Princess Mononoke: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture
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Brand: PrincessComposer: Joe Hisaishi
Edition: Music CD
Audio: Japanese (Original Language)
Format: Soundtrack
CD Release Date: 1999-10-12
Music Label: Milan Records
Soundtracks:
- Legend of Ashitaka
- Demon God
- Journey to the West
- Demon Power
- Land of the Impure
- Encounter
- Kodamas
- Forest of the Gods
- Evening at the Ironworks
- Demon God II-The Lost Mountains
- Lady Eboshi
- Tatara Women Work Song
- Furies
- Young Man from the East
- Requiem
- Will to Live
- San and Ashitaka in the Forest of the Deer
- Princess Mononoke Theme Song
- Requiem II
- Battle Drums
- Battle in Front of the Ironworks
- Demon Power II
- Requiem III
- Retreat
- Demon God III
- Adagio of Life and Death
- World of the Dead
- World of the Dead II
- Adagio of Life and Death II
- Ashitaka and San
- Princess Mononoke Theme Song
- Legend of Ashitaka Theme
Free Music Notes for Princess Mononoke: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture
Free Music Review: The Young Man from the East
Hit: 5 Stars
The sheer depth and scope of "Princess Mononoke" was one that I never thought would be possible for an animated movie. There is so much going on and so many different messages trying to get out that it makes for a very mature and enjoyable animated movie. Complimenting the fantastic movie is the astounding score by the great Joe Hisashi. His score paints such a lovely picture that eases and amazes in the same breath and goes hand in hand with the Prince as he journeys to find a cure for his curse.
The action writing is well done and we get an excellent taste of it during "The Demon God" I love how towards the end you hear this very schizophrenic strings just floating around almost as if waiting for the Boar to fall. Another brilliant move is to sometimes juxtapose the action with rather calming music. "Demon Power II" features an action moment when the Prince takes on riders wielding bows and arrows, and instead of scoring it big, Hisashi opts for tremolo strings and woodwinds which is just a stroke of genius.
Equally a stroke of genius is the somber and emotional moments of the score which are my personal favorites. There is a recurring melody called "Requiem" on the album that is played in association with Ashitaka's journey. Almost makes one feel like floating on air when it's played. "Ashitaka and San" is an amazingly touching and beautiful closer to the movie that I believe features Hisashi playing the piano himself.
There are themes galore in this score and all of them very solid and fitting to what it goes with. There is a theme for Ashitaka although I'm not sure if it's a theme for him or his journey, but either way there are several performances of it on the album ranging from epic to depressing. Princess Mononoke herself has a theme although it's not as prominent as I was expecting it to be on the album and even the adorable little Kodamas have their own little tune that fits their adorable mischievous selfs.
My favorite theme however is the amazingly simple theme for the Spirit of the Forest. It's a very odd and peaceful theme and I can't quite explain why I have such a strong attraction to it but his/her theme was my favorite piece of music from the whole movie. Whenever the spirit popped up you hear the strings grouping up which is then followed by that odd little woodwind. Just amazing stuff to listen to and captures the feel of the ancient being very well.
The moments of dread and horror for the Spirit scenes towards the end of the movie are scored with an intense uneasiness and features a disturbing female solo saying heavens knows what. "The World of the Dead" gives us a treat of this disturbing kind of writing and it works well with the disturbing images on the screen. Never heard a horror album from Hisashi before but if the creepy bits on this score any indication he'd be great at it.
It is a lengthy album and I think it's a complete score but there's hardly a dull spot on the album. The themes, the action, the creepiness, the beauty and the um......whateverness makes it a brilliant album worthy of all the [...] kissing it gets.
HIGHEST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Princess Mononoke: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture Poster
This score to Japan's anime megahit stresses Western musical influences over Eastern, despite the movie's themes being more attuned to Japanese heritage and mythology. Hisaishi (who has contributed music to more than 30 Japanese films) employs a traditional Hollywood-style orchestral movement that is generally lush and pleasing--a soundtrack that could easily fill the boundless skyscapes of classic horse operas. There are occasional exotic moments involving woodwinds or solo violin or both that digress into more indigenous folksongs, but these, too, have soothing melodies akin to what one might demand from sushi dinner music. The operatically trained Sasha Lazard offers the sweet and ethereal "Theme Song" (with lyrics by director Hayao Miyazaki). These tracks may not always be distinctive but they manage to evoke moods of mysticism and, of course, ritual violence. --Joseph LanzaPop Music CDs
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