Zipangu (Vivier)
1980 composition by Claude Vivier / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
This article is about the 1980 orchestral composition. For the former European exonym of Japan, see Names of Japan.