Hikaru Hayashi

[Chuck Stephens]

Watching ONIBABA in preparation to write something about it for an 
upcoming Criterion DVD release, I was surprised -- delighted, really 
-- to recall that the composer of the film's score -- mainly 
freefalling drum solos and occassional scat/spazz hoots and hollers 
-- is none other than Hikaru Hayashi. Hayashi is probably my all-time 
favorite Japanese soundtrack scorer, particularly since I had a 
chance to see Oshima's amazing "Treatise on Japanese Bawdy Song" 
("Nihon Shunka-ko") and "Three Ressurrected Drunkards" ("Kaette kita 
yopparai") at the Pusan film festival last year. Can someone there in 
Japan tell me what Hayashi material is available on CD, particularly 
collections of his work for films? I know he is (was?) also a 
prolific composer of modern classical works, though I've not heard 
any of it. Is someone here acquianted with the classical side of his 
work, and might care to describe/reccommend some of it for me? Is 
Hayashi still alive?

thanks much,
Chuck

[I have to vague feeling I've posed this question here before; 
forgive me if, esp Aaron, you've already answered this question in 
part for me. I looked through all my old email and can't find a reply 
if indeed there was one at an earlier date.]