Shigeru Umebayashi (Japan)

One of the most distinguished and beloved composers of our time, Shigeru Umebayashi, owes his fame to his composition for the film “Yumeji” (1991), which led to his first collaboration with the Chinese director Wong Kar-Wai in 1999, and his film “In the Mood for Love”. In 2004 his second work for a Wong Kar-Wai film followed, the exquisite “2046”, and in this time he also composed the score for Zhang Yimou’s epic film “House of Flying Daggers”. He is currently working in Wong Kar-wai's new film "The Grandmasters".

Shigeru Umebayashi launched his music career during the Japanese new wave movement in the 80’s as the leader of the rock band “EX”. When EX disbanded in 1984 he soon started to expand his activities to the field of film music. In 1985 he composed the music of the films for “Sorekara” & “Tomoyo Shizukani Nemure”, which won both several music awards at “Mainichi Film Contest”, “Japan Academic Award” & “Yokohama Film Festival”.

Umebayashi’s work was soon recognized internationally, especially in Hong Kong, ever since the composition of the film music “The Christ of Nanjing” in 1995. One of his most famous international works was “In the Mood for Love” by Wong Kar-Wai. In 2001 the title song of “Mid Night Fly” by Jacob Chang won the best original song award at “Golden Horse Award” in Taiwan. He then continued his work with Zhang Yimou’s new film “House of Flying Daggers” and again Wong Kar-Wai’s new film “2046” in 2004. Both films were presented in Cannes Film Festival 2004. For the movie “House of Flying Daggers” he worked with the world famous soprano Kathleen Battle. The music of “2046” won the best original score award at “Golden Horse Award” in Taiwan again and at “Hong Kong International Film Festival” in 2004.

After these successful scores followed the next film by Zhang Yimou, “Curse of the Golden Flower”, for which he composed the music and also the Chinese-American co-production of the film Fearless” and the French film “Hannibal Rising”. He’s nowadays regarded one of the most evolutionary and impactful composers of his generation. In 2009 he composed additional music for Tom Ford’s debut film “A Single Man”. In October of the same year his film music was performed live for the first time in Ghent by the Flanders Philharmonic, conducted by Dirk Brossé, and in December 2010 he had three sold out concerts in Athens with his melodies performed by the “Oticons Orchestra & Choir”, conducted also by Dirk Brossé.

Listen to Ume's Music:

• Yumeji's Theme from "In the Mood for Love"
  
• Various Works
  

Scores

• 1984
  Itsuka Darekaga Korosarer
• 1985
  Tomoyo Shizukani Nemure
  Sorekara
• 1986
  Sorobanzuku
  Shinshi Domei
• 1987
  Kyohu no Yacchan
• 1988
  Getting Blue in Color
• 1990
  Hong Kong Paradise
  Tekken
• 1991
  Yumeji
  Ote
  Goaisatsu
• 1992
  Arihureta Ai ni Kansuru Chosa
  Byoin he Iko 2 Yamai ha Kikara
  Nemuranai Machi Shinjuku Zame
• 1994
  Izakaya Yurei
• 1995
  Zero Woman
  Boxer Joe
  Kitanai Yatsu
  Hashirana Akan Yoake Made
  The Christ of Nanjing
• 1996
  Shin Gokudo Kisha
  Izakaya Yurei 2
• 1997
  Ichigo Domei
  Isana no Umi
  Watashitachi ga Sukidatta Koto
  G4 Option Zero
• 1998
  Fuyajo
  Belle Epoch
• 2000
  2000 A.D.
  Shojo
  In the Mood for Love
• 2001
  Midnight Fly
  Hikari no Ame
  Onmyoji
• 2003
  Onmyoji II
  Floating Land Scape
• 2004
  House of Flying Daggers
  2046
  Hibi
• 2006
  Fearless
  Daisy
  Curse of the Golden Flower
• 2007
  Hannibal Rising
  My Blueberry Nights
• 2008
  The Real Shaolin
• 2009
  Murderer
  A Single Man
• 2010
  True Legend
• 2011
  Days of Grace
  Trishna

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