusses the work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, a leading 20th-century modern architect, by comparing it to musical staff notation. According to Fujimoto, Mies “made the blank staff itself musical.” In contrast, Fujimoto states that his own architecture is a “musical score without a staff,” in which each note has its own unique timing and time flows from one note to the next.
This program “Designing Behavior” focuses on graphic notation, an alternative approach to describing music. Graphic notation is a more visual expression of musical ideas, using shapes, symbols, abstract lines, and letters instead of notes and rests. While traditional staff notation describes sound and time, graphic notation, which leaves a large portion of it to the performer’s interpretation, describes the performer’s “behavior.”
For this event, we will be introducing Stanzas for String Instruments (1961) by Ichiyanagi Toshi, a pioneer of graphic notation in Japan, and the 10th dan from November Steps (1967) by Takemitsu Toru, who attempted to liberate himself from Western musical notation by incorporating traditional Japanese instruments, the biwa and the shakuhachi. Enjoy this music, improvisational and indeterministic, that transcends the concept of structure, along with your visit to see The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest.
- Date and Time
- 19:00-20:20, Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Doors Open: 18:00)
- Schedule
- 18:00
- Doors Open
The Architecture of Sou Fujimoto: Primordial Future Forest can be viewed until 19:00. - 19:00
- Start
Ichiyanagi Toshi
Stanzas for String Instruments (1961)
Takemitsu Toru
10th dan from November Steps (1967) - 20:20
- End
* The exhibition can be viewed until 21:00 after the Program ends.
- Booking Period
- Wednesday, October 8 - Sunday, November 2, 2025
- Appearing
- Ichiyanagi Toshi
Stanzas for String Instruments (1961)
Nakazawa Saori (violin)
Kato Ayako (violin)
Kai Fumiko (viola)
Sakoda Kei (viola) - Takemitsu Toru
10th dan from November Steps (1967)
Kubota Akiko (Satsuma-biwa)
Hasegawa Shozan (shakuhachi) - Audience
- General
* Preschool children not eligible.
Nakazawa Saori (Violin)
Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music. Has performed at the Tongyeong International Music Festival (Korea), China-ASEAN Music Week (China), and Suntory Music Foundation’s Summer Festival. Resident artist at Tokyo Wonder Site in 2013. Member of the Japan Finland Contemporary Music Society.
Kato Ayako (Violin)
Performs works ranging from classical to contemporary music, creating and presenting recitals and performance works. Has appeared in concerts organized by the Japan Society for Contemporary Music, Takamatsu Art Museum, and others. Selected for projects including KAAT “Kaihatsu,” Toyooka Theater Festival Fringe, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa “&21+” program (2025).
Kai Fumiko (Viola)
Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music and completed its postgraduate program. First Prize winner at the 5th Contemporary Music Performance Competition “Kyogaku V,” recipient of the 12th Asahi Contemporary Music Award, the 2003 Aoyama Barocksaal Prize, and the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis in Darmstadt, Germany. As a member of Ensemble Nomad, received the 3rd Keizo Saji Prize. Part-time lecturer at Kanagawa Prefectural Yaei High School and Tokyo University of the Arts (Solfege Department).
Sakoda Kei (Viola)
Completed graduate studies at Tokyo College of Music. Winner of the Grand Prize in the String Division of the 28th Ichikawa New Performers Competition. Currently serves as concertmaster of “Orchestra Pitoreza” and is a member of Orchestra Triptyque, Ensemble Recurrence, and Green Room Players.
Kubota Akiko (Satsuma-Biwa)
Creates and performs original narrative works based on fairy tales and folk tales, in addition to classical storytelling and biwa songs such as Heike Monogatari (The Tale of the Heike) and war chronicles. Active in a wide range of activities including anime and television music recording, theatrical music participation, and ensemble performances. Winner of first prize and the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award at the 56th Biwa Competition (2019).
Hasegawa Shozan (Shakuhachi)
Studied under Dozan Fujiwara. Master of the Tozan-ryu Shakuhachi Association. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and completed its graduate program. Recipient of the 2024 (75th) Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Newcomer Award for Fine Arts (Music Division). With meticulous interpretations grounded in research and a scholarly approach, he explores new possibilities in shakuhachi music. His activities range widely, from solo performances to innovative projects employing multi-track recording in the series ALL Shozan. Affiliated with DO Inc.
Supervision
Yamamoto Kazutomo
Self-taught composer whose works have been widely performed and highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad by numerous distinguished ensembles and artists. Part-time lecturer at Wako University, Faculty of Representational Studies.
https://kazutomoyamamoto.b-sheet.jp
- Organizer
- Mori Art Museum
- Supervision
- Yamamoto Kazutomo
- Planning Support
- Shirobara Artisan
Notes on Bookings
- Please note that speakers are subject to change without prior notice.
- Please note that the museum might take photos/movies for purpose of publicity and documentation during the program.
- All prices include tax.
