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Author	Topic: Japanese/Chinese Film Composers

1helluvamusicfan Standard Userer	I haven't been able to find a topic on this, at least I hope there isn't one and I missed it... I love old Japanese and Chinese films and the music that plays with them.. Ifukube (favorite: all Zatoichi films), Watanabe, Takemitsu, Satoh, Sakamoto, Katsu, Hisiashi, Hayasaka, and Dun. Just curious as to who and what everyone else likes or dislikes. Thanks, Chris NP - Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
posted 09-24-2003 12:56 PM PT (US)

Justin Standard Userer	Unfortunately I don't know much about Japanese composers, but I do like a few Japanese animation scores. Akira, Spirited Away, Vampire Hunter D etc. Are you into Japanese Animation scores?!?
posted 09-24-2003 04:08 PM PT (US)

franz_conrad Standard Userer	I'm not abreadst of the older composers, but among modern Chinese film composers, Zhao Jiping and his son Zhao Lin have written some gorgeous scores between them. (And of course, Tan Dun.) The compilations Farewell, My Concubine and Electric Shadows receive regular workouts on my CD player. One score I particularly like is Patrick Tam's score for Ashes of Time - largely synths and ethnic woodwinds - what a theme that film has. As for Japanese composers, I don't really know of many except the obvious couple - Hisaishi and Sakamoto, both of whom have composed some of my favorite scores. NP Gangs of New York (Almost Elmer!)
posted 09-24-2003 04:21 PM PT (US)

Marselus Standard Userer	Pay attention to Lee Dong-June, a young south korean composer. I discovered him in "Shiri" (1999), and he made a major effort in 2009: Lost Memories (2002), a magnificent score (and film, indeed) with great use of orchestra and chorus. His latest job, Save the Green Planet! (2003) just prove that he is such a talented musician that we´ll hear of him in the future. If you can find 2009: Lost Memories score cd, don´t hesitate.....just buy it, pump up the volume and enjoy the music.
posted 09-24-2003 06:00 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	Well, I've been enjoying Japanese scores for a while now. I'm not sure I enjoy the older generation one like Toru Takemitsu just because they're too experimental for my sake. I've read an interview with composer Shigeaki Saegusa who said Japanese music is still in its developemental phase, influenced mostly by Western European techniques and convention. Fine by me. I love all of his work. His Gundam work along with most of his animation and concert work has its root in the Romantic period with some pop element mixed in. I think that Animation scores is where we'll see the future of Japanese music. There's a real salad bowl of music style flowting around there that's begging to mix together. Just look at Yoko Kanno and her varied musical style and Ko Otani and Shiro Sagisu with their pop/orchestral interplaty and Akira Senju and Yasuo Higuchi's Classical style (also mixed with pop). It's a hotbed of very interesting works that you'll just have to see and hear. [Message edited by HadrianD on 09-24-2003]
posted 09-24-2003 09:51 PM PT (US)

Tom Scofield Non-Standard Userer	Yes, Yoko Kanno is truly remarkable, what an incredible range. Recently, I've been really enjoying the music to THE BIG O on Cartoon Network Sunday nights. Great stuff. Sadly, I can't recall the composer's name at the moment, but anyone interested in anime should check it out.
posted 09-25-2003 03:07 AM PT (US)

FalkirkBairn Standard Userer	Don't have too much in the way of Japanese/Chinese film music. Tan Dun's CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and HERO are two examples of the more well-known scores from eastern composers. And Toru Takemitsu's RISING SUN and RAN are another two. Takemitsu's scores seem to be more traditional Japanese-like. Although, I am not too well versed in Japanese music, his score to RAN appears to equally emphasise the silences between the notes as well as the notes themselves. Ryuji Iuchi's (and others) work on SHENMUE game music and the orchestral version composed by Toshiyuku Watanabe (and others) are very beautiful (particularly the orchestral version) examples of eastern music. Mamoru Samuragoch's ONIMUSHA is another example of game music that is good, particularly the "Rising Sun" 3-movement piece. Kenji Kawai's score to AVALON is a recent acquisition that is getting a lot of playing time.
posted 09-25-2003 03:44 AM PT (US)

1helluvamusicfan Standard Userer	I am not well versed in ANIME music. Is it really that good? Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Chris NP - Rosewood (Williams)
posted 09-25-2003 06:34 AM PT (US)

Justin Standard Userer	Hmmm, Definitely the following: Spirited Away - Jo Hisaishi Princess Mononoke - Jo Hisaishi Akira - Geinoh Yamashirogumi Good starters especially the scores by Mr. Hisaishi
posted 09-25-2003 08:43 AM PT (US)

MWRuger Standard Userer	Tom Scofield, Didn't you think that they opening titles to Big O owed a huge debt to Queen's Flash Gordon? It sounded to me like they lifted some of the rifts straight out of the Queen song. I like it, but it sure sounds familiar. The music in the episodes is quite good, if often repeated.
posted 09-25-2003 11:14 AM PT (US)

La La Land Records Standard Userer	Great topic! I have long been a fan of Asian cinema and its scores. Some great scores to check out (if available): KOREA: MUSA - Shiro Sagisu. Amazing score to one of the greatest films ever made (and barely seen outside of Asia). J.S.A. - Joint Secutiry Area - Jun-Seok Bang and Yeong-wook Jo. Subtle score to a subtle movie. Probably the best last shot in motion picture history. Absolutely stunning and absorbing drama! HONG KONG: Legend of Zu - Ricky Ho. Lush, romantic score. Movie blows, but the music and images are amazing! Shaolin Soccer - Raymond Wong. One of the best sports scores and movies ever. Great heroic themes and amazing comedic tunes. JAPAN: BATTLE ROYALE - Masamichi Amano. MUST SEE FILM AND MUST HEAR SCORE! RINGU/RING 2/DARK WATER/AVALON - All by Kenji Kawai. Great eerie, atmospheric, creepy stuff. SAMURAI TRILOGY: MIYAMOTO MUSASHI - Ikuma Dan. I wish this music was in existence. The tapes simply don't exist. It's a shame because it's an incredible collection of music to a great series of films. LONE WOLF AND CUB SERIES - Hideaki Sakurai. Possibly the best series of Samurai films and one of the coolest, most eclectic scores to grace them. The good news is a "BEST OF" collection is coming in November from La La Land Records. MV Gerhard La La Land Records [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003] [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003]
posted 09-25-2003 11:41 AM PT (US)

1helluvamusicfan Standard Userer	Thanks MV Gerhard! Some very interesting scores.. I'll have to check some of those out, soon! Chris
posted 09-25-2003 01:36 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by MWRuger: Tom Scofield, Didn't you think that they opening titles to Big O owed a huge debt to Queen's Flash Gordon? It sounded to me like they lifted some of the rifts straight out of the Queen song. I like it, but it sure sounds familiar. The music in the episodes is quite good, if often repeated. Big O's opening song does sound like Queen, but I think it's the score by Toshihiko Sahashi that really is King I can spot some influences from Batman, Das Boot, Godzilla and others. The nature of the composer for each anime series is to compose a library of cues that would be used in the subsequent eps. For example, for the anime Evangelion, some 3 soundtrack CD were released as the series unfolds, along with several inspired CD. Later, a large 4-6 (?)CD comp were released featuring all the cues that were ever written for the show. But they were all essentially library cues. And speaking of Cartoon Network, anyone saw Inuyasha? The score uses similar orchestration and arrangement as Joe Hisaishi's score to Mononoke Hime.
posted 09-25-2003 06:15 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by La La Land Records: HONG KONG: Legend of Zu - Ricky Ho. Lush, romantic score. Movie blows, but the music and images are amazing! Shaolin Soccer - Raymond Wong. One of the best sports scores and movies ever. Great heroic themes and amazing comedic tunes. [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003] Where's the link to buy these CDs?
posted 09-25-2003 06:18 PM PT (US)

La La Land Records Standard Userer	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by HadrianD: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by La La Land Records: [b]HONG KONG: Legend of Zu - Ricky Ho. Lush, romantic score. Movie blows, but the music and images are amazing! Shaolin Soccer - Raymond Wong. One of the best sports scores and movies ever. Great heroic themes and amazing comedic tunes. [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003]<HR size=1></blockquote> Where's the link to buy these CDs?[/B]<HR size=1></blockquote> To my knowledge, Zu never came out. The only place I ever saw Shaolin for sale was on EBAY. The problem with a lot of Asian scores is that the record companies only produce a few thousand and that is it! Who knows, maybe someday a company might get the rights and release them domestically! MV Gerhard [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003]
posted 09-25-2003 06:46 PM PT (US)

La La Land Records Standard Userer	double post [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003]
posted 09-25-2003 06:46 PM PT (US)

Tom Scofield Non-Standard Userer	Hi, MWRuger: I completely agree that the BIG O opening (isn't Rue Nagai a big name in J-Pop?) is greatly indebted to Queen -- not necessarily a bad thing in moderation -- but I was mainly talking about the underscore to the show itself. The underscore is heavily influenced by Ifakube, Twilight Zone, Baxter and Beethoven (no joke!), but I still find it memorable and clever.
posted 09-30-2003 03:43 PM PT (US)

MWRuger Standard Userer	You're right Tom. There are some really excellent moments in there. I ordered the Import CD so I am waiting patiently for it to appear so I can listen to it without all those annoying visuals! As a huge Queen fan, I certainly have no problem with the influence. You can really hear it when you listen to the extended version of the opening theme. [Message edited by MWRuger on 10-01-2003]
posted 09-30-2003 09:02 PM PT (US)

Marselus Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by HadrianD: <BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by La La Land Records: [b]HONG KONG: Legend of Zu - Ricky Ho. Lush, romantic score. Movie blows, but the music and images are amazing! Shaolin Soccer - Raymond Wong. One of the best sports scores and movies ever. Great heroic themes and amazing comedic tunes. [Message edited by La La Land Records on 09-25-2003]<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> Where's the link to buy these CDs?[/B] There are a couple of webs in which I buy asian scores. You can try to find the cd´s you may be interested in: www.yesasia.com www.asiandb.com Good luck!
posted 10-01-2003 12:12 PM PT (US)

La La Land Records Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Marselus: There are a couple of webs in which I buy asian scores. You can try to find the cd´s you may be interested in: www.yesasia.com www.asiandb.com Good luck![/B] Unfortunately neither one has them. You might wanna try: http://www.arksquare.com/index_main.html They have Shaolin for $25.00. Also, Battle Royale 2 is out now as well as Takeshi's new Zatoichi remake. Although, after listening to the score to the new Zatoichi film (by Keiichi Suzuki)I have to say I'm unimpressed. I wonder why Kitano didn't use Hisaishi? They have done just about every film together. This is one time where I hope Miramax (they own domestic rights) DOES replace the Japanese score with a newer and hopefully better one. MV Gerhard
posted 10-01-2003 01:15 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by MWRuger: You're right Tom. There are some really excellent moments in there. I ordered the Import CD so I am waiting patiently for it to appear so I can listen to it without all those annoying visuals! As a huge Queen fan, I certainly have no problem with the influence. You can really hear it when you listen to the extended version of the opening theme. [Message edited by MWRuger on 10-01-2003] DOOOOOOD, You could have just DL both 1st and 2nd CD from me.... .... Oh well.... It'll totally worth your money. See if you can spot references to the Requiem and Dracula...It's sooo obvious too...
posted 10-01-2003 09:10 PM PT (US)

MWRuger Standard Userer	That's okay. I prefer CDs when I can get them. MP3's are okay, but you are left at the mercy of the ripper and a lot of them don't know how to make a good MP3. Plus many are too compressed to sound decent. I'm sure yours are fine, but I am very picky about mp3s and generally don't bother with anything less than 192 KbPS. Uusally even those just make me want to get the actual CD!
posted 10-03-2003 08:42 AM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	I have them at 320kbs... And I do prefer CD when I can get them too. It's bothersome to turn on the computer just to listen to music... Sometime...
posted 10-03-2003 11:34 PM PT (US)

cine-sin Standard Userer	Chris Great topic!! When you say "old" - how old are you talking about? Rochelle
posted 10-21-2003 04:33 PM PT (US)

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