Customer Reviews

Whisper of the Heart: Soundtrack

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll get straight to the point. This is an import, and imports are expensive. Whether it is worth the price is up to you. This is probably a Miyazaki movie soundtrack that you could live without if you find the price a bit frightening.

This soundtrack is by Yuji Nomi whose style is quite different from Joe Hisaishi's, and for that matter, most other soundtracks. It has a fairy tale quality to it that some might find a little strange, but I think it worked well with the movie, and as a soundtrack, it makes for a happy background.

This soundtrack does not include the rather interesting English rendition of Country Road, but it has got the Japanese version. The tracks (in English) are as follows:

1. Hilly Town
2. Chasing a Cat
3. The Earth Shop
4. The Elf Queen
5. The End of Summer
6. A Confidential Talk
7. On the Train
8. On the Hill, Breezy
9. Angel's Room
10. (Violin Tuning)
11. Country Road (Violin Version)
12. The Stars in Heaven
13. Floating Clouds, Shining Hills
14. I've Decided! I Will Write a Story
15. Let's Fly! We'll Catch the Updraft!
16. An Old Woodprint
17. Canon
18. The Forest of Doubts
19. Recollections
20. The Song of the Baron
21. Daybreak
22. Country Road [Theme Song performed by Youko HONNA]

That said, best of luck! As you can see, I liked it! But I'm sort of an if-it-has-Ghibli-near-the-title-I-must-have-it person.

This score has a magical quality to it, which works perfectly with the movie and is also highly enjoyable on its own. I like the Japanese version of Country Roads.

This is simply a masterpiece. Nomi is a protege of Sakamoto and here his orchestration shines. Track 1. bears all the stunning hallmarks of a masterwork. If you dont listen to the whole score (and please ignore the whole Country Roads rendition which is awful), at least open your heart to this gem. In relation to the story,the orchestration is a marvel and delight and traces the progress of a young girl waking to the morning sun--enthused and amazed--and proceeds to stroll down to street level--further enlivened by the morning sun to which she looks up to--and promptly, melodically gasps. Beautiful!

Captures the essence of the soundtrack, and makes it worthwhile watching the film again. Tracks are long enough to be interesting to listen to. Two versions of Country Road - the solo with violin by Shizuku, and the studio sound of the end credits. All liner notes in Japanese. Depending on which of my systems I played it on, the track titles appeared in English or in Japanese. Interestingly, Babelfish tells me the song tracks titles translates as "Country Load".