Japanese Orchestral Music

Japanese Orchestral Music 

Works by Akira Ifkube; Karen Tanaka; Yuzo Toyama; Atsuda Otaka; Kaoru Wada

Malmö Symphony Orchestra

Jun'ichi Hirokami 

All pieces are World Premiere Recordings.

Tanaka, Wada: Recorded in the Presence of the Composer.

Ballata Sinfonica

Composed By – Akira Ifukube

(16:10)

1 Prima Ballata (Allegro capriccioso) 7:48

2 Seconda Ballata (Andante rapsodico) 8:17

3 Prismes Pour Orchestre

Composed By – Karen Tanaka

10:45

4 Symphonic Poem "Matusra"

Composed By – Yuzo Toyama*

12:55

5 Image Pour Orchestre

Composed By – Atsutada Otaka

10:11

Folkloric Dance Suite For Orchestra

Composed By – Kaoru Wada

(17:58)

6 I. "Hayashi" 3:50

7 II. "Magouta" 4:25

8 III. "Odori" 2:07

9 IV. "Oiwake" (attaca) 3:20

10 V. "Dozokuteki-Bukyoku"

A very nice compilation of Japanese orchestral music. The first two tracks are the oldest compositions from the late 1940's composed by Akira Ifukube. The remaining tracks were composed in the 1980s by Karen Tanaka, Yuzo Toyama, Atsutada Otaka, and Kaoru Wada.

Another great compilation is Japanese Orchestral Favourites: Ryusuke Numajiri: Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

The compositions really capture the sound of the country. These composers convey the sound of Japan the way Joaquín Rodrigo and Claude Debussy conveyed Spain and France.