Akira Ifukube: SYMPHONIC ODE "GOTAMA THE BUDDHA" / Koichi Kishi: SYMPHONY "BUDDAH" (Classic)

The masterpieces of Japan's musical treasures, Akira Ifukube and Koichi Kishi, are miraculously revived through live recordings!

Akira Ifukube's "Symphonic Hymn 'Shaka'" & Koichi Kishi's "Symphony 'Buddha'"?which garnered acclaim through the overwhelming performance of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yukio Fujioka?are finally released on live CD!

Three Shells presents these monumental works, shining brilliantly in the history of modern Japanese music, captured in a compelling live recording by the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yukio Fujioka.

Symphonic Hymn "Shaka" is a monumental choral-orchestral work by Akira Ifukube (1914-2006), one of Japan's foremost composers. He reconstructed and recomposed his own ballet and film music for this piece.
Ifukube's signature primitive, incantatory rhythms and solemn, prayerful sounds vividly depict the life of Shaka.

The Symphony "Buddha" (1934) was completed by the tragically short-lived genius Koichi Kishi (1911-1937) for its premiere by the Berlin Philharmonic.
Using the rich orchestration of the late Romantic period, reminiscent of Mahler, Bruckner, Wagner, and Richard Bogner-Straus, it expresses Buddha's suffering, love, hell, and nirvana in a 42-minute, weighty symphony.

These two pieces are masterpieces that have been reevaluated in recent years as milestones in Japanese composition.
As the highlight of a program that Yukio Fujioka (Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra) had been nurturing for many years, he gave soul-stirring performances at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall on February 14, 2025, and at Sumida Triphony Hall on February 20 of the same year.
A high-quality live recording that captures the excitement and emotion of that day has finally been completed on CD.
An essential recording for anyone wishing to touch the source and depths of Japanese composers.
For classical music fans, Ifukube enthusiasts, and all awaiting the rediscovery of Koichi Kishi.

[Performers]
Conductor: Yukio Fujioka
Orchestra: Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra
Concertmaster: Tetsuo Tozawa
Chorus: Tokyo City Philharmonic Chorus (on 'Shaka' only)
Chorus Conductor: Takahiro Fujimaru (on 'Shaka' only)

[Track Listing / Running Time: Approx. 80 min]
Akira Ifukube: Symphonic Hymn 'Shaka' (Approx. 38 min)
Koichi Kishi: Symphony 'Buddha' (Approx. 42 min)
(*Machine Translation)

01-03.伊福部昭（1914-2006）　交響頌偈「釋迦」［1988-1989］
Ⅰカピラバスツの悉達多（シッタルダ）
Ⅱ.ブダガヤの降魔（ごうま）
Ⅲ.頌偈（じゅげ）
04-07.貴志康一（1909-1937）　交響曲「仏陀」［1934］
第1楽章 Molto sostenuto – Allegro〈仏陀〉
第2楽章 Andante〈マヤ夫人〉
第3楽章 Vivace（scherzo）〈地獄〉
第4楽章 Adagio〈涅槃〉

※タイトル表記は、伊福部昭の自筆スコアに従い『釋迦』と致しました
※交響曲「仏陀」の楽章タイトルは、貴志によるドイツ語解説の引用です

指揮：藤岡幸夫
https://www.fujioka-sachio.com/

東京シティ・フィルハーモニック管弦楽団
https://www.cityphil.jp/