Deutsche Grammophon has signed Joe Hisaishi

[j39m 75]

He will make his debut recording under the label conducting the Royal Philharmonic.

 

Edit: Deutsche Grammophon has posted the official announcement on their site. The salient bits about Joe's film-external career are acknowledged (which is on brand for DG and gives me lots of hope that they'll package along his standalone works):

Quote

He is equally acknowledged, however, as a conductor and as a composer of contemporary classical music, much of it minimalistic and experimental in nature, like that of friends and colleagues such as Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Nico Muhly.

...

He also wrote compositions for the concert hall, among them symphonies, TRI-AD for large orchestra, The Border, a concerto for three horns and orchestra and, most recently, Viola Saga, premiered in 2022.

[Jay 37,322]

Looks like the album drops May 19th and the physical CD edition is already available to pre-order on a variety of European sites

 

 

https://laboiteamusique.eu/product/joe-hisaishi-a-symphonic-celebration-music-from-the-studio-ghibli-films-of-hayao-miyazaki-royal-philharmonic-orchestra/

 

https://www.cd-dvd-vinyl.pl/p,hisaishi-joe-royal-philharmonic-orchestra-a-symphonic-celebration-music-from-the-studio-ghibli-films-of-hayao-miyazaki,1994806.html

 

https://vinyla.com/products/joe-hisaishi-royal-philharmonic-orchestra-a-symphonic-celebration-music-from-the-studio-ghibli-films-of-hayao-miyazaki

 

https://www.sounds.nl/detail/4329809/cd/joe_hisaishi_&_royal_philharmonic_orchestra/a_symphonic_celebration_-_music_from_the_studio_ghibli_films_of_hayao_miyazaki

 

 

[crocodile 7,990]

Oooh this looks nice.

 

Karol

[Jay 37,322]

More about the album:

 

https://www.classical-music.uk/news/article/composer-joe-hisaishi-signs-to-deutsche-grammophon

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

Having just experienced this, this is perfect timing. Bring it on! And I hope they don't stop there - that symphony needs a release!

 

…having read the article, I guess there's a chance tonight's concert may get a release:

Quote

Together with our close partners at Universal Music Japan, we aim to document his irresistible music with signature recordings made by excellent musical partners such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Wiener Symphoniker.

(Emphasis mine)

 

They did put up two microphones for the soprano for the Mononoke suite, but she wasn't amplified, so it seems a recording of some sort was made at least.

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

Here's another article:

Quote

Der frisch unterschriebene Exklusivvertrag umfasst Audio- und Videowerke des 72-jährigen Dirigenten, Komponisten und Pianisten.

 

My translation:

Quote

The newly signed exclusive contract includes audio and video works by the 72-year-old conductor, composer, and pianist.

 

[artguy360 1,843]

Very cool.

[GerateWohl 4,343]

7 hours ago, Marian Schedenig said:

Having just experienced this, this is perfect timing. Bring it on! And I hope they don't stop there - that symphony needs a release!

I also would have prefered a recording of one of his symphonies than the usual Studio Ghibli best of.

[j39m 75]

2 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

the usual Studio Ghibli best of.

I'm of two minds about this — new recordings of new (even modestly changed) arrangements can really get me (A Stroll comes to mind, and I don't believe that's had a proper album release since Totoro Orchestra Stories). Re-releases of old recordings aren't really my thing, and as delightful as it is, I'm starting to feel like The Merry-Go-Round of Life has had a thoroughly well-worn run.

 

I'm curious about the symphony, yes, and I also wonder if this deal has any implications on his Music Future series on Octavia / Exton.

 

A wild wish, while I'm at it — The Promise of the World, while not a Hisaishi composition, is lifted so strongly by his orchestration that I would dearly love to see it re-recorded some day.

[Knight of Ren 787]

This looks promising! He's quite a talented composer and I love his music for Ghibli films, so I really like the idea of hearing expanded symphonic arrangements of some of his themes. It's true that Merry-gor-round of life or Princess Mononoke, as great as they are, have been greatly explored many times in symphonic form, but it would be nice if they could also focus on some of his other, perhaps lesser know, scores like Ponyo, Porco Rosso or The Wind Rises, which would benefit from an extended orchestral arrangement which, to my knowledge, they haven't recieved yet, at least in a properly recorded release.

[Tydirium 1,166]

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

Good news everyone! The Wiener Symphoniker have confirmed that the symphony was recorded and will be released by Deutsche Grammophon. Also the concert will be broadcast on Stage+ (whatever that is):

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

[GerateWohl 4,343]

No Vienna, but there is a video of his symphonic concert on Arte TV. Mediathek:

https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/108927-000-A/joe-hisaishi-symphonic-concert/

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

Oh wow, there's the symphony!

[Jay 37,322]

Track list:

 

1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service
3. Princess Mononoke
4. The Wind Rises
5. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
6. Castle in the Sky
7. Porco Rosso
8. Howl’s Moving Castle
9. Spirited Away
10. My Neighbor Totoro
11. Merry-Go-Round of Life – from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’
12. One Summer’s Day the Name of Life English Version from ‘Spirited Away’

 

http://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/31/joe-hisaishis-a-symphonic-celebration-album-announced/

[j39m 75]

It's a lovely album, but it makes me wonder - what next? I can't see them reworking existing suites of Ghibli music to follow this. Does this mean it's all Joe's concert works from here?

[p0llux 392]

Very curious what he cooked up for the "newly arranged" suites. As if his numerous suites with the New Japan Philharmonic WDO weren't already enough, but they're all live recordings. Love to see him on DG tho. Big thumbs up.

[GerateWohl 4,343]

17 hours ago, Jay said:

Track list:

 

1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service
3. Princess Mononoke
4. The Wind Rises
5. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
6. Castle in the Sky
7. Porco Rosso
8. Howl’s Moving Castle
9. Spirited Away
10. My Neighbor Totoro
11. Merry-Go-Round of Life – from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’
12. One Summer’s Day the Name of Life English Version from ‘Spirited Away’

 

http://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/31/joe-hisaishis-a-symphonic-celebration-album-announced/

I am a little underwelmed by the single. I am still flashed by the two recent "Essentials" doulbe albums, which for me contain really some definitive versions of his most famous pieces. Also the "Merry-Go-Round version there is better than the DG single.

 

I strongly recommend the essentials albums "Dream Songs" and "Songs of Hope".

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

4 hours ago, GerateWohl said:

I am a little underwelmed by the single. I am still flashed by the two recent "Essentials" doulbe albums, which for me contain really some definitive versions of his most famous pieces. Also the "Merry-Go-Round version there is better than the DG single.

 

I'm confused about the "Essentials". They seem to be almost the only thing physically available by Hisaishi "in the West" at this point, but as far as I understand, they're just compilations (of stuff otherwise only available in Japan I guess)?

[GerateWohl 4,343]

21 minutes ago, Marian Schedenig said:

 

I'm confused about the "Essentials". They seem to be almost the only thing physically available by Hisaishi "in the West" at this point, but as far as I understand, they're just compilations (of stuff otherwise only available in Japan I guess)?

I bought the OSTs of Mononoke, Spirited Away, Ponyo, Hana-Bi, Kikujiro and Brother regularly in Germany in CD stores when the movies came out, but all others I had to purchase quite expensive as imports.

Spirited Away even with German cover.

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

I have the same Chihiro. I was surprised that nowadays so little Hisaishi is easily available on CD, because at the time of Mononoke and Chihiro, my impression was that he's popular enough around here to have at least his soundtracks regularly available.

 

My question was rather: Is there anything original to these Essentials albums? How much of it is taken from OSTs, and much from re-recordings and non-film works?

[GerateWohl 4,343]

I am quite sure, that on the essentials albums there is nothing from original soundtrack albums except some of the more recent Kitano tracks like "Kids Return" or "Angel Doll".

But about your question. It is worth having a look at Spotify. There you find a lot of albums, which I guess are the sources of the tracks from the essentials albums.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

I thought the essential albums, at least the first one, was 100% new recordings. 

[SilverTrumpet 638]

I love Joe's music so dearly.

 

This just reminded me that we're getting a new Joe/Miyazaki score in a few months.

[Jay 37,322]

Crazy, that, innit?

[GerateWohl 4,343]

1 hour ago, Jurassic Shark said:

I thought the essential albums, at least the first one, was 100% new recordings. 

By about seven different ensembles? Some tracks are London Symphony Orchestra. Some are his New Japan Philharmonic Dream Orchestra. And a lot of chamber ensembles. The Merry-Go-Round track is for example from the album "Piano Stories 4".

https://spotify.link/B45Dd834Iyb 

 

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

1 minute ago, GerateWohl said:

By about seven different ensembles? Some tracks are London Symphony Orchestra. Some are his New Japan Philharmonic Dream Orchestra. And a lot of chamber essembles. The Merry-Go-Round track is for example from the album "Piano Stories 4".

https://spotify.link/B45Dd834Iyb 

 

 

I realise I haven't done a very thorough research. 

 

I could have done more. 

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

See? I said it's confusing. Apparently there are 1,000 Hisaishi albums in Japan and about as much as you can count on one hand in English-speaking countries. And any official infos I could find were in Japanese.

[p0llux 392]

This my goto playlist for Joe Hisaishi's symphonic suites available on Spotify. It's pretty definitive I think. I tried as much as possible to not include anything from OSTs. Let's see if anything from this new album will make it in there: 

 

[Jay 37,322]

DG's official website has various versions of this album up for pre-order now.  Two different CD editions dropping June 30th, and 4 different vinyl editions dropping September 8th

 

19,99€ 1-CD jewel case: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448773524/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

22,99€ 2-CD digipak: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448812230/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

 

38,99€ standard vinyl: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448812292/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

44,99€ clear vinyl: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448987495/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

44,99€ picture vinyl: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448987419/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

44,99€ blue sky vinyl: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448987693/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

 

 

There is no word on how much longer the 2-CD edition is, nor if the vinyl tracklist matches the standard edition or not

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

4 hours ago, Jay said:

19,99€ 1-CD jewel case: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448773524/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

22,99€ 2-CD digipak: https://store.deutschegrammophon.com/p51-i0602448812230/joe-hisaishi/a-symphonic-celebration/index.html

 

How frustrating. For Williams, you had to import a Japanese edition if you wanted a jewel case. For their newly signed Japanese composer, they're doing an international jewel case version - but with less content than the digipak deluxe edition…

 

And no info yet about the extra content on the deluxe, it seems.

[Jurassic Shark 12,033]

Digipaks are evil.

[Jay 37,322]

Someone on FSM posted that DG's website indicated that the 2-CD edition contains 2 extra tracks and 4 extra booklet pages, but I couldn't find that information anywhere on DG's site so I dunno where they saw that

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

15 minutes ago, Jay said:

Someone on FSM posted that DG's website indicated that the 2-CD edition contains 2 extra tracks and 4 extra booklet pages, but I couldn't find that information anywhere on DG's site so I dunno where they saw that

This is (for whatever reason) mentioned only in the german promotional text on the german store page(s).

 

Jewel case:

Quote

Es erscheint auf CD im Jewelcase mit 20-seitigem Booklet.

Double CD:

Quote

Es erscheint als Doppel-CD im Digipack mit 24-seitigem Booklet und zwei Bonus Tracks.

 

 

[Jay 37,322]

Ah, I didn't think to try to look at the German version of the pages!

 

Thank you!

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

So an extra CD with just two tracks? Of course, tracks can be long, but the main programme suggests short tracks.

[Jay 37,322]

I doubt CD1 is identical to the standard edition and CD2 is 2 new tracks.

 

Surely, the new, longer program simply has a disc change around halfway through it

[j39m 75]

Might it be "music video" versions plus behind-the-scenes? "Melodyphony" with the LSO had such a setup, with ~40m of bonus content (really just three full tracks with recording session footage and then a longer documentary-style feature).

[blondheim 1,157]

Let’s not forget introductions, speeches, and applause tracks.

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

New pre-release track:

 

 

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

"Best dad ever" 

[MaxTheHouseelf 324]

Another one:

 

[Jay 37,322]

On 03/04/2023 at 9:58 AM, Jay said:

Track list:

 

1. Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service
3. Princess Mononoke
4. The Wind Rises
5. Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
6. Castle in the Sky
7. Porco Rosso
8. Howl’s Moving Castle
9. Spirited Away
10. My Neighbor Totoro
11. Merry-Go-Round of Life – from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’
12. One Summer’s Day the Name of Life English Version from ‘Spirited Away’

 

http://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/03/31/joe-hisaishis-a-symphonic-celebration-album-announced/

 

It turns out Film Music Reporter got the track list wrong

 

The album has 29 tracks and is 87 minutes long

 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-symphonic-celebration-music-from-the-studio/1680459073

 

So I guess the 1-CD version will have less than that and the 2-CD will have all of that?

[crocodile 7,990]

Hopefully, this looks terrific. I only own a handful of Hisaishi albums but they are all good. And Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite one is among my very favourite albums.

 

Karol

[j39m 75]

I'm just desperately curious as to what's going on with 8/9/11/12. We're clearly getting the abridged "live concert" presentations of everything (otherwise Kiki for starters would be 24m long), so what's the split situation here?

 

The Howl set is usually

1. Symphonic Variations on The Merry-Go-Round of Life
2. Cave of Mind
3. The Merry-Go-Round of Life

so is 8 going to end with "Cave of Mind" and just...let Spirited Away plus Totoro interrupt?

 

Similarly, Spirited Away usually pairs "The Name of Life" with that special vocal version of "Reprise." We can see "The Name of Life" is going last, here, so does that tell us anything about track 9?

 

And unlike Howl, Spirited Away's headliner does not (outside the score) lend itself to variations. If it's not just the Japanese version of "The Name of Life" (which I confess I would find somewhat disappointing), then I imagine it could be "Reprise" (at last).

[Marian Schedenig 8,178]

The Hisaishi concert in Vienna was filmed and will be available for streaming on Deutsche Grammophon's Stage+ in a few days:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CtZLz6lgfmV/

 

Let's hope a non-streaming release is coming as well.

[Quppa 117]

The Vienna concert is available in the Stage+ archive now: https://www.stage-plus.com/video/vod_concert_APNM8GRFDPHMASJKBSPJ6CO

[Jay 37,322]

Man this album was announced so long ago every time the thread gets bumped I go "wait, is this out now and I didn't realize it?"

[p0llux 392]

Most of the performances here by the RPO are pretty good. Track 1 is the only one I'd consider an upgrade over the NJPWDO Hisaishi typically works with. It was a treat to see studio recordings of tracks I've only heard in live concerts like Track 22 and track 26. Track 26 was a huge surprise for me and a welcome addition to my collection.

 

Just want to also mention it's a great month for Williams and Hisaishi fans with these new releases. One more release to go with Hisaishi's next Studio Ghibli collab with Hayao Miyazaki's "How Do You Live?" next month.

[Jay 37,322]

Ooh I forgot this was finally coming out today (and for me right now: it is today!). Hopefully I can listen later!