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Author	Topic: Best Japanese influenced scores?

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	Hey all, I was wondering what (in your opinion) are some good Japanese influenced scores. Tora! Tora! Tora! & and The Challenge are some examples of what sparked my interest. The Last Samurai is something else that's been getting a lot of playtime, and anything in that stlye by Zimmer would be great too. Thanks for the assist! Edit:I forgot to mention Sand Pebbles [Message edited by Alexborn007 on 01-01-2004]
posted 01-01-2004 01:29 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Will Chinese do, Alex? Goldsmith's Asian-flavoured scores are outstanding, as you know. THE SAND PEBBLES is an absolute masterpiece (the Varese original tracks, not the re-recording which was very disappointing in my view). THE CHAIRMAN is another great, and somewhat under-rated, Goldsmith Chinky score. Plenty of knowledgeable people here will be able to tell you about actual Japanese composers, but I'm out of my depth there.
posted 01-01-2004 01:35 PM PT (US)

Doug Adams Standard Userer	Takemitsu's RAN.
posted 01-01-2004 01:41 PM PT (US)

James Standard Userer	It's not specifically Japanese, but if you're looking for something by Zimmer with an Eastern touch you should definitely check out Beyond Rangoon. It's Zimmer's crowning achievement to date, in my opinion. You should also look into the works of Joe Hisaishi, especially Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. I know I'll think of more, but that's all for now. Kirk
posted 01-01-2004 05:28 PM PT (US)

cine-sin Standard Userer	Snow Falling on Cedars (JNH) features a few Japanese elements here and there.
posted 01-01-2004 06:57 PM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size=1 face=arial>quote:</font><HR size=1>Originally posted by Doug Adams: Takemitsu's RAN.<HR size=1></BLOCKQUOTE> What's the best way to nab this one? I picked up Takemitsu's Rising Sun as a consolation, but 'Ran' is only available (as far as I could see) at intrada.com as part of a 159 dollar box set with other Kurosawa film scores. Edit: Found the Ran 2-disc album Hopefully they're not backordered! May have to check out the movie too...Shakespeare AND Kurosawa... Out of curiosity, what kind of things can I expect from Ran? [Message edited by Alexborn007 on 01-01-2004]
posted 01-01-2004 10:03 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	I'd actually say the score for Snow Falling On Cedars is heavily Japanese, or at least carries the feel with the shakuhachi and taiko drums and various other Japanese orchestrations, and makes Zimmer's Last Samurai seems weak in comparison�don't get me wrong, I like The Last Samurai, but for the Japanese "sound", overall James Newton Howard was far more successful and far more inspired, in my opinion. It also helps that Scott Hicks is leagues ahead of Edward Zwick in as far as filmmaking goes. For Hans Zimmer, Black Rain is also very good; it has the origins of his "empire" theme for Japan, than playing most prominantly as the main Japanese theme in Pearl Harbour, and later in the second half of "Red Warrior" on Last Samurai�very neat.
posted 01-01-2004 11:44 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	James/Kirk (James T. Kirk?) mentioned Joe Hisaishi. Oh, I forgot about him in the New Year befuddlement, but he's very good. I've got SPIRITED AWAY, which I like, and I've heard a few of his compilations. Rich, lush, Jappo-sounding stuff, very melodic. I could really get to like this guy. Not very Zimmer-ish however, but since you (Alex) got into this sound via Goldsmith, you can cast your net wide.
posted 01-02-2004 09:42 AM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	For Joe Hisaishi, check out his scores to Takeshi Kitano's excellent films: Kikujiro, Kids' Return, and parts of Brother, for his Japanese themed scores; his others like Hana-bi (Friworks) are more Western in their sound, and so is Brother, save for one heavily percussive cue. "Chinky"? "Jappo"? What's with you guys?
posted 01-02-2004 10:39 AM PT (US)

MWRuger Standard Userer	Barbarian and the Geisha - Hugo Friedhofer He accomplishes some authentic Asiatic sounds using western instruments and notations, years before this music was generally available or on the national consciousness.
posted 01-02-2004 11:23 AM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	No offence meant, sean, by those politically incorrect terms I used flippantly. I myself am a tight-fisted Jock, or a Teuchter or what have you. You mention Joe Hisaishi's KIKUJIRO. That's another one I've heard, I think. Quite monothematic. if I'm thinking of the correct score, but attractive. At the risk of turning this thread into a list of all scores with Oriental leanings, MW Ruger's mention of that old Friedhofer score reminded me that I was impressed with Bernard Herrmann's ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM (as accompaniement to the film at least. The film was excellent. Anyone got the score release?)
posted 01-02-2004 02:39 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	I thought the topic was about Japanese "INFLUENCED" scores, not scores by Japanese composers writing in their native tone...
posted 01-02-2004 08:12 PM PT (US)

sean Standard Userer	I think this topic was doomed to be warped from the beginning... 'cause people want to talk about all sorts of Asian "sounding" scores, like Beyond Rangoon (Burma) or Sand Pebbles (China). And then me talking about the cool Joe Hisaishi and his Takeshi Kitano films.
posted 01-02-2004 10:15 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	How about Pearl Harbor, with its ominous Japanese-esque theme with percussion? Or Black Rain? What if we'll discuss scores with Eastern instruments in the orchestration? Then we can talk about Spygame with its Chinese violin, the Erhu, which was used previously in The Corruptor but not before The Replacement Killer....
posted 01-02-2004 10:46 PM PT (US)

Graham Watt Standard Userer	Alex, slap us all into line if we're talking about scores you don't want to hear about!
posted 01-03-2004 08:04 AM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	quote: Originally posted by Graham Watt: Alex, slap us all into line if we're talking about scores you don't want to hear about! Haha, alright. Here's what I'm looking for... -Scores that mix Western styles with East -ANY Score that uses the Koto or Taiko Drums -Strong Japanese style themes -Can be by Native Composers or American (i.e. Takemitsu and Newton Howard) Good suggestions so far! Got Snow Falling on Cedars today so I'll let you all know how that is! Plus, it seems the Ran soundtrack was in stock so that's on the way too NP:The 'Burbs
posted 01-03-2004 12:16 PM PT (US)

CAT Standard Userer	Don't hate me, but.... YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE - John Barry
posted 01-03-2004 12:30 PM PT (US)

Dylan Standard Userer	Richard Band's gorgeous orchestral score for "Ghost Warrior." No score with an asian flavor or influence has soared higher before or since. A shame this score hasn't been released in any form to date (though a suite is available on a Richard Band promo cd). Dylan
posted 01-03-2004 01:01 PM PT (US)

Dave Standard Userer	Since in your rules you changed it from Japanese to Eastern I can now add the obvious Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. And if you can find Big Trouble in Little China get that. dave
posted 01-03-2004 06:09 PM PT (US)

HadrianD Standard Userer	Basil Poledouris' The Touch. Tan Dun's Hero. Patrick Doyle's Indochine.
posted 01-03-2004 07:48 PM PT (US)

firefox Standard Userer	I think there's somebody named Akira Ifukube who wrote a few Japanese sounding scores.
posted 01-03-2004 10:44 PM PT (US)

lars b Standard Userer	Anna and the King - George Fenton The Pavilion Of Women - Conrad Pope The Touch - Basil Poledouris
posted 01-07-2004 10:32 AM PT (US)

Tom Scofield Non-Standard Userer	Certainly one of the earliest Japanese influenced soundtracks would have to be Les Baxter's Score to the English language version of Osamu Tezuka's SAIYUKI know as ALAKAZAM THE GREAT. According to Baxter, the Japanese production company (TOEI) held a tight control over any changes made to the film for the Western market and that Director Tezuka (the God of Manga) was very pleased with AIP's Westernization of the film and especially Baxter's score, which he liked better than the film's original. Baxter's work is certainly one of the most adventurous animated scores ever produced and treats the Asian themed materials in a very adult and wonderfully different manner from any previous cartoon score. It was one of Baxter's personal favorites of all of his works, and he loved the film itself, which is obvious to anyone hearing the score. Unfortunately, the soundtrack album issued is a wasted opportunity, tossing aside Baxter's orchestral wonderland for a cheap poppy/jazzy texture and another lost opportunity, like the promised, but unissued FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER score, to demonstrate a totally new and original voice in American Film Music. God, what a waste!!!
posted 01-09-2004 05:59 PM PT (US)

Wickenstein Standard Userer	You Only Live Twice The Best Bond score ever written!
posted 01-09-2004 06:02 PM PT (US)

Alexborn007 Standard Userer	Hey all, I will probably end up trying to get You only Live Twice as I am a schlub who doesn't own it. Ran is on the way from good ol' Ark Square as well. Who can give me the skinny on the score? It's a two CD-set but I can recall VERY few instances of music in the film... Thanks as always for the help! P.S.-Snow Falling on Cedars is a very good score!!!
posted 01-09-2004 08:02 PM PT (US)

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