© 1999 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title The Artistry of Akira Ifukube 3
MAI - AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS
CD Label King Records
CD Number KICC 177
Music composed by: Akira Ifukube
Music conducted by: Jyunichi Hirokami
Music performed by: Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
Music recorded: August 22-24, 29-31, September 1, 1995
SESSION SUGINAMI HALL, TOKYO
Number of tracks 27
Running time 55:06
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 1995

REVIEW

First off I have to be honest and say I am not a fan of Ballet. Saying that, I doubt I would like to see the ballet "Salome" that this music is from. However, the music was fantastic and I really enjoyed it. It reminded me of those old movies about ancient Roman times and Greek mythology. The music had great action pieces as well as slower, more classical sounding parts.

I enjoyed this CD very much. I also liked that the track titles tell what's going on in the story as it unfolds. Again, if you're strictly into kaiju music, then this is probably not for you. If, however, like me you have a broad taste in music and liked the music in the old movies like Hercules and other ancient Rome and Greek stories, then you may very well also enjoy this CD. 


English Title:	The Artistry of Akira Ifukube 3 - MAI - 
		AKIRA IFUKUBE ORCHESTRAL WORKS

Ballet "SALOME" (1948/87)

 1.	Prelude
 2.	SCENE - A great terrace in the Palace of Herod
 3.	The slaves of Salome, Jews, Nazarenes, etc.
 4.	Noise in the banqueting hall
 5.	Enter Herod, Herodias, and all the court. /
	Herod: Where is Salome? Where is the Princess?
 6.	Enter Salome
 7.	Herod looks all the while at Salome.
 8.	Herod, Salome, Herodias I
 9. 	Herod, Salome, Herodias II
10.	Salome: I am waiting until my slaves bring perfumes
     	to me and the seven veils and take from off my feet
	my sandals. (Slaves bring perfumes and the seven veils
	and take the sandals off Salome) 
11.	Salome: I am ready, Tetrach. (Salome dances the dance
	of the seven veils.) First dance.
12. 	Second dance	
13.	Third dance
14.	Fourth dance
15.	Fifth dance
16.	Sixth dance
17.	Seventh dance
18. 	The Executioner goes down into the cistern.
19. 	Salome leans over the cistern.
20.	A huge black arm, the arm of The Executioner, comes forth
	from the cistern, bearing on a silver shield the head of
	Jokanaan.
21.	Salome seizes it. Herod hides his face in his cloak. 
	Herodias smiles and fans herself. The Nazarenes fall on
	their knees and begin to pray.
22.	Herod: I will not look at things. I will not suffer things
	to look at me. Put out the torches. Hide the moon.
23.	The slaves put out the torches. The stars disappear. A great
	cloud crosses the moon and conceals it completely. The stage
	becomes quite dark. The Tetrach begins to climb the staircase.
24.	Salome is moonlit.
25.	Herod: Kill that woman!
26.	The soldiers rush forward and crush beneath their shields Salome,
	daughter of Herodias, Princess of Judea.

PRELUDE DU SOLDAT (1944)

27.	(1944)