Thanks.
click the picture 🙂
This is unprecedented. You take pop theme songs from a series, you give one each to a ridiculously talented classical composer and say "Arrange, please! — and each composer responds with a sensitive arrangement in their own unique style.
Wada’s orchestration of "Change The World" to begin with – and you know what you’re in for. These aren’t just simple arrangements; they’re complete reimaginations – larger than life, grandly-scaled symphonic tone poems. Wada takes what sounded like a particularly trite melody and turns it into a rousing overture.
Every Heart could only ever be re-worked by Senju – a warm, intelligent, romantically-minded composer; ten seconds in, his hallmarks are completely evident, and off he goes; a beautifully whimsical piece.
Toshihiko Sahashi begins his arrangement of Owarinai Yume with a grand fanfare, and whips it up into a lovely piece of musical theatre that recalls Lloyd Webber’s Cats (and others) – stirring, bright, and enthusiastic.
Dearest – a lovely impressionistic arrangement by Asakawa for reduced orchestra; simple, to the point, and a very daring way to tackle the song.
Kuriyama strays furthest from the genre with Fukai Mori, backing up his orchestral arrangement with contemporary percussion. Whilst somewhat lacking in imagination (this arrangement is certainly closer to the original song than the others; begging the question "what is the point?") but ultimately it’s competent – whilst probably the least-inspired arrangement on the disc, it’s still more than worth a listen.
Wada’s arrangement of Shinjitsu No Uta is a very intimate piece for string orchestra and piano; tender and understated, it certainly rates as one of my favourite pieces of the album.
Oshima brings back the full orchestra and jumps straight in to "I am" with a powerful orchestral flourish that begins a very classicaly oriented arrangement. A wonderful mini symphony, with ravishing orchestrations and a wonderful feel-good bounce that really brings out the best of the song’s cheerful melody.
Hattori’s take on Grip! is fascinating; he completely reimagines the song as a touching sparsely arranged piece for reduced orchestra; no showing off, no symphonic acrobatics; just a wonderful warm, glittering piece.
Two more arrangements from Wada finish the album; My Will is noble and powerful, and the finale Inuyasha Gensou is a six-minute fantasia on his powerful Inuyasha theme; bringing the album to a ravishing close.
Just wonderful! 🙂
That’s what buggered me off about it! Yes, that loud hiss is running all through the CD. I don’t know how or why. It sounds like tape hiss, but really REALLY BAD tape hiss. Very strange.
About that, are you planning to keep this avatar the WHOLE april month? It’s a bit freaky.
Holy crap, I totally forgot! Getting rid right now. 😉