Isao Tomita

Isao Tomita was a Japanese composer who was regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music. He was one of the first musicians to bring a Moog III synthesizer to Japan and use it to create innovative and futuristic sounds. He was also one of the first musicians to explore the use of surround sound in music recordings, creating immersive listening experiences. Many of his albums are electronic versions and adaptations of familiar classical music pieces, such as Snowflakes Are Dancing, based on music by Claude Debussy, and The Planets, based on music by Gustav Holst. He received four Grammy Award nominations for his 1974 album Snowflakes Are Dancing. He also composed music for television, film and theatre, and collaborated with various artists and composers, such as Paul McCartney and Ryuichi Sakamoto. He was fascinated by the possibilities of outer space and science fiction, and created cosmic and otherworldly soundscapes. He was known for his visually stunning performances, incorporating elaborate stage setups and futuristic costumes. He died of heart failure in 2016, at the age of 84.