In its straightforward Japanese transcription, "El Pez Dorado" uses the "kanji" characters for "fish" and "gold." "El Pez Dorado" is the name given to the most recently released CD of Eugenio Toussaint, a musician from Mexico. The CD includes piano pieces that have not been previously recorded, and which were inspired by Japanese music.
"I wonder why I am very attracted to Japanese culture," said the pianist-composer on his recent visit to Japan. He can remember the attraction beginning in his childhood. "When I was about 5, I loved a book of Japanese mythology, which had ukiyoe illustrations," he said. "At 7, I saw the animated movie 'Little Samurai.' The music from that film, probably played on the koto, really impacted me. Now I love Japanese music, especially Toru Takemitsu compositions, and will get some scores to take home with me."
Toussaint was born in Mexico City, a place of striking contrasts. Mythology has it that the original city was founded after an eagle landed on a cactus there. Although Toussaint belongs to a music-loving family, he was not encouraged at home to think of making a career in music. He said: "In Mexico there's a strange belief that music is not a profession to take. When I was about 8, I had a very bad piano teacher who didn't realize I had a good ear, and wanted me to learn everything by rote. I didn't want to go for lessons. Fortunately, in my life I had friends who were musical, and I could talk to them." As a pianist and composer, now one of Mexico's most prominent, Toussaint considers himself to be basically self-taught.