Top composer suffers second cancer

Top composer suffers second cancer

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norman lebrecht

January 24, 2021

The universally acclaimed Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto has undergone surgery for bowel cancer, a little over six years after receiving treatment for cancer of the throat.

Sakamoto, who turned 69 last week, writes on his website: ‘I will continue to work as much as I can during treatment … From now on, I will be living alongside cancer. But, I am hoping to make music for a little while longer.’

We wish him a full recovery.

Comments

  • John Borstlap says:

    Tragic news, on a human level.

    His work: conceptual sonic art, very traditional. Goes back to the fifties of the last century, and not much has developed since.

    There is more:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIoz-SsXoDs

    https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activity/concert/22171-alva-noto-ryuichi-sakamoto

    But he also did popular simple stuff, like this, for locked-down people with lots of time on their hand:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZnb7Tq-mQY

    May the poor man recover his health.

    • John Borstlap says:

      PS

      By the way, this is NOT a ‘top composer’.

      • John Borstlap says:

        He is a composer and he has been very influential. His music is listened to and admired by many. If you mean you think he is not a top composer then say that lets we see your comment as reeking of smugness and snobbery. Personally I’d much rather see you as having bad taste and and bad passive-aggressive form rather than just being a tool.

  • Greg Bottini says:

    I second Norman’s wish, Sakamoto-sensei, for your full recovery.

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