Joe Hisaishi's Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite (2021 revision)

[aviazn 273]

 

Wow, wasn’t expecting this.

 

It’s a major revision of the 1998 symphonic suite, which according to my attempts at Google translating the Japanese CD description, Hisaishi overhauled in 2016 (?), and then tweaked again for this 2021 recording.

 

I’m really, really liking this. In some ways, it’s a complete reimagining of the suite. It’s shorter than the 1998 version, with some fat trimmed from some of the cues. But it also incorporates some material from the score that didn’t make the first one (like the electronic elements in The World of the Dead, reorchestrated), and has more careful movement transitions. And it changes up the instrumentation in places, with vocals in Mononoke Hime, and a violin solo replacing the piano in Ashitaka and San, which I really dig. (Was Hisaishi inspired by JW and ASM?)

 

For me, it feels like both a more complete presentation of the original score material, and a more engaging, cohesive listening experience as a suite. And at 26 minutes with 7 movements, I could even see it playing well programmed in a “serious” concert, like the Swan Lake suite or the WSS Symphonic Dances.

[j39m 75]

2 hours ago, aviazn said:

a violin solo replacing the piano in Ashitaka and San

 

I was eagerly awaiting the physical release of this, but seeing as you put it right in front of me, I couldn't stop myself and had a listen anyway.

 

I tuned into Joe's Paris livestream where this version (IIRC — at least it was this instrumentation) was played live and I think the mic placement was a bit off (and possibly the ensemble was a tad under-rehearsed). It is a relief to hear things recorded with care in this presentation, but there are some things that I still find jarring — the thick piano chords that would have resolved Ab7 (F~Gb~Bb~Ab) to Db replaced with solo violin feels unusually thin.

 

In spite of this — wow. I find myself loosening up and enjoying the music. Maybe it's a cheap shot of nostalgia, but it definitely works for me.

 

Derailing the conversation a bit — I quite like "Merry-Go-Round 2019." The "more aggressive" 2-5-1 duplet features more prominently than ever, and while I do think the piano parts worked in the original score, this orchestration is too charming for me to complain about.

[artguy360 1,843]

I had no idea there was a revision! I love the Princess Mononoke symphonic suite. Will listen to this soon.