冨田勲氏の逝去について
2016年5月5日冨田勲氏が逝去されました。
冨田氏は電子楽器の可能性にいち早く着目され、1970年代にはシンセサイザーを駆使した革新的な作品を多く発表され、世界中の人に感動を与えました。
当時創業したばかりの弊社にとっては、電子楽器を広めてくださった恩人ともいえる存在です。
長年にわたり冨田氏の様々な作品の創作活動やステージ活動に多少なりとも関われたことは、弊社にとっての誇りであり、
「アコースティック楽器と電子楽器を区別して考える必要はない」という氏の言葉は、我々の活動の原点として今でも深く心に刻み込まれています。
冨田氏の音楽界における多大なるご業績・ご貢献を称えるとともに、心よりご冥福をお祈りいたします。
2016年5月9日 ローランド株式会社
Isao Tomita Tribute
May 2016
Roland would like to express condolences for the recent passing of electronic music pioneer Isao Tomita, one of the world's most influential music composers. Deepest sympathies are extended to his family and friends.
Mr. Tomita was early to recognize the huge potential of electronic musical instruments, producing many innovative songs using the extensive sound design capabilities of synthesizers. His creative use of these instruments contributed greatly to the popularity of synthesizers as production tools in the 1970's. Roland was established in the same era that Mr. Tomita was breaking new ground for producers around the world, and given his profound influence, Roland considers Mr. Tomita as one of the company’s most revered benefactors.
It has been an honor for Roland to contribute to Mr. Tomita’s great musical works and performances over the years, and Roland is sincerely grateful for the exciting path he paved for electronic musicians past, present, and future. Mr. Tomita once said, “I do not distinguish electronic from acoustic in musical instruments. Musical instruments produce sounds via natural phenomenon, and so do electronic musical instruments. Listeners do not distinguish them. I just choose the one that is more effective for that particular piece of music.” These words have always encouraged and inspired the team at Roland and will remain at the heart of Roland’s work within the field of electronic musical instruments.
Roland offers sincere and heartfelt respect to Isao Tomita, to his many great achievements, and to the enduring contributions he made to music and synthesizers.