Howl's Moving Castle [Soundtrack]

Joe Hisaishi, Jo Hisaishi & Wonder City Orchestra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 29, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: MSI:TOKUMA
• ASIN: B0002U0UKS
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,744 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #96 in Music > World Music > Far East & Asia > Japan

Track Listings

1. Japanese Title

2. Japanese Title

3. Japanese Title

4. Japanese Title

5. Japanese Title

6. Japanese Title

7. Japanese Title

8. Japanese Title

9. Japanese Title

10. Japanese Title

11. Japanese Title

12. Japanese Title

13. Japanese Title

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20. Japanese Title

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

The soundtrack to the original Japanese animation film that is the third highest grossing film in Japanese history. The music is by Joe Hisaishi with songs by Yumi Kimura and Shuntaro Tanigawa.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, October 11, 2005

By 

Liam F. "WLF" (Melbourne, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howl's Moving Castle (Audio CD)

Joe Hisaishi has worked with Hayao Miyazaki for most of this cult director's award winning animations. It's almost like a John Williams-Steven Spielberg or Danny Elfman-Tim Burton partnership. And the good thing is this merge of geniuses really works. The original score to HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE is a gem.

The original score to SPIRITED AWAY was treasure; it was a complete misfortune that it was not nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Score. Never mind that. But just note that if you've somehow wanted to buy either SPIRITED AWAY or HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, then buy both, because you're sure to like them.

The original score to HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE revolves around one main key theme. Watch the movie, or test the CD, you're sure to catch it. It appears on almost every track. But that's not necessarily a bad thing (just in case you're wondering that if every track sounds the same, it must be dead boring). Joe Hisaishi has crafted a very memorable and instantly likeable tune, and milked it for what it's worth. But he uses the main theme in different variations and tempo. There is your typical minor key to signify danger or that something mysterious, but in general there are two standard variations.

The first is the 'merry-go-round' type music. Some may think that it is (also) similar to some grand ball during the 17th or 18th century. Indeed, this piece of fast paced, light hearted music evokes a certain grandeur, yet manages to transport the listener to a far-away magical, fantasy kingdom. There are even hints of accordion, meaning that you might hear some Parisian sidewalk cafe-type music. This piece gives the listener a very warm and cosy feeling too, as if sitting in front of a fireplace, on a winter's night, snow falling outside, wrapped in a nice woolly blanket. It's amazing how much this theme captures.

The second is a much slower, piano-heavy variation. It reminds me of John Williams in The Reunion on the ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE soundtrack and Rachel Portman in the Main Theme on THE CIDER HOUSE RULES soundtrack. It's very thoughtful, very emotional but such a pleasure to listen to.

Joe Hisaishi has generally sprinkled this masterpiece with the main two variations as described above here and there, with some other lively instrumentation and orchestra playing throughout. The style does not depart greatly from that found in SPIRITED AWAY. If you had to compare Joe Hisaishi to a Western composer, perhaps you would find great likeness in John Williams. A maestro in telling the story with his music, Joe Hisaishi's music sends images and scenes from the film into your head starting from Track 1. Joe Hisaishi's music, like John Williams, is occassionally grand, loud, lush and rich and at times quiet and serene - but just as powerful.

I'd recommend that you get this soundtrack. It's not your average cartoon music. It easily stands as one of the best soundtracks released this year (and perhaps years to come).

Liam Foo

84 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars English Track listing, December 28, 2005

By 

J-Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howl's Moving Castle (Audio CD)

1. Opening: The Merry-go-round of Life
2. The Courageous Cavalry
3. Stroll Through the Sky
4. Heart Aflutter
5. The Witch of the Waste
6. Wandering Sophie
7. The Magical Door
8. The Indelible Curse
9. Spring Cleaning
10. To the Lake of Stars
11. Quiet Feelings
12. Vanity and Friendship
13. A 90-Year-Old Young Girl
14. Sulliman's Magic Square: Return to the Castle
15. Sulliman's Magic Square: Return to the Castle
16. The Secret Cave
17. Moving
18. The Flower Garden
19. Run!
20. Now That's Love
21. Family
22. Love of War
23. Escape
24. Sophie's Castle
25. The Boy Who Drank Stars
26. Ending: The Promise of the World: The Merry-go-round of Life

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese/EnglishTrack Listings for Howl's Moving Castle, August 30, 2005

By 

Somnia - See all my reviews

This review is from: Howl's Moving Castle (Audio CD)

Here are the track listings of the cd found at Nausicaa.net:

1 Opening- Jinsei no Merry-go-round
[Opening: The Merry-go-round of Life] 2:34

2 Youki na Keikihei
[The Courageous Cavalry] 0:51

3 Kuuchuu Sanpo
[Stroll Through the Sky] 2:15

4 Tokimeki
[Heart Aflutter] 0:20

5 Arechi no Majo
[The Witch of the Waste] 0:59

6 Sasurai no Sophie
[Wandering Sophie] 4:20

7 Mahou no Tobira
[The Magical Door] 5:27

8 Kienai Noroi
[The Indelible Curse] 0:45

9 Oosouji
[Spring Cleaning] 1:22

10 Hoshi no Umi he
[To the Lake of Stars] 4:13

11 Shizuka na Omoi
[Quiet Feelings] 0:28

12 Ame no Naka de
[In the Rain] 1:28

13 Kyoei to Yuujou
[Vanity and Friendship] 3:58

14 90-sai no Shoujo
[A 90 Year Old Young Girl] 1:01

15 Sulliman no Mahoujin ~Shiro he no Kikan
[Sulliman's Magic Square: Return to the Castle] 5:23

16 Himitsu no Doukutsu
[The Secret Cave] 2:34

17 Hikkoshi
[Moving] 3:05

18 Hanazono
[The Flower Garden] 2:58

19 Hashire!
[Run!] 0:57

20 Koi da ne
[Now That's Love] 1:12

21 Family 1:24

22 Senka no Koi
[Love of War] 2:56

23 Dasshutsu
[Escape] 1:33

24 Sophie no Shiro
[Sophie's Castle] 2:39

25 Hoshi wo Nonda Shounen
[The Boy Who Swallowed the Star] 7:30

26 -Ending- Sekai no Yakusoku ~Jinsei no Merry-go-round
[Ending: The Promise of the World: The Merry-go-round of Life] 6:51