© 2000 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title Akira Ifukube Works For Orchestra
CD Label Fontec
CD Number FOCD2545
Music by: Akira Ifukube
Music Conducted by: Yasushi Akutagawa
Music Performed by: The New Symphony Orchestra
Number of tracks 6
Running time 66:08
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 1999

REVIEW

November 9, 2000

Tracks 1 & 2 were recorded live on August 8, 1977, at Festival Hall. Tracks 3, 4 & 5 on February 1, 1987 at Suntory Hall and Track 6 on April 6, 1980 at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.

This is a nice sounding CD but most of the music here has appeared on other CD's on this site by other conductors and orchestras. Tracks 1 & 2 appear on "Japanese Orchestral Music" on the BIS label, # BIS-CD-490. Tracks 3 through 5 appear on two other CD's, "The Artistry Of Akira Ifukube 2" on King Records, # KICC-176 and also on "Akira Ifukube - Profile Of Composer" on Fontec, # FOCD3292. The only track that I haven't seen or heard elsewhere is Track 6.

The music on the CD is quite good with a good variety of tempos and styles. There is no Godzilla or monster music on this CD. Instead we have delightful pieces that sound somewhat classical and wouldn't be out of place on a Walt Disney "Fantasia" type soundtrack. If you don't already have this music on the others CD's mentioned above, then this is worth owning.

 


English Title: Akira Ifukube Works For Orchestra

by The New Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yasushi Akutagawa

	BALLATA SINFONICA(1943)

1.	I. 	Prima Ballata: Allegro capriccioso

2.	II.  	Seconda Ballata: Andante rapsodico

	SINFONIA TAPKAARA(1954/79)

3.	I. 	Lento-Allegro

4.	II. 	Adagio

5.	III. 	Vivace

6.	CONCERTO No. 2 for Violin and Orchestra (1978)
	Takeshi Kobayashi on violin