Kurosawa (Film Music of Akira Kurosawa) [Import, Soundtrack]

Akira Kurosawa (Composer), Masaru Satô (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 2, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 19, 1956
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Soundtrack
• Label: Funho
• ASIN: B00000GBLL
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,095 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Seven Samurai

2. Ikiru

3. Record Of A Living Being

4. The Throne Of Blood

5. The Lower Depths

6. The Hidden Fortress

7. The Bad Sleep Well

8. Yojimbo

9. Sanjuro

10. High And Low

11. Red Beard

12. Dodes' Kaden

13. Dersu Uzala

14. Kagemusha

15. Ran

16. Dreams

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The geniuses behind the genius, October 22, 2005

By 

TrezKu13 (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kurosawa (Film Music of Akira Kurosawa) (Audio CD)

This CD is a collection of themes from 16 of Akira Kurosawa's 30 movies, including a track where you can hear Japan's greatest director give his famous line, "Ready...start!" However, to truly appreciate what went into Akira Kurosawa's work I think it helps to know who the other artists were that assisted him in his filmmaking. They were: (in order of tracks and who the composers were)

*Fumio Hayasaka
"Seven Samurai"
"Ikiru"
"Record Of A Living Being"

*Masaru Sato
"The Throne Of Blood"
"The Lower Depths"
"The Hidden Fortress"
"The Bad Sleep Well"
"Yojimbo"
"Sanjuro"
"High And Low"
"Red Beard"

*Toru Takemitsu
"Dodes' Kaden"
"Ran"

*Isaac Schwalz
"Dersu Uzala"

*Shinichiro Ikebe
"Kagemusha"
"Dreams"

Most of these tracks are the main themes from the movies, with a few exceptions. "Seven Samurai" is pretty much the entire soundtrack (with the Peasant Theme, Samurai Theme, and Shino Theme) merged together with "Dodes' Kaden" done in a similar fashion, while "Dreams" is the end theme and the funeral march put together respectively. It's a pity we could not hear similar things done for the other tracks, especially "Kagemusha" which had a great soundtrack altogether.

Overall, this is a good addition to the music of any film buff, and is a definate must for any Kurosawa fan.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A must-have for fans of the Emperor of Japanese cinema, September 7, 2000

By 

Victor W Wong (Ottawa, ON Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kurosawa (Film Music of Akira Kurosawa) (Audio CD)

THE FILM MUSIC OF AKIRA KUROSAWA contains tracks from a selection of the film director's best-known films, with the exception of the ground-breaking RASHOMON. It is by no means comprehensive (none of Kurosawa's works from the 1940s are represented) but the tracks selected are a strong overview of the director's career.

The tracks range from a simple re-mastering to complete re-arrangement. The first track, SUITE FROM THE SEVEN SAMURAI, is a selection of themes from the film. Much of this is taken from the intermission music which plays between reels, which includes the Farmer's Drone and Drums, the Samurai March, and the themes of Kikuchiyo and the Romance Theme.

For the most part, the opening credits music is selected from each movie. Of these, YOJIMBO and THE HIDDEN FORTRESS are probably the most accessible to Western listeners, with the latter being reminiscent of an epic Ben Hur and the former evoking the opening images of Toshiro Mifune walking.

Less successful are the modern re-arrangements from the later films, some of which sound like elevator music. The track from SANJURO, for example, has been re-arranged to evoke a loping, "lone cowboy" romp. (To be fair, of course, much of SANJURO's original music was taken from YOJIMBO, and there may not have been enough incidental to make a self-complete track.)

Listeners should also be aware that some computer-based CD players may have timing problems with the tracks. All in all, however, fans of Kurosawa will be delighted with this album.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kurosawa, June 22, 2000

By 

"reel07" (Sad Hill Cemetery) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kurosawa (Film Music of Akira Kurosawa) (Audio CD)

THE FILM MUSIC OF KUROSAWA contains music from almost all of the great master's films (with the exception of SUGATA SANSHIRO, his other early works, and RHAPSODY IN AUGUST). If you are a Kurosawa fan, this CD is for you. It has music from all of his films, going from SEVEN SAMURAI to DREAMS. It is an excellent music compilation, featuring highlights, if not, all of the music, from Kurosawa's movies, whether it's the drum-banging theme of SEVEN SAMURAI, or the Russian requiem choir from DERSU UZALA, or the end theme from KAGEMUSHA, and lots more. It is truly an enjoyable CD to listen to. With the music score from many great Japanese musicians, you can visualize the scenes from all of his great movies. Even if you just like a few songs from Kurosawa's movies, it is highly doubtful that you will be dissapointed with this CD.

Tracks: Music from the following Kurosawa films:

SEVEN SAMURAI (12 minute suite), IKIRU (theme), RECORD OF A LIVING BEING, THE THRONE OF BLOOD (main theme), THE LOWER DEPTHS, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS (theme), THE BAD SLEEP WELL, YOJIMBO (theme), SANJURO (song from trailer), HIGH AND LOW (theme), RED BEARD (suite, does not have chime-ambient song in film and featured on DVD menu), DODES'KADEN (suite), DERSU UZALA (Russian requiem), KAGEMUSHA (end theme), RAN (battle theme; edited), DREAMS (theme) ,VOICE OF KUROSAWA (saying "Ready . . . Action!")

*Note: All the songs are remastered in stereo, not redone or re-orchestrated. Good stuff!