AKIRAIFUKUBE.ORG - Etenraku

ETENRAKU
(1940)

Akira Ifukube conducting the premiere performance of Etenraku in Tokyo (1940)

Etenraku is the first ballet written by Akira Ifukube. It is an epic work, requiring roughly 600 participants (large orchestra, choir, ballet dancers, etc.) The piece's duration is about 2 hours.

Ifukube began writing Etenraku in 1938. It was planned to be finished by 1940 so it could be performed for the 2600th anniversary of the founding of Japan which took place that year. Ifukube personally conducted this performance which took place on July 7, 1940.

The name Etenraku comes from the traditional imperial court music of Japan, gagaku. (Gagaku was introduced to Japan by China during the 5th and 6th centuries.) Ifukube chose the theme of Etenraku for the the 2600th anniversary celebration because of its obvious nationalistic overtones.

Interestingly, one of the dancers in the premiere performance was Aiko Yûzaki who would later marry Ifukube in 1941. The famed dancer Takaya Eguchi also participated in the premiere.

Takaya Eguchi

Due to the difficulty in staging the massive Etenraku, it has not been performed since World War II.

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