© 2020 Lawrence Tuczynski
ALL info and cover scans courtesy of Brandon O'Brian and Sam Scali
| Title | Akira Ifukube 100th Anniversary Concert-Vol 4 |
| CD Label | Three Shells |
| CD Number | 3SCD-0033 |
| Music Composed by: | Akira Ifukube & Various Artists |
| Music Performed by: | Japan Orchestra Triptyque, conducted by Hiroyuki Mito |
| Recording date and venue: | May 7th, 2016 at Densho Hall, Shibuya Cultural Center Owada |
| Number of tracks | 33 |
| Running time | 76:24 |
| Number of discs | 1 |
| Year of release/manufacture | May 31, 2017 |
| REVIEW |
April 24, 2020 update courtesy of Sam Scali Live concert performances of "Homage to Akira Ifukube", "Rhythmic Games for Children", "The Little Humpbacked Horse" and "Gouche the Cellist". June 23, 2017 Review courtesy of Brandon O'Brian. Recorded at Densho Hall, Shibuya Cultural Center Owada on May 7, 2016 and released on May 31, 2017, the fourth in an ongoing series of 100th anniversary concerts features a total of four works. They are "Homage to Akira Ifukube", "Rhythmic Games for Children", Suite "Ivan and the Pony" and music from "Gauche the Cellist". The first of these works is "Homage to Akira Ifukube", is a collection of nine short pieces composed by disciples of Akira Ifukube, to pay homage to the composer. The composers of the pieces utilize material composed by Akira Ifukube, while adding their own spin on the material. This collection has been recorded and released on past albums. The second of these works is "Rhythmic Games for Children". Composed in 1949," Rhythmic Games for Children" is a collection of nine pieces composed for small orchestra, and recorded onto ten inch seventy-eight RPMs to be used as teaching materials for elementary school children. Each RPM ran for approximately three or so minutes. Oddly enough, "Wild Chysanthemum", composed by Kanichi Shimosa, was tacked on as the first of the pieces. This brought the total number of pieces up to ten. This piece was perfomed alongside of Ifukube's nine compositions and is indluded within this release. In 2013, a piano version of "Rhythmic Games for Children" was recorded. Performed by Reiko Yamada, the piano version was created based on Akira Ifukube's rough sketches for the piano. This release marks the first time that the original, orchestral version had been available since 1949. The third of these works is Suite "Ivan and the Pony". In 1953, Akira Ifukube composed the score for artist Seiji Fujishiro's shadow puppet play "The Humpbacked Pony", and was performed again in 1975. Ifukube's score for the 1975 performance has been released in CD and can be found elsewhere on this site. This suite consists of a variety of cues from the score, split up into four movements. Like the 1975 score, this suite is a wonderful blend of traditional ochestra and Electone (a Yamaha electric organ). The final of the works here are selections from Akira Ifukube's score to "Gauche the Cellist" (1953). The film was made utilizing puppets and dolls, and is based on the story of the same name. Only one cue from this score has been recorded in the past, and is found on Akira Ifukube Soundtack Anthology (KICC 296/7). This release finally resurrects more of this score. Most of the selections here are upbeat. Track 28, Song of Rat (my favorite track on this album), is a slower piece more on the melancholy side. Track 32, Cheerful Camban, will be adapted into the third movement of Ifukube's "Sinfonia Tapkaara" (1954). Overall, this concert release mainly focuses on works that targeted children. There are some great tracks found within this releases, and at least three will be recognizable for later being in some of Akira Ifukube's best known film scores. Another solid concert. |
Akira Ifukube 100th Anniversary Concert-Vol 4 (3SCD-0033)
Homage to Akira Ifukube Rhythmic Games for Children Suite "Ivan and the Pony" From "Gauche the Cellist" |