Toru Takemitsu - Film Music by Toru Takemitsu (2006) {7CD Box Set Victor Entertainment Japan VICG-60593~9}

These are probably the rarest Takemitsu recordings around. Toru Takemitsu composed music for at least 70 films (I have read that it's actually around 90 but I haven't researched this) and the music can be exceptionally wide-ranging: traditional Japanese soloists and ensembles, Western classical tradition, avant-garde and everything in between (jazzy lounge and space age music, anyone?) I feel that some of his best film scores are those which have his delicate Debussian touches combined with traditional Asian music and soloists.

The employment of the koto, biwa and shakuhachi is particularly effective. I cannot think of any other composers who have explored so many genres within their film score discography. This boxed set is such a precious gem collection and an immense pleasure for any Takemitsu fan. A comprehensive boxed survey of the great Takemitsu's film music would be an ambitious undertaking to say the very least - and I'd guess that it would take the world record for the only recorded collection that would be physically impossible to lift in one go.

The set does offer a bonus disc not found in the original JVC releases, with a few additional suites that were originally on the LPs but didn't make it on the 1990's CDs, and an audio interview with the composer.

Works on This Recording

CD1:
Films directed by Masaki Kobayashi
1. Kaidan [Ghost Stories, 1964]
2. Seppuku [Commit Ritual Suicide,1962]
3. Moeru Aki [Glowing Autumn, 1979]
4. Karami-Ai [The Inheritance,1962]
5. Nihon No Seishun [Hymn to a Tired Man, 1968]
6. Kaseki [The Fossil, 1975]


CD2:
Films directed by Masahiro Shinoda
1. Kaseki No Mori [The Petrified Forest, 1973]
2. Chinmoku [Silence, 1971]
3. Utsukushisa To Kanashimi To [With Beauty and Sorrow, 1965]
4. Ansatsu [The Assassination, 1964]
5. Ibun Sarutobi Sasuke [Samurai Spy, 1965]
6. Hanare Goze Orin [The Ballad of Orin, 1977]
7. Akanegumo [Clouds at Sunset, 1967]





CD3:
Films directed by Nagisa Oshima
1. Ai No Borei [In the Realm of Passion or The Ghost of Love, 1978]
2. Tokyo Senso Sengo Hiwa [A Secret Post-Tokyo War Story, 1970]
3. Natsu No Imoto [Dear Summer Sister, 1972]
4. Gishiki [The Ceremony, 1971]

Films directed by Susumu Hani
5. Furyo Shonen [Bad Boys, 1961]
6. Mitasareta Seikatsu [A Full Life, 1962]


CD4:
Films directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara
1. Tanin No Kao [Stranger's Face, 1966]
2. Sama Soruja [Summer Soldiers, 1972]
3. Otoshiana [The Pitfall, 1962]
4. Shiroi Asa [The White Dawn, 1964]
5. Suna No Onna [Woman in the Dunes, 1964]
6. Jose Torres [Jose Torres, 1959]
7. Moetsukita Chizu [Ruined Map, 1968]
8. Rikyu [Rikyu, 1989]


CD5:
Film directed by Akira Kurosawa
1. Dodes'ka-Den [Dodes'ka-Den, 1970]

Film directed by Toichiro Narushima
2. Seigen-Ki [Time within Memory, 1973]

Film directed by Shiro Toyota
3. Yotsuya Kaidan [Illusion of Blood, 1966]

Film directed by Mikio Naruse
4. Midaregumo [Bellowing Clouds or Scattered Clouds, 1967]

Film directed by Shohei Imamura
5. Kuroi Ame [Black Rain, 1989]


CD6:
Film directed by Kon Ichikawa
1. Kyo [Kyo, 1968]
2. Taiheiyo Hitoribocchi [Alone on the Pacific, 1963]

Film directed by Noboru Nakamura
3. Koto [Twin Sisters of Kyoto, 1963]
4. Niju-issai no Chichi [21-year old Father, 1964]
5. Ki No Kawa [The River Kino, 1966]

Film directed by Hideo Onchi
6. Akogare [Longing or Once a Rainy Day, 1966]
7. Nyotai [Female Body or The Call of Flesh, 1964]
8. Subarashii Akujo [A Marvelous Kid or Wonderful Bad Woman, 1963]
9. Shiawase [Happiness, 1974]





CD7: Bonus Disc
Film directed by Eizo Sugawa
01. Kemono-Michi [Beast Alley, 1965]

Film directed by Hiromichi Horikawa
02. Saigono Shinpan [Last Judgement, 1965]

Film directed by Masahisa Sadanaga
03. Sabita Honoo [Incandescent Flame, 1977]

Film directed by Masahiro Shinoda
04. Sakura no Mori no Mankai no Shita [Under the Blossoming Cherry Tree, 1975]

Film directed by Kei Kumai
05. Interview "Film Music & Me" 01: "Tenpyo no Iraka [1980]" main theme
06. Interview "Film Music & Me" 02: about "Tenpyo no Iraka [1980]"

Film directed by Ko Nakasima
07. Interview "Film Music & Me" 03: sound experiments of the Takemitsu's debut "Kurutta Kajitsu [Crazed Fruit, 1956]"
08. Interview "Film Music & Me" 04: "Kurutta Kajitsu [Crazed Fruit, 1956]" main theme

Film directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara
09. Interview "Film Music & Me" 05: recording scene of "Tanin No Kao [Stranger's Face, 1966]"

10. Interview "Film Music & Me" 06: People around the Japanese Nouvelle Vague
11. Interview "Film Music & Me" 07: traditional music & one-note structure

Film directed by Masaki Kobayashi
12. Interview "Film Music & Me" 08: from "Seppuku [Commit Ritual Suicide,1962]"

13. Interview "Film Music & Me" 09: Directing of film music
14. Interview "Film Music & Me" 10: importance of Mix & responsibility of Composers

Film directed by Masahiro Shinoda
15. Interview "Film Music & Me" 11: episode about recordings of "Kawaita Hana [Pale Flower, 1964]"
16. Interview "Film Music & Me" 12: "Kawaita Hana [Pale Flower, 1964]" 1st scene

17. Interview "Film Music & Me" 13: relationship between Films & my Music Works