14 January 2009

Toshirô Mayuzumi -- japanese soundtracks guru




Now for some 60s japanese soundtracks.

Some of the work of Toshirô Mayuzumi (1929-1997), composer of around 100 soundtracks, from early 50s to early 80s.

Best known for the score of John Huston's 'Reflections in a Golden Eye' in 1967 and 'The Bible: In the Beginning' in 1966

Initially researching european avant-garde and exp electronic music, he soon turned (as a film composer) to a more classical way to compose.

Furthermore, he took the time to conceptualize around 50 orchestral, wind band pieces and opera works.

Quite impressive.

Toshirô Mayuzumi - Black Sun (1963)
01 - Scene A
02 - Scene A2
03 - Scene B
04 - Scene C
05 - Scene D
06 - Scene E2
07 - Scene E3
08 - Scene F2
09 - Scene G
10 - Scene H

=> 100% jazz. classy and lounge. yet unusual ; track for Scene E2 is 10'36 cue. The next one is 8'28. Nice breaks. Great performers in this.


Toshirô Mayuzumi - The Bible: In the Beginning (1966)
01 - Creation of Adam
02 - Creation of Eve
03 - Cain and Abel
04 - Noah's Ark
05 - 40 Days and 40 Nights
06 - New Beginning
07 - Intermission
08 - Tower of Babel
09 - Abraham - Scene of Love
10 - Sodom
11 - Finale
12 - Theme from The Bible

=> orchestral works. Very much like a classy mid-60s should sound imo. It's good.


Finally, a compilation : Works of Toshirô Mayuzumi
01 - Theme - Waltz (1969)
02 - Crazy Society (1957)
03 - The Naked General (1958)
04 - Yuka (1964)
05 - Burning Flames (1964)
06 - Conflagration (1958)
07 - Nyanchan (1959)
08 - When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960)
09 - Street of Shame (1956)
10 - Hateful Beast (1962)
11 - You Can Succeed Too - Takuramakan (1964)
12 - Being a Woman (1958)
13 - Olympic Flame Relay - Arrival - Marathon Finale (1964)

=> to get the feel of his late 50s strks


If you find any of his electronic works, pliiz let me know :

* Boxing (1954)
* X, Y, Z (1955)
* Music for Sine Wave by Proportion of Prime Number (1955)
* Music for Modulated Wave by Proportion of Prime Number (1955)
* Invention for Square Wave and Saw-tooth Wave (1955)
* Variations on Numerical Principle of 7 (1956 with Makoto Moroi)
* Aoi no ue (1957)
* Campanology for multi-piano (1959)
* Olympic Campanology (1964)
* Mandala for solo voice and electronic sounds (1969)

I'm pretty sure i'll love 'em.........

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whao merci pour ces soundtracks japonaises. Ca va sampler je vous le dit ^^.
Un grand merci Paul (comme d'habitude ^^).

Anonymous said...

you are the most awesome blogger of all bloggers

Anonymous said...

I second that, you are awesome. I've been looking in vain for a copy of the Bible soundtrack for many years.


Many thanks!!!

fsh123 said...

Hey, I just stumbled on this post while looking for a recording of Aoi no Ue. I've been searching for a recording of this for ages. Did you have any success in tracking it down?

I have some of the other tracks you've listed above.

Let me know!

matt said...

http://www.archive.org/details/G_MAY_TOS_1

Aoi-No-Ue!

fsh123 said...

Bravo! Thanks!