Product Description

Over the last fifteen years, Philip Glass has defined a new form of biographical opera. There was never any doubt that he would be the ideal composer for MISHIMA, a mosaic film biography. I wanted a score which would unite the film's disparate elements and propel it forward. Such a score, by defenition, would be a distinct, cohesive compositon.

I only wondered how to induce Glass MOney was out of the question: the film was already an egregiously under-budgeted labor of love production. I opted for a soft sell. I've subsequently learned how remarkably resistant Philip is to a hard one.) I simply gave him the script and all the materials by and about Mishima at my disposal.

Philip responded enthusiatically and after several pre-production meetings and a trip to the Tokyo locations. wrote a score Michael Riesman he recorded a temp synthesizer version.

I edited the film to this temp score, altering it as necessary; cutting, expanding and repeating cues. I then played the edited film and score for recorded it with a full orchestra. Later, he supervised last-minute changes during the final mix.

In keeping with the original concept, Glass has re-edited the score as a distinct musical entity. His MISHIMA equally serves the film and stands alone.

-- Paul Schrader

Product Description

Mishima - Original Soundtrack - CD