The World of Japanese Film and Television Scores: Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Seiji Fujishiro Shadow Play: The Humpbacked Pony (VPCD-81191)

© VAP
© Seiji Fujishiro

Description:

This is the sixth and final volume in a six disc series titled Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works. This volume covers the score to Kiri-e artist Seiji Fujishiro's shadow play "The Humpbacked Pony" (1975). Bonus material includes several outtakes. Music by Akira Ifukube. All music is in mono.

Album Information:

Label: VAP
Album Title & Catalogue Number: Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Seiji Fujishiro Shadow Play: The Humpbacked Pony (VPCD-81191)
Music by: Akira Ifukube
Number of Discs: 1
Number of Tracks: 51
Run Time: 52:19
Release Date: March 1, 1997
Retail Price: ¥2,621 (Approximately $24.31 [as of July 4, 2019])

Track List:

The following are the Japanese and English translated track lists.

Track List (Japanese)

「せむしの子馬」('75.8.~)
01. 前奏曲～ロシアの村の麦畑 (M1, M2)
02. イワン少年 (M3)
03. 星空 (M4)
04. 星をかぞえる (コンボオンリー)
05. まいおりた白馬 (M5)
06. それから何年かすぎて (M6)
07. ダニーロとガブリロ (M7)
08. バッファリー! (M9)
09. 空飛ぶ子馬 (M10)
10. 火の鳥の羽 (M12)
11. 空飛ぶ子馬 (M14)
12. 都の市場 (M15)
13. 王様のお出まし (M16)
14. 子馬とイワン (M17)
15. 王様の行進 (M18)
16. あばれ馬 (M19)
17. イワンの笛 (M20)
18. 王様とイワンの行進 (M21)
19. 眠るイワン (M23)
20. セミヨンの悪だくみ (M24)
21. 火の鳥の羽 (M25)
22. こまったイワン (M27)
23. 空飛ぶ子馬 (M28)
24. 火の鳥をつかまえろ (M30)
25. 召使いの話 (M34)
26. 月のお姫さま (M35)
27. 夢みるうたごえ (M36)
28. 雪の空を飛ぶ子馬 (M37)
29. こまったイワン (M38)
30. 空飛ぶ子馬 (M40)
31. クジラの願いごと (M41)
32. 天上へかけのぼる子馬 (M42)
33. 光のお宮 (M43)
34. 船乗りの歌 (M44)
35. 海の大王さま (M45)
36. 指輪をさがす魚たち (M46)
37. 海辺の夕焼け (M47)
38. 宮殿へ急げ (M48)
39. とらえられたイワン (M49)
40. 牢屋で泣くイワン (M50)
41. 王様のラッパ (M51)
42. 第一の牛乳の釜 (M52)
第二の熱湯の釜 (M53)
第三の氷水の釜 (M54)
43. 生まれ変わったイワン (M55)
44. フィナーレ (M58)

45. 船乗りの歌・伴奏 (M44)
46. 船乗りの歌・別テイク (M44)
47. イワン少年・前半 (M3)
48. イワン少年・後半 (M3)
49. 火の鳥をつかまえろ・別テイク (M30)
50. とらえられたイワン・別テイク (M49)
51. 空飛ぶ子馬・別テイク (M10)

Track List (English)

"The Humpbacked Pony" (08/??/'75)
01. Prelude ~ Wheatfield in a Russian Village (M1, M2)
02. Ivan Boy (M3)
03. Starry Sky (M4)
04. Counting the Stars (Combo Only)
05. Descent of the White Horse (M5)
06. A Few Years Later (M6)
07. Danilo and Gabrilo (M7)
08. Baffary! (M9)
09. The Flying Pony (M10)
10. Feather of the Firebird (M12)
11. The Flying Pony (M14)
12. Market in the Capital (M15)
13. Appearance of the King (M16)
14. The Pony and Ivan (M17)
15. March of the King (M18)
16. Horse Rampage (M19)
17. Ivan's Pipe (M20)
18. March of Ivan and the King (M21)
19. Ivan Sleeps (M23)
20. Semillon's Evil Plot (M24)
21. Feather of the Firebird (M25)
22. Ivan Troubled (M27)
23. The Flying Pony (M28)
24. Catch the Firebird (M30)
25. Story of the Servant (M34)
26. Princess of the Moon (M35)
27. Song of Dreams (M36)
28. The Pony Soars Through Snowy Skies (M37)
29. Ivan Troubled (M38)
30. The Flying Pony (M40)
31. Wish of the Whale (M41)
32. The Pony Gallops up to the Heavens (M42)
33. Shrine of Light (M43)
34. Song of the Sailor (M44)
35. Great King of the Sea (M45)
36. Fish That Look for a Ring (M46)
37. Seaside Sunset (M47)
38. Hurry to the Palace (M48)
39. Ivan Caught (M49)
40. Ivan Cries in Prison (M50)
41. The King's Trumpet (M51)
42. First Kettle of Milk (M52)
Second Kettle of Boiling Water (M53)
Third Kettle of Ice Water (M54)
43. Ivan Reborn (M55)
44. Finale (M58)

45. Song of the Sailor · Accompaniment (M44)
46. Song of the Sailor · Alternate Take (M44)
47. Ivan Boy · First Half (M3)
48. Ivan Boy · Second Half (M3)
49. Catch the Firebird · Alternate Take (M30)
50. Ivan Caught · Alternate Take (M49)
51. The Flying Pony · Alternate Take (M10)

Additional Notes:

As stated above, this album is the sixth and last of a six volume series titled Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works. The volumes in this series consist of:

Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Daiei Edition: Zatoichi Series/Nemuri Kyoshiro Series (VPCD-81186)
Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Shochiku Edition: Oh Wolf, Slay the Setting Sun (VPCD-81187)
Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Toei Edition: Shinran/Thirteen Assassins (VPCD-81188)
Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Nikkatsu Edition: The Burmese Harp/Scoundrels of the Sea (VPCD-81189)
Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Iwanami Films Edition: Sakuma Dam Trilogy (VPCD-81190)
Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Seiji Fujishiro Shadow Puppet Play: The Humpbacked Pony (VPCD-81191)

The series has been occasionally listed as the Film Composer Selection series at some websites (I myself have been guilty of this). However, this isn't entirely accurate as the Film Composer Selection series spans across a sizable number of VAP's releases.

Seiji Fujishiro's shadow puppet play "The Humpbacked Pony" first premiered in July of 1953. Akira Ifukube composed the score for the production and was performed live with a twelve piece orchestra.

Unlike the 1953 production of the play, Ifukube's score was recorded for the 1975 production. In fact, all of the dialogue, sound effects and music were recorded in advance. The score was recorded on July 30, 1975 at KRC Radio and Television Center. A total of thirty-nine cues were recorded with a sixteen piece orchestra along with male and female vocalists. The play was performed and filmed sometime during August of 1975.

Several cues were repeated throughout the score. They are:

M3 (Opening Oboe Only): M20
M10: M14, M28 and M40
M12: M25
M17: M48
M27: M38 and M50
M41: M45

M47 is also listed as a repeat of M4, however it's notably different from M4 as it has a slightly slower tempo.

Anyone paying attention to the cue numbers will notice that a number of cues are missing. These cues were not recorded.

A song composed by Akira Ifukube and sung by actress Jun Fubuki, who voiced the titular Humpbacked Pony, was not included on this album. The song is titled "Song of the Humpbacked Pony".

Photo Gallery:

Here is a photo gallery of my copy of Akira Ifukube Unreleased Film Music Complete Works · Seiji Fujishiro Shadow Play: The Humpbacked Pony (VPCD-81191). The photos were taken on July 2, 2019.