Thursday, February 09, 2006

Akira Ifukube, 1914 - 2006


Taken from MonsterZero.com

Very sad news for Godzilla and music fans every where, Akira Ifukube has passed on.

Thursday February 9, 1:38 AM

'Godzilla' series composer Akira Ifukube dies at 91

Music composer Akira Ifukube, who is most famous for his work on the movie "Godzilla," died of multiple organ failure Wednesday night at a hospital in Tokyo, his family said. He was 91.

Ifukube was born in Kushiro, Hokkaido. A graduate of Hokkaido University, Ifukube self-taught composing and created music for major movies since the 1950s, including "Gembaku no ko" (Children of Hiroshima) in 1952 and "Godzilla" in 1954.

His theme of "Godzilla," which expressed the horrors of the monstrous creature, has widely influenced foreign movies.

Ifukube's portfolio of work also include the 1956 "Biruma no Tategoto" (The Harp of Burma) and the "Daimajin" series from 1966.

The composer of "Nihon Kyoshikyoku" (Japanese Rhapsody), which is considered a masterpiece, Ifukube served as the president of the Tokyo College of Music between 1976 and 1987.

Ifukube was awarded a Person of Cultural Merit, one of Japan's highest honors, in 2003.

Godzilla's Roar

Godzilla's Theme

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