Luboš Fišer (1935-1999) is known in Czechoslovakia for his concert and chamber music as much as he is for his music for Czech films. Fišer’s Report has been performed by the American Wind Symphony Orchestra in Pittsburgh, and in 1966 he won first prize at the UNESCO International Composer’s Competition in Paris. His music was described thusly in a program accompanying a performance of his music in Prague: “His style is developed to a brilliant nature...

There is probably nothing we could call underground film music, but there is certainly an innovative scene for film soundtracks. The composer Zdeněk Liška (1922–1983) was an innovator of revolutionary parameters, but he lived at a time when Czechoslovak film music was not published separately. Today, the world is gradually discovering his name outside the frame of cinematography, on releases by British label Finders Keepers or the Polish brand Bolt Records.

Hans-Martin Majewski was born on 14 January 1911 in Schlawe, Pomerania. The son of a veterinarian, he attended grammar school in his birthplace and then a state educational institution in the city of Köslin until 1930. He subsequently studied medicine in Königsberg, but was already being taught music and composition by the Straube students Joachim Ansorge and Traugott Fedke. Eventually, from 1932 onwards, Majewski devoted himself exclusively to music...

Akira Ifukube was born in Hokkaido in 1914 and studied there at its University, where he met Fumio Hayakasa, another composer who would gain respect as a film composer in the late 40’s. Ifukube and Hayasaka performed together at Hokkaido, Ifukube on violin and Hayasaka accompanying on piano. During his youth, Ifukube was raised up in the country and was exposed to much traditional folk music from various regions in Japan, all of which contributed to his later style of composition.

Antón García Abril was born in Teruel in 1933. After studying in Spain he went to Italy to attend the ‘Accademia Chigiana di Siena’ musical courses, where he studied composition with Vito Frazzi, conducting with Paul Von Kempen and film-music with Angelo Francesco Lavagnino. The latter was to have a great influence upon Abril’s first film scores. After working on various Spanish film productions, Abril met Mario Camus and began to write the music for all of Camus’ films ...

Born in Ceuta in 1903, Munoz studied at the Conservatory of Madrid under Dolores Salvador, Joa­quin Larregla, Amadeo Vives and others.   He studied violin and piano, and became a violin accompanist during concerts. In 1925 he won the first prize for piano at the Con­serva­torio de Madrid, and later the “Premio Ex­tra­ordi­nario Fin de Carrera.” Like most composers, Munoz has written and had performed several concert works, including a ballet, Suite Granadina ...