Zipangu (Vivier)

This article is about the 1980 orchestral composition. For the former European exonym of Japan, see Names of Japan.
Vivier was heavily influenced by the kabuki theatres of Japan (pictured) following his 1976 visit to the country.

Zipangu is a 1980 work for string orchestra by Canadian composer Claude Vivier.[1] Inspired by traditional kabuki theatre, it is considered by many to be the composer's most aggressive and "unforgiving" piece, as it features a plethora of extended techniques for strings (i.e. snap pizzicato and bow overpressure) and denser harmonic content atop a complex melody, similar to the string compositions of Krzysztof Penderecki.[2][3] A typical performance lasts around sixteen minutes.[4]

  1. ^ Lankenau et al. (2012), p. 50.
  2. ^ Swed, Mark (2013). "Dudamel conducts Stravinsky's 'Firebird' to opulent heights" The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  3. ^ Bridle, Marc (2022). "Zipangu and Lonely Child: Two Claude Vivier masterpieces in magnificent performances by the London Sinfonietta" Opera Today. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  4. ^ Henken, John. Zipangu: Claude Vivier. Los Angeles Philharmonic. Retrieved 5 August 2022.