© 2024 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title: AKIRA IFUKUBE LOST MUSIC AND RARITIES
CD Label: Dragon's Domain Records
CD Number: DDR795
Music Conducted by: Takeo Yahiro
Music Performed by: Bukimisha Weird Secret Society
Music Composed by: Akira Ifukube
Number of tracks: 24
Running time: 52:11
Number of discs: 1
Year of release/manufacture: February 09, 2024

REVIEW

May 02, 2023 courtesy of Ark Square https://arksquare.net/detail.php?cdno=DDR795

CD also available at BSX Records https://buysoundtrax.myshopify.com/products/bukimisha-akira-ifukube-lost-music-and-rarities

Bukimisha Goes Orchestral . . . AGAIN!

Bukimisha, that weird and mysterious group from Japan, has once more assembled a symphonic orchestra to record rare works created by the legendary composer AKIRA IFUKUBE that were once thought lost.

In 1950, Maestro Ifukube was engaged to score an ambitious 2-film Japanese adaption of the classic novel LES MISERABLES. Unfortunately, the studio collapsed soon after release and the original films faded into obscurity. Utilizing the original score sheets from the composer’s own archives, Takeo Yahiro was able to mount a brand new recording of twelve tracks primarily composed for the first chapter, GODS AND DEMONS.

In 1961, Daiei Studios mounted a lavish epic tale about the founding of Buddhism in India, shot in 70mm with hundreds of extras on spectacular sets. Ifukube wrote an extensive score that was performed by the Tokyo Symphonic Orchestra. Unfortunately, the master tapes are believed lost. On this album, nine early sketches of melodic material have been recovered and recorded from the original manuscripts. A planned but abandoned overture for the film entitled “Preludio” has been included.

Two additional “curiosities” for giant monster fans are also included, an unrecorded alternate cue for KING KONG VS. GODZILLA and the main title for the 1948 comedy THE PRESIDENT AND THE SHOPGIRL, which is a bouncy early version of what would become known as the GODZILLA theme.

These scores were discovered amongst the Maestro’s personal archives by his family after he had passed. Unwilling to let these rare works languish in obscurity, Takeo Yahiro and Bukimisha opted to once again assemble an orchestra as required by the scores to immortalize these unique finds. This release marks the first time the recording has ever been available for sale outside of Japan until now.

Bukimisha, a self-proclaimed ‘secret society’ (whose name, pronounced “Boo-key-may-sha,” and roughly translates into “Creepy Company”) has enthralled Japanese audiences over several decades. They have transformed their love of music into a unique art form, building an impressive catalog exceeding 170 albums. Many of them feature selections from Akira Ifukube′s vast output of classical compositions and complete film scores. Bukimisha was even given the opportunity to perform before the legendary composer at one of his final birthday celebrations.

Dragon′s Domain is proud to offer this remarkable performance, mastered by James Nelson at Digital Outland from the original digital recordings, all supervised and approved by conductor Takeo Yahiro. Exclusive liner notes by scholar Erik Homenick (akiraifukube.org) detail the mysterious history of this wonderful “lost” material, as well as Akira Ifukube′s life and career.

This CD set is a limited run of 500 units.

AKIRA IFUKUBE LOST MUSIC AND RARITIES(DDR795)

    THE PRESIDENT AND THE SHOPGIRL (1948)

  1. Main Title (Bulto) (1:38)

    2. KING KONG VS. GODZILLA (1962)

  2. Flying Kong (Unrecorded) (0:41)

    3. LES MISERABLES: GODS AND DEMONS (1950)

  3. No. 1 (1:48)
  4. No. 3 (2:27)
  5. No. 4 (3:38)
  6. No. 5 (1:34)
  7. No. 10 (0:42)
  8. No. 11 (0:24)
  9. No. 13 (3:03)
  10. No. 16 (2:11)
  11. No. 17 (4:41)
  12. No. 20 (1:11)
  13. No. 6 Hymn no. 405 (God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again) (2:10)
  14. No. 12 Hymn no. 405 (God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again) (0:33)

    15. BUDDHA (1961)

  15. Preludio (3:43)
  16. No. 26 (2:53)
  17. No. 27 Devadattha (1:52)
  18. No. 28 Joobon - Devadattha (1:52)
  19. No. 29 Return of Buddha (2:58)
  20. No. 33 (2:45)
  21. No. 34 (2:53)
  22. P.S. No. 1 Song of Martanga (1:55)
  23. P.S. No. 4 Song of Kunara (2:09)

    24. THE PRESIDENT AND THE SHOPGIRL (1948)

  24. Bulto (Extra Take) (1:24)