The Joe Hisaishi Thread

[Thor 7,490]

My colleague has gone nuts over this film, as have many critics. Looking forward to seeing it myself, hopefully on the big screen, but if not on a streaming service some day.

 

I sampled the soundtrack awhile back, and it didn't do much for me. I can picture it working well in the film, but there wasn't a lot happening on album. I'll probably give it a few more tries eventually.

[blondheim 1,157]

I’m not listening until I see the film.

[Jay 37,336]

Listening now, almost at the end of the OST album.  It's nice, lovely music.  This will be my only listen until I see the film.

[artguy360 1,843]

I just watched the movie subbed in earlier today. When I first listened to the soundtrack weeks ago, I didn't quite know what to make of it. The sparseness of the sound, the very piano-centric nature of the music (even for a Joe Hisaishi score), and some of the repeated motifs that seemed designed to startle, it was all a little odd to me.

 

Now, having seen the movie, the score is perfect. I wouldn't want it to be any different from what it is. Everything about it, the sparseness, the piano, the startling moments, all work to accompany the main character's journey perfectly.

[artguy360 1,843]

I wish more people would watch this movie and post about the score in this thread! 

 

I feel like this score is truly unique among Joe Hisaishi's work for Studio Ghibli in that it has some elements characteristic of his past work, while also being pervasively contemplative, somber, restrained, ans striking in style while also being almost entirely devoid of the child-like, lyrical warmth of his past Ghibli works.

[p0llux 398]

1 hour ago, artguy360 said:

I wish more people would watch this movie and post about the score in this thread! 

 

I feel like this score is truly unique among Joe Hisaishi's work for Studio Ghibli in that it has some elements characteristic of his past work, while also being pervasively contemplative, somber, restrained, ans striking in style while also being almost entirely devoid of the child-like, lyrical warmth of his past Ghibli works.

 

I listened to this score when it first released online during the summer. I remember thinking this was a very minimalist score for a film that was described as a very fantastical film on the level of Spirited Away or Howl's Moving Castle. After watching the film, I definitely enjoyed and understood the minimalism of the score more. However, I can't help but think that Hisaishi and Miyazaki could've easily went harder on the lyrical and thematic route. My favorite track from the OST is: 

 

 

That said, this score and film was just nominated for best original Score and best animated film at the Golden Globes. Congrats, Hisaishi and Miyazaki!

[MaxMovieMan 271]

Just gotta wait till their next inevitable collab when Miyazaki comes out of retirement again.

[Jay 37,336]

I'm hoping to see the film at the cinema this week

[The Lost Folio 183]

I really liked how the score is used in the movie. The restrained use of piano and strings only for the first half leads to a gradual opening of the orchestral colour in the second half that matches our gradual discovery of the fantasy. Gorgeous!

[filmmusic 1,825]

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/joe-hisaishi-the-boy-and-the-heron-score-birthday-gift-hayao-miyazaki-1235861713/

[artguy360 1,843]

Tonight partner and I saw Joe Hisaishi live in concert with the Seattle Symphony! It was incredible! The first half was programmed with his minimalist contemporary concert music including music written during the pandemic, reflecting on the pandemic. Very cool stuff, very dramatic, lots of layered repeating figures, and some really fun, bouncy stuff. The second half was the revised Princess Mononoke suite which featured soprano voice in two pieces and had no breaks between movements. It was like a fast forward playthrough of the score. Lastly, there were 2 encores: Spirited Away theme on solo piano performed by Joe Hisaishi himself and Howl's Moving Castle theme with him on piano again! Seeing Joe Hisaishi play solo piano live rivals seeing JW conduct the Imperial March live. A great concert!

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

It's been about 9 months already since the announcement of Hisaishi's partnership with DG. I hope there'll be another release soon - and hopefully one that includes the symphony.

[Quppa 117]

Hisaishi composed the music for the new Japanese film Silent Love (not to be confused with the main theme from A Scene at the Sea (1991)). The soundtrack is available on streaming platforms. VGMdb has the detailed credits.

 

The soundtrack album is only 31 minutes long and is quite minimalistic (in the vein of The Boy and the Heron). Don't expect hummable melodies.

 

 

 

[filmmusic 1,825]

Just listened to it.

I'm not a big fan of minimalistic music, but that was lovely, good at least for background music doing something else.

[Quppa 117]

The electric guitar in Opening (track 1) and Blue (track 15) reminds me a bit of Clint Mansell's The Wrestler.

 

I can't see myself listening to this album regularly, but frankly any new Hisaishi release is to be treasured.

[Tom Guernsey 2,282]

Joe Hisaishi is playing two nights in November 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall... tickets go on general release tomorrow, but as a member of the Royal Albert Hall have already bought mine (astonishingly expensive, but sure it'll be worth it!). https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2024/joe-hisaishi/

[APBez 11]

5 hours ago, Tom Guernsey said:

Joe Hisaishi is playing two nights in November 2024 at the Royal Albert Hall... tickets go on general release tomorrow, but as a member of the Royal Albert Hall have already bought mine (astonishingly expensive, but sure it'll be worth it!). https://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2024/joe-hisaishi/

Can I ask how “astonishingly expensive”? Was pondering signing up as a patron to get early access, but having seen JH at Wembley Arena last year, I’m not sure how much I’m willing to pay to see him again.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Andrew

[Tom Guernsey 2,282]

19 minutes ago, APBez said:

Can I ask how “astonishingly expensive”? Was pondering signing up as a patron to get early access, but having seen JH at Wembley Arena last year, I’m not sure how much I’m willing to pay to see him again.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Andrew

The pretty decent tickets were around £100 (which is what I got) and think the cheapest were about £50. Really good seats were more like £200.

 

Interesting to compare with the cost to see Simon Rattle and the LSO in a couple of weeks where the most expensive seats were only £70 something. And I got a great seat for £55. 

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

Looks like mostly the same programme as in Vienna last year. Including the symphony!

[APBez 11]

28 minutes ago, Tom Guernsey said:

The pretty decent tickets were around £100 (which is what I got) and think the cheapest were about £50. Really good seats were more like £200.

 

Interesting to compare with the cost to see Simon Rattle and the LSO in a couple of weeks where the most expensive seats were only £70 something. And I got a great seat for £55. 

Thanks for that. As you say, quite steep. Suspect he’s got the bug for London now and he’ll return quite frequently. Perhaps I’ll wait.

[hp_gof 16]

Two Hisaishi concerts in Paris!

02.03.2025, 6.00 p.m.

03.03.2025, 8.00 p.m.

https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activite/27162

 

+ meeting

03.03.2025, 6.45 p.m.

https://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en/activite/27946

 

PROGRAMME:

 

Joe Hisaishi
Adagio
Concerto pour harpe
Suite symphonique « Kiki la petite sorcière »

Maurice Ravel
La Valse

Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine
Joe Hisaishi, conductor
Emmanuel Ceysson, harp

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

And entirely new programme, eh? Let's hope that's (partly) because he's doing another DG album (and the previous programme is coming out soon…)

[j39m 75]

Quote

Joe Hisaishi, the creator of the iconic Studio Ghibli sound, announces his 2nd Deutsche Grammophon album, which is now available to pre-order. “Joe Hisaishi in Vienna” captures Hisaishi’s debut in conducting and recording at the legendary Vienna Musikverein. There the Japanese composer, conductor and pianist also premiered two of his compositions – Symphony No. 2 with the Wiener Symphoniker and Viola Saga with soloist Antoine Tamestit. The album is set for release on 28 June, with a first pre-release track of the world premiere recording “Viola Saga Movement 2” now available.

 

I don't see this in DG's "news" tab for Joe, but it does appear on the artist main page.

[GerateWohl 4,349]

At last!

[Knight of Ren 789]

Here it is in case anyone wants to hear it via Spotify:

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,051]

Is it good?

[GerateWohl 4,349]

59 minutes ago, Jurassic Shark said:

Is it good?

As you are interested in minimal music I would strongly recommend it to you.

 

But you might get distracted by the combination of the required precision of the music and the Vienna flubbs.

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

So no release of the film stuff from the Vienna concert then? Would be nice to have that as well, but the main important thing is that we're getting the symphony.

 

Official page:

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/joe-hisaishi-in-vienna-13386

 

PS: Philip Glass and Dennis Russel Davies recently visited him:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Philip Glass (@philipglass)

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/C5TQyBbARgF

 

With video:

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Joe Hisaishi 久石譲 (@joehisaishi_composer)

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5GGP-iyai_/

[Tom Guernsey 2,282]

6 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

So no release of the film stuff from the Vienna concert then? Would be nice to have that as well, but the main important thing is that we're getting the symphony.

 

Official page:

https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/joe-hisaishi-in-vienna-13386

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is there a recording of his first symphony?

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

3 hours ago, Tom Guernsey said:

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but is there a recording of his first symphony?

 

I don't know; I don't even know how many he's written (there seems to be at least a third from what I remember).

 

Anyway, today seems to be Hisaishi news day:

https://www.rpo.co.uk/news-and-press/879-joe-hisaishi-composer-in-association

 

Quote

 

RPO appoints Joe Hisaishi as Composer-in-Association

 

We are pleased to announce that Joe Hisaishi, Japan’s most influential composer of film and classical music, has been appointed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) as our Composer-in-Association.

Joe Hisaishi is a revered Japanese composer who produced all the music for the magical Studio Ghibli animations of Oscar-winning director Hayao Miyazaki. The appointment follows a successful collaboration on the ‘Symphonic Celebration’ album released on the Deutsche Grammophon label, after which the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra invited Joe Hisaishi to become its Composer-in-Association. The three-year appointment will include new commissions for the RPO, concerts in London and around the world, studio recordings as well as Maestro Hisaishi’s involvement in new digital and technology based RPO projects.

This appointment is the latest in a series of strategic additions to the RPO’s leadership team - following the appointment of Sarah Bardwell as the RPO’s new Managing Director and the recently appointed Director of Artistic Planning & Partnerships, Tom Philpott.

The coming together of Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra marks the start of a very special partnership. This weekend’s RPO concerts with Joe Hisaishi in Paris have sold more than 37,000 tickets and the RPO/Hisaishi Royal Albert Hall concerts later this year have already sold out.

Tom Philpott, Director of Artistic Planning and Partnerships at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome Joe Hisaishi to the RPO – an enormously talented conductor, composer and pianist and a ground-breaking artist in terms of opening up the world of orchestral music to more diverse audiences. Maestro Hisaishi’s arrival will make a significant contribution towards realising the RPO’s mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence and inclusive in their appeal.’

Joe Hisaishi commented: ‘I am deeply honoured to become Composer-in-Association with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. I am very much looking forward to collaborating with this wonderful Orchestra on some very exciting projects.’

Kleopatra Sofroniou, General Manager Classics, Deutsche Grammophon adds: ‘The team at DG congratulates Joe Hisaishi on this exciting new artistic partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. We are pleased that Joe’s collaboration with the Orchestra on his debut album for our label was the start of something bigger - and it’s wonderful that news of this new relationship comes on the same day as we announce Joe’s second DG album “Joe Hisaishi in Vienna,“ including world premiere recordings of two of his newest compositions.’

 

 

 

And from the Facebook announcements of the new album:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1624465498354635

 

Quote

In his new upcoming DG album Joe Hisaishi conducts the Wiener Symphoniker in his Symphony No. 2 live at the legendary Vienna Musikverein. World class violist Antoine Tamestit joins the performers in the recording of Viola Saga.

 

So the symphony is indeed the Musikverein live performance I attended last year. The video shows that Viola Saga was recorded at the Konzerthaus, without an audience.

[GerateWohl 4,349]

5 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

So the symphony is indeed the Musikverein live performance I attended last year

Will we hear you coughing?

[Marian Schedenig 8,191]

17 minutes ago, GerateWohl said:

Will we hear you coughing?

 

I don't cough during live performances. (And if I really have to, I pick a spot where you won't be able to hear it)