Akira Ifukube--Master Works: Symphonic Fantasia No. 2 (Part 1)

Continuing now with the second movement of Akira Ifukube's world famous Symphonic Fantasia, a three part symphony comprised of the composer's most popular film scores of the kaiju eiga ("monster movie") genre. Originally against the idea of turning his movie music into classical pieces because he didn't feel they could be appreciated outside of the films themselves, he eventually gave into popular demand and wrote the following piece, first performed in 1983.

The motifs that he uses in the first part of the second movement is as follows:

Main Theme from Adventure at Kiganjoh
King Ghidorah's Theme from Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster
Battle Music from King Kong vs. Godzilla
Sacred Springs from Mothra vs. Godzilla

As has become typical, I had to cut up this 15 minute song into two parts, as will have to be done with Fatasia No. 3.

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For more information on this piece please visit: http://www.akiraifukube.org/symphonic_fantasia.htm
And go to AkiraIfukube.org for more general infor on the composer's music.

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Disclaimer: I do not own anything heard here, and I cannot provide any of it. Thank you.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Akira
• Ifukube
• master
• works
• Japanese
• Godzilla
• music
• classical
• symphonic
• fantasia
• kaiju
• eiga

[Fragile0Still]

Where does one find copies of Fantasia 2 and 3? I recently ordered a masterwork cd with Fantasia 1 but the others sound just as wonderful.

[GojiGuru]

Look for: "The Artistry of Akira Ifukube 4" (KICC 178) or "A Tribute to Godzilla: Akira Ifukube Symphonic Fantasia Complete" (KICS 775)

[PeppeRaskell1]

"Adventure at Kiganjoh?"  Is that a kaiju movie, or a piece from a kaiju movie? It sounds kind of familiar...

[GojiGuru]

It's not kaiju, as far as I know. It's about a monk and a swordsman that travel together and find a conspiracy to overthrown a king from his castle. That said, it seems like the odd ball among all the other sci-fi titles. Oh well.

[chopperpilot5]

I think Akira is the best music composer ever, he has soo many different styles, Jerry goldsmith, john Williams, james Horner, john barry, james newton howard, bow before the king AKIRA IFUKUBE!

[supah1337B]

ghidora!'s coming! :D im such a godzilla fan!

[MrJoshy77]

Rest in Peace Ifukube, you were a musical god.

[whythewar1]

@GojiGuru OH, MY, GOD, ITS GOODDZZIRRRAAAAAAA!

[chopperpilot5]

@GodzillaXAbudAwwal yes. it's amazing

[GodzillaXAbudAwwal]

@chopperpilot5 he did Jason and the Argonauts?

[chopperpilot5]

@Zlagie oh yes indeed, his score fro jason and the argonauts was amazing

[Zlagie]

@chopperpilot5 But hermann gets a seat next to the kings throne.

[chopperpilot5]

@MsGeogeog yea i did I'M NOT ALONE YES! i always have, but though i was just crazy.

[MsGeogeog]

Did you happen to know a funny "J" pattern going on in your list of composers? :)

[Godzilla1282]

@chopperpilot5 over in the eastern culture hes considered theeir Mozart. Bach, and Beethovan put together. He's generally considered yes to be the greatest composer of all time

[TOHOFIEND54]

Isn't the first one usually adapted into the generic exotic island theme in godzilla movies