Toru Takemitsu's Rain Tree Sketch series, inspired by Kenzaburō Ōe's short story "Clever Rain Tree", exemplifies the composer's deep connection to nature and his masterful use of music to express emotion and metaphor. This paper explores Takemitsu's musical journey from the clever rain tree to the cosmic metaphor, investigating how he interprets and transforms natural elements into profound emotional and philosophical statements.
Through an interdisciplinary approach that combines musical analysis with literary and philosophical inquiries, this study examines Takemitsu's use of the montage technique to create a non-linear musical narrative that evokes the mystical and eternal qualities of the rain tree. It also analyzes the influence of Japanese aesthetics, particularly the concepts of "Ma" and "Yūgen," on his compositions and how these principles shape his musical interpretation of the rain tree image.
Furthermore, this paper delves into Takemitsu's use of water imagery and the metaphor of the sea as the ultimate destination of his musical journey, highlighting his philosophical reflections on the relationship between humans and nature. By tracing Takemitsu's path from the clever rain tree to the cosmic metaphor, this study offers a fresh perspective on his compositional techniques and his profound engagement with nature and emotion, contributing to a deeper understanding of his musical legacy.

Authors:
Yudan Wang, Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

About the Presenter(s)
Ms Yudan Wang is a University Doctoral Student at Universidade de Aveiro in Portugal

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