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I’ve been trying out the Vocaloid software, which synthesizes a Japanese female voice. The name give is “Hatsune Miku”. Usually they are used for pop songs, but I don’t really compose that kind of music, and it seems to work somewhat decently in this context. The first song is here:

http://www.omohide.com/omohide_dot_com_original_1.mp3

I also put up a youtube video in which…[]..

Honey and Clover represents absolute perfection when it comes to the use of music. Okay, maybe I’m being too excessive, but it really is a shining example of music, both vocal and score, done right. Before Honey and Clover, I paid very little attention to vocal music of any kind or language (I mostly listened to classical music, film scores, or similar), but Honey and Clover really showed me how powerful vocal music can be when used properly. Perhaps I was just brainwashed by all the superficial songs that pervade the airwaves. Honey and Clover definitely changed that mindset…..

Here is an mp3 of “Madoka’s Theme” from Kimagure Orange Road. This is from the OST, not by me, so I did not mark it with the site URL. It is carried by a saxophone solo, but after a few phrases, it is joined by strings which gently provide harmony in the background. The saxophone is an instrument I don’t hear much of (especially as a classical music fan), but it provides a certain touch to this piece of music that isn’t comparable to any other. I instantly fell in love with this piece when I first heard it, it has such a wistful quality to it. The KOR music and score don’t have as many gems as Maison Ikkoku or Honey and Clover, but the ones that are there shouldn’t be overlooked.

Madoka’s Theme

I’ve decided that I will extend what I did with an earlier piece of music from Maison Ikkoku ( A Bell Rings at Dawn ) to other pieces from the Maison Ikkoku soundtrack. This will basically culminate in an album of sorts, an orchestral album of Maison Ikkoku orchestral arrangements containing somewhere between 5-10 pieces of re-done music pieces from the original soundtrack along with some piano versions….

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Latest addition: “Yoru no Ame”..

I’ll start off this post with a link and video. When I really enjoy a film or series, and I also happen to enjoy the music and/or identify it strongly with the work in question, I typically feel compelled to write sheet music for it. Maison Ikkoku is certainly no exception. So here is some sheet music for a piano arrangement of “Kanashimi yo Konnichiwa”.

http://omohide.com/theowne_maison_ikkoku.pdf

And here is a video of myself playing the piece:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0n2gLBJInw

Now, let’s continue on to the general music review. Maison Ikkoku is an older series, so the music may sound a bit outdated at times. For example, there are several string pieces that I think are quite good compositions but the older recording gives them a somewhat harsh quality. But the melodies retain a…..

This was the first Debussy pieces I learned, and is still a favourite of mine. It’s an early Debussy piece, and is very simple and pleasant. It is very accessible and sure to put a smile on any listener’s face, and it’s also a treat for the performer due to the movement and grace – but without any excessive difficulty.The biggest difference of interpretation in the piece is the tempo. I’ve seen some play it very, very slow while others, such as myself, take it at a more brisk pace. Although I try to stick to the composer’s intention as frequently as possible, I admit that perhaps in this case, I am taking a bit of a liberal interpretation in terms of tempo. The actual markingcontinued)