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Posted: |
Apr 4, 2008 - 9:20 PM
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By: |
Squiddybop
(Member)
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In 1963, the NHK broatcasting network aired its first Taiga Drama -- A long form historical drama about figures from Japanese history. It was scored by Isao Tomita, and since then there's been a new Taiga Drama every year, often featuring fantastic music by some very impressive Japanese composers, and even one Italian fellow.
Since 1963, there have been 47 Taiga Dramas to date:
1963: Hana no Shogai (Isao Tomita)
1964: Ako Roshi (Yasushi Akutagawa)
1965: Taikoki (Yoshiro Irino)
1966: Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Toru Takemitsu)
1967: San Shimai (Masaru Satô)
1968: Ryoma ga Yuku (Michio Mamiya)
1969: Ten to Chi to (Isao Tomita)
1970: Mominoki wa Nokotta (Yoda Mitsumasa)
1971: Haru no Sakamichi (Akira Miyoshi)
1972: Shin Heike Monogatari (Isao Tomita)
1973: Kunitori Monogatari (Hikaru Hayashi)
1974: Katsu Kaishu (Isao Tomita)
1975: Genroku Taiheiki (Joji Yuasa)
1976: Kaze to Kumo to Niji to (Naozumi Yamamoto)
1977: Hanashin (Hikaru Hayashi)
1978: Ogon no Hibi (Shinichiro Ikebe)
1979: Kusa Moeru (Joji Yuasa)
1980: Shishi no Jidai (Ryudo Uzaki)
1981: Onna Taikoki (Koichi Sakata)
1982: Toge no Gunzo (Shinichiro Ikebe)
1983: Tokugawa Ieyasu (Isao Tomita)
1984: Sanga Moyu (Hikaru Hayashi)
1985: Haru no Nami (Masaru Satô)
1986: Inochi (Koichi Sakata)
1987: Dokunganryu Masamune (Shinichiro Ikebe)
1988: Takeda Shingen (Naozumi Yamamoto)
1989: Kasuga no Tsubone (Koichi Sakata)
1990: Tobuga Gotoku (Toshi Ichiyanagi)
1991: Taiheiki (Shigeaki Saegusa)
1992: Nobunaga (Kurodo Mori)
1993: Ryukyu no Kaze (Jun Nagao)
1993: Homura Tatsu (Yoshihiro Kanno)
1994: Hana no Ran (Shigeaki Saegusa)
1995: Hachidai Shogun Yoshimune (Shinichiro Ikebe)
1996: Hideyoshi (Reijiro Koroku)
1997: Mori Motonari (Toshiyuki Watanabe)
1998: Tokugawa Yoshinobu (Joji Yuasa)
1999: Genroku Ryoran (Shinichiro Ikebe)
2000: Aoi ~Tokugawa Sandai~ (Taro Iwashiro)
2001: Hojo Tokimune (Kazuki Kuriyama)
2002: Toshiie to Matsu (Toshiyuki Watanabe)
2003: Musashi (Ennio Morricone)
2004: Shinsengumi! (Takayuki Hattori)
2005: Yoshitsune (Taro Iwashiro)
2006: Komyo ga Tsuji (Reijiro Koroku)
2007: Furin Kazan (Akira Senju)
2008: Atsu-hime (Ryo Yoshimata)
2009: Tenchijin (No one yet as far as I know. Fingers crossed for Michiru Oshima or—dare I dream?—Joe Hisaishi)
Sadly most of the early Taiga scores have never seen a true soundtrack release. There is however a great two-disc set featuring the main themes from the first 35 Taiga Dramas, as well as a good amount of score from Reijiro Koroku's Hideyoshi.
It's a fantastic collection that no fan of Japanese composers would want to be without, but I still long for a CD release of some of these shows containing a little more than the main theme. Thankfully many of the more recent Taigas have received their own soundtrack releases, starting with 1991's Taiheki.
So, any other Taiga music fans out there?
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Posted: |
Apr 4, 2008 - 9:24 PM
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By: |
Squiddybop
(Member)
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Taiheki (1991)
Taiga Drama #29
Composer: Shigeaki Saegusa
Don't let the somewhat lame cover fool you, this score is a dramatic powerhouse. Opening with rumbling percussion and the eerie strains of the hichiriki, the music then erupts into a furiously driving brass theme backed by chopping strings. It's a fantastic theme, and one of my favorites from any Taiga score. For the score proper, Saegusa alternates between lush srting writing and more variations on that great theme. There are some very nice running times on most of the tracks as well, with four of the nine tracks clocking in at nearly eight minutes apiece, really letting the music breathe. The almost thirteen minute long seventh track really benifits from this treatment.
Availability: Unfortunately, this CD is long out of print and rather difficult to come by, but if you ever happen to stumble across a copy, then by all means grab it! You will not be disappointed.
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Posted: |
Apr 4, 2008 - 9:49 PM
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By: |
Squiddybop
(Member)
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Hana no Ran (1994)
Taiga Drama #33
Composer: Shigeaki Saegusa
Saegusa's second Taiga score is quite a bit different from his previous one. The fury of the Taiheki theme has been replaced with a slowly unfolding piano theme, that builds to a spectacular climax. The score itself features a fair amount of synth this time, but I find it actually works quite well, especially in the action cues. In addition to the returning hichiriki, Saegusa also adds in a favorite instrument of mine—the shamisen. Lots of nice solo string work in this one as well, and boy does he ever give that main theme a workout! No incredibly long cues this time out, but with 34 tracks, the disc still runs over an hour, and Saegusa definitely proves that if you give him thirty seconds, he'll give you some great stuff.
Availability: Once again, this CD is out of print, though I don't believe it's quite as rare as Taiheki just yet. Still worth the hunt as far as I'm concerned.
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Posted: |
Apr 5, 2008 - 2:41 AM
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By: |
Squiddybop
(Member)
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Toshiie to Matsu (2002)
Taiga Drama #41
Composer: Toshiyuki Watanabe
Toshiyuki Watanabe is probably best known around here for his Rebirth of Mothra scores, which are pretty good, but for me, Toshiie to Matsu leaves them in the dust. That main theme is just phenomenal! Conducted by Hiroyuki Iwaki and featuring performances by both the NHK Symphony and the Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, the score also features some beautiful violin solos by Daishin Kashimoto.
I have to wonder if Watanabe is a fan of Westerns, too. On track 7 there's a theme reminiscent of something out of Wyatt Earp, which then segues into a Broughton-styled flute line. It's really pretty neat, but even cooler is track 8, which starts out with a touch of Poledouris before launching into a very Kamen-like fanfare.
The next two tracks are probably the most bittersweet on the album, and therefore my favorites. The final track of the album features another lovely violin solo -- a great way to end the disc.
Availability: In print, so go get it.
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