Some background on Joe Hisaishi is that he was born on December 6, 1950, in Nakano, Nagano, Japan and he is currently 72 years old. His birth name is Mamoru Fujisawa and when he started to become more well-known, went by Joe Hisaishi. He is a composer, musical director, conductor, and pianist. He incorporates and explores many genres of music, some are minimalist, experimental electronic, and Western and Japanese classical music. He is most well-known for being the composer behind many of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films. Hayao Miyazaki is another one of my favorite Japanese animators and directors.
At the risk of sounding a little (a lot) biased, Joe Hisaishi is one of the greatest composers of all time. When I first heard his work, I was enraptured by the way his music complimented the movies and made them feel like you were being transported to another world. If I could only describe Hisashi’s music in one word it would be nostalgic. Even when it was my first time hearing his music I was struck by a sense of nostalgia. I couldn’t say exactly what that nostalgia was for but I still was reminded of something I couldn’t name. It is extremely hard for me to only pick a few songs to analyze but I will pick some of my favorites for you to listen to.
The first song I want to introduce is called One Summer’s Day. This track is from Miyazaki’s film, Spirited Away(2001). Throughout the piece there are many discordant notes and it goes in and out but the major key throughout is in C major. Whenever I listen to this song I am filled with yearning and wistfulness but also hope and remembrance. I do think the simplicity in the beginning of the piece is an example of Hisaishi’s like or minimalist music but as it goes on it shifts into more classical music in the end.
The second song is The Girl Who Fell from the Sky and this was a track on another of Miyazaki’s films called Castle in the Sky(1986). It starts off with piano and then switches to violin and then the whole orchestra comes in. The song is quiet and calm at the start but then picks up as the song goes on. This track is played at the beginning of the movie which I think makes the movie more entrancing and makes it seem like the movie will be filled with magic (which it is).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnNQJI_jUIA
The final song is probably one of the most well-known songs and even if you haven’t watched any of Miyazaki’s films you may have heard of it. The track is called Merry Go Round of Life and it is from Howl’s Moving Castle(2004). Like its name I feel as though this track is like a merry-go-round that goes up and down. Some of my favorite instruments in this piece are the piano, violin, and trombone and the piece has a strong 3/4-time signature beat. It reminds me of scenes in historical movies where they’re dancing around in a ballroom in a majestic waltz. This piece definitely made the movie feel as though it is filled with adventure and magic but also some hardships.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGetv40FkI
All three of these songs make me nostalgic about something from the past but in a good way. If you have never heard any of his music I highly recommend giving it a listen. I would be curious about what his music sounds like to you or what feelings it evokes in you. Also, I would like to recommend seeing one of Hayao Miyazaki’s films that features Hisaishi’s music.