Roh Ogura (小倉 朗) was a Japanese composer and writer.

Biography

He was born in Kitakyushu and lived in Tokyo and Kamakura. First he learned French Modern Music under Shiro Fukai and Tomojiro Ikenouchi. Then he studied under Joseph Rosenstock about how to conduct Beethoven's symphonies and he became very interested in German classical music and wrote many symphonies that made him end up being called, "Ogurahms". Then he faced a deadlock and abandoned most of his works. Gradually, he became very interested in Bartók. Finally he broke a new ground and started writing his original music inspired by Japanese traditional folk songs and old nursery rhymes. He was also gifted writer who published several books. In the late period of his life he was passionate painter too who painted oil paintings. He was a friend of Minoru Matsuya (1910–1995) and taught his son Midori Matsuya (1943–1994) harmony and composition. He was also a teacher of Hiroaki Zakoji (1958–1987).

Works