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K-State Today

April 21, 2017

Parker lectures in Tokyo at the International Musicological Society

Submitted by Craig B. Parker

Craig B. Parker, associate professor of music, presented his paper, "Japanese Elements in the Compositions of Alan Hovhaness," on March 23 at the International Musicological Society conference — Musicology: Theory and Practice, East and West — in Tokyo.  

The society's conferences are held every five years and draw participants from six continents. This conference attracted more than 760 scholars from 46 countries. Parker's presentation on the prolific American composer Alan Hovhaness, 1911-2000, composer of more than 400 works, including 67 symphonies, detailed his incorporation of Japanese musical sounds and traditions into over three dozen compositions after two extended stays in Japan during the 1960s.

While at the conference, Parker attended concerts of Gagaku, an ancient imperial Japanese court music and dance; Togaku, music introduced from the Tang dynasty in China into Japan in the eighth century; Buddhist chant, and contemporary Japanese electronic music.

Following the conference, Parker remained in Tokyo and participated in a workshop devoted to the Theory and practice of Noh theatre, Kanze School, at the Umewaka Noh Theatre.

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