Composer Akira Ifukube
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Godzilla Composer Akira Ifukube Dies

Ifukube, who gained a wide following through his symphonic, ethnic, works was born in Kushiro, Hokkaido. He studied Ainu music and the music of the Gilyak people of Sakhalin Island, aspiring to write songs that would "pass beyond the uniqueness of races to universal human nature."

He produced a large number of ethnically rich works, mainly based on his own studies. In 1935 he won the Tcherepnin prize in Paris for his work "Japanese Rhapsody." The composition was performed in the United States the following year, receiving international recognition.

When the Russian Alexander Tcherepnin came to Japan, Ifukube studied modern wind instrument techniques under him. During his career Ifukube served as head of the Tokyo College of Music, and taught many composers.

Altogether, he composed about 400 songs for movies. Among them, he struck a chord with the march he composed for GOJIRA (GODZILLA) in 1954, and went on to compose music for many Godzilla and other Toho monster movies.

In addition to the Toho giant monster films, Ifukube scored THE QUIET DUEL for Akira Kurosawa, Ichikawa's THE BURMESE HARP, Inagaki's CHUSHINGURA, and Von Sternberg's ANATAHAN. He also wrote music for many of the ZATOICHI and SLEEPY EYES OF DEATH samurai films. Ifukube won several prizes, including the music award in the Mainichi film competition for THE BURMESE HARP. He was handed the government's award for distinguished cultural merit in 2003.

Ifukube's health had deteriorated over the past few years, and he contracted rectal cancer, the cause of his death.

He retired from film scoring in the mid-90s but left a legacy of very impressive film scores.

Ironically, La-La land Records has released the first American CD edition of Ifukube's full-length score for KING KONG VERSUS GODZILLA this week.

Read my Soundtrax column this Thursday for a memorial tribute to Ifukube and his film music.

Cinescape's Music News provides weekdaily news and views on film music, progressive rock, and other notable musical genres, culled from a variety of sources.