What other Studio Ghibli would you like to see discussed?? Also, as you might have guessed, this video got claimed! Yay KZfaq copyright system!! So yeah, if you want to support what we do on the channel, consider checking out the Intro to Piano course and get 30% off with code MUSICTHEORY30 at checkout! cornellmusicacademy.com/

I just attended Joe Hisaishi in concert. At the end, he sat down at the piano and surprised us with one last song that wasn't in the program. When he played that first chord of "One Summer's Day," the audience collectively gasped. I started tearing up. The power that that song has is unbelievable!

Spirited Away's soundtrack is absolutely stunning. Joe Hisaishi's music has definitely impacted how I compose.

In short Ghibli's music in a sense is exactly like it's movies, they takes us to the unbelievable adventure before ultimately going to to the place we all long to be, home

I instantly teared up at 0:08. You know the music is good and is a core memory when the waterworks start

"Sixth Station" has the same themes but sounds like an entirely different song, similar to how John Williams is known to reintroduce themes under different guises so you don't recognize them, except subliminally. Beautiful.

What's great about Spirited away is that, if you explained the plot to someone who hasnt seen the film, and you told them it was your dream from last night, they would believe you

I seem to recall an explanation I found somewhere about how Joe Hisaishi builds stacked chords like a jazz musician would but along typically Japanese harmonic and modal structures, effectively fusing both musical languages. I sadly lack the music theory acumen I'd need to remember and explain the details. (Edited because my autocorrect feature thought that 'fisting' would fit better than 'fusing' in that sentence)

Explaining the Spirited Away soundtrack in this way made me realize that Breath of the Wild music takes a lot of inspiration from Ghibli

You just opened my eyes! I didn't know what notes are played at the beginning of Yubaba's theme but after seeing it today in your video, it makes so much sense - two twin sisters with opposing characters just like the same notes played on opposite sides of the keyboard.

I absolutely love the amount of description Charles puts into these, they aren't boring at all. And honestly this makes music easier to understand, like a poetry teacher. But it's so amazing to see what music can really show behind it's notes.

8:56 From here, my friends, is where I started to cry. Living has its downsides, but being here to experience works like Hisaishi's makes it all worthwhile.

hearing spirited away's one summer day will always make me cry i swear. I always remember that one scene where Haku goes- "Now go, and don't look back."

I LOL'ed at 1:13 the breakdown literally just started and you had to stop at the first chord!!! That's just a testament of how iconic Hisaishi's music is, just instantly recognizable!

That initial chord spacing reminds me immediately of the music in Breath of the Wild! Talk about hauntingly beautiful... There are some amazing pieces of music in BotW and I think you would really appreciate it, Charles!

Hisaishi can create amazing worlds with his music. He's incredible! Also anyone interested, learning to play these songs is so much fun! Definitely recommend

I don't know what it is about Japanese composers, but I can't get enough of their music. The eastern music tradition lends to their pieces such delicacy, nuance, and a contemplative sound. I can always tell when a piece was written by a Japanese composer, love it.

I'd love to see some analysis on Howl's Moving Castle!! Particularly Merry-Go-Round of Life 😱

17:34 I've found that lots of Japanese music has this. Tatsuro Yamashita is a great example of someone who's music is harmonically usually fairly straightforward but does sometimes challenge your ear with interesting non-diatonic chords and harmony

Spirted Away is one of the best movies of all time. Everything that is placed in this movie is sublime. The music, story, animation, lore, pacing, etc. It’s just a perfect tale for all ages.

I'm so glad to be seeing a video dedicated to Joe Hisaishi. Literally one of my major influences in my piano playing. The soundscapes he creates are just amazing, at this point, I couldn't picture any other composer creating music for the Ghibli movies.

Sixth Station is probably my favorite track from the movie it creates character development through a scene that literally no one speaks. And clearly shows how far Chihiro has gone through.

With all this anime, I'd love to see a score explaination of "Your Name". It's surprisingly simple, yet the melodies have really cool contrast with very few notes and harmonies

1:13 That's also the beginning note to one of the ambient songs that plays in Breath of the Wild, truly shows just how much inspiration really came from Ghibli to give Breath of the Wild it's sense of wonder and life.

5:02 Literally me this entire video lol. Music theory is so fascinating but it I know so little about it. These videos are always exciting and I love how you break apart music and figure out why they sound so cool.

One Summer's Day is one of those pieces that just completely overwhelms my emotions and I start to cry with shortened breath. It's one of those most utterly beautiful pieces of music ever created. The tingling sensation it gives me is unlike any other piece of music, and the only way my body seems to know how to handle the influx of pure emotion is by setting off the floodgates in my eyes lol

The only other song from any soundtrack that makes me tear up like this is Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence by Ryuichi Sakamoto. It's similar but its just as masterful. It has a very similar structure as well.

I'm learning One Summer's Day right now from the sheet music, great to see a deep dive on some of the theory here! I'd love to see an in depth discussion of Ashitaka Sekki, the "Legend of Ashitaka" from Princess Mononoke, another of Joe Hisaishi's great works.

Love this video! But the whole time I was watching, I couldn't help but think about how he's analyzing it from a completely Western viewpoint. I watched a video a while back talking about the music of Joe Hisaishi, and especially "One Summer's Day." In that video, they talked about how a lot of the melodies and harmonies Hisaishi uses in his Ghibli film scores - especially those with very uniquely Japanese story elements and beats - are built on traditional Japanese scales. There's four I believe, and they're a mix/match of the two primary tetrachords, if I'm remembering correctly. I totally get that, as a Westerner, it's weird to think of harmonic functions outside of the modes of the major and melodic minor scales, but I think it'd make a video like this even better!

100% digging the keyboard screen at the bottom. Props for added visualization and accessibility for piano players!

I've known this movie for so long now, and it always gets me when I listen to the soundtrack. I have to tell myself to just listen and feel the music sometimes, because I tend to automatically hum along. Reprise always makes me cry. It is such a gorgeous song filled with emotion. Joe Hisaishi is a brilliant composer. I'm thankful for his and Miyazaki-san's wonderful works.

There's just something about One Summer Day that's just so beautiful. It's the first song that I really put all my heart and soul into. There's no better way to describe it other than a magical fantasy.

Oh my god, the part at 10:33 is the most beautiful piano I have ever heard in my life. God and when it plays in the movie with the rice ball scene... just wow! Great video, I love these breakdowns.

When I first saw spirited away I immediately fell in love with the music. The way each musical score fits into every scene is amazing

I know you describing the harmony of his music, but also you describing the movie as well. This reminds me some scenes of those movies and emotions.

those opening chords give me shivers every. single. time.

I'm literally staring at the music watching this (just started playing this piece) and when I tell you I kept staring at the left hand on the first page like they were foreign shapes, and not an easy walk.... This video is truly like being guided on a beautiful walking tour... you are best!

This is phenomenal. It's like a language - when you started showing the first three chords and explaining them, I could see a story: - Come with me to a far away place, where things are similar to what you know, but somewhat different - To reach it, you need to find a doorway, and cross through (the second and third chords are mirrored on the keyboard) extraordinary

It’s only been a year since I first watched Spirited Away, yet somehow, the music already makes me feel nostalgic. Idk why. But that’s how I can tell it’s an amazing soundtrack.

That chord you played around 8:20 has always been my favorite

Really appreciate the keyboard facing the screen. I've always been curious about how you voice the chords while you analyze the music. Thanks for the quality content :)

wow already at the start, i';m getting memories of watching this film and being invested in it.

Went to France from the US to watch him the first time. The trip was worth it. Then he had a concert within an hour if my home at San Jose a few years later. What a blessing.

This melody gives me chills everytime. Even better with the vocals

First How To Train Your Dragon which has a special place in my heart, then Spirited Away my FAVORITE movie of all time... I feel blessed

I just don't understand how geniuses like Hisaishi exist. Those people are literally the only thing that keeps me going, beautiful music

Just watched spirited away yesterday for the first time yesterday and have been listening to the soundtrack all day. This is great timing

I love all the talk about harmony, but it'd be cool to show how jazz pianists are just as serious about melodic development, rhythmic phenomena like syncopation, and even instrumentation/orchestration. Bill Evans' harmonies were cool, but honestly the thing I aspire to the most was his rhythmic phrasing, voicings, and snese of lyrical melody in melodic improvisation. Art Tatum's harmonies were cool (and sometimes about 20 years early), but his scaler and arpeggiate runs were astounding. The end of the melodic gesture at the beginning of "One Summer Day" ending in syncopation after a series of eighth notes gives it a sense of more modern musical language, I'd argue contributing just as much as the ambiguous quartile harmonies. Harmony is important in jazz, and in tonal music, but there's so much more.

Joe is my hero - the musical decisions he makes are always the ones I want to hear. I was hoping you'd talk about The Sixth Station! But I'm just happy to see Joe's music represented here. Truly a stunning artist. Great video.

Please PLEASE do castle in the sky sometime. I absolutely adore the music,the fantasy, and the visuals everything ties so nicely together.

i really appreciate being able to see the keys on the bottom

It’s amazing how I never have any idea what he’s saying but always understand everything he’s saying

I literally cannot listen to One Summer's Day without going 1:14 . I mean this is such a beautiful piece. It really creates the atmosphere of having lost your normal state safety & being stuck in a very foreign place surrounded by strange and frightening environments and people. But there's also a tinge of hope - some characters are nice to you and want to help you, but you don't know if you'll make it through the obstacals ahead and finally reunite with your parents.

This song is just incredibly amazing. When I hear it, I have literally no words to describe it. Tysm for this video

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS CHARLES

Thank you SO MUCH for adding the keyboard visualization!!! It's so much better!

absolutely love your analyses of studio ghibli’s music. teared up multiple times during this video.

Dude…huge fan…love your energy…love your enthusiasm…I know next to nothing about music theory…but I enjoy your videos anyway

One Summers Day and Sixth Station can almost always get a tear out of me. Magical stuff.

Ok but how is he able to recognize all these individuals sounds and project them into the keyboard so effortlessly

Great video!! There's another piece in the movie called the Sixth Station that is incredible and not so much well-known. I totally recommend to hear that piece

Charles, I have been waiting for this video from you for forever. This song hits a really deep spot for me. It’s one of the songs my partner and I met over, and I can’t help but cry every single time I hear this song and watch this movie. My partner and I have been together for 6 years now, and this song never fails to take me back to the first time we met. Thank you for blessing us with your knowledge and passion for music. ❤

MAN! Love how you talk about music in it's different styles without any preconception. Open minded to listen anything and getting something of it. Such good vybes ~~

Me: *opens a chest in Legend of Zelda* The game: 3:36

The Yubaba theme always reminded me of Ligeti's Musica Ricercata II movement, the one in Eyes Wide Shut scene. Also uses both ends on the piano and a similar theme with only two alternating notes with long fermata. It gives me same vibes.

Why is this the one musical piece I've been waiting for from him? Thank you for the analysis of why I absolutely love it❤️

That theme is so beautiful I started crying as soon as the first notes came on.

Shocked that you didn't include sixth station in this video because it was amazingly well done in my opinion

Man, your enthusiasm for each song you review is what makes me love this channel so much. I am a music theory enjoyer but I don't know much about it. Your passion is contagious!

Spy x family “mixed nuts” is something I can’t stop listening too. The blend, cord progressions, the everything. Wanna see I video of your thoughts on it.

Just that 1st chord of One Summer Day makes my eyes water, every time

One thing I've really come to appreciate in your videos is that you leave the "mistakes" in. Reminds me of Bob Ross' "happy accidents". There's no reason to pretend mistakes don't happen and it makes your videos feel more organic and real instead of sterile and so rehearsed that you're a robot. Thanks for being human and showing humans it's okay to not be perfect. You obviously know what you're doing and are a professional for making a mistake and moving on.

This is one of my favorite channels. Many times I don’t quite like/know the music enough and by the end of the video I end up loving. Thanks for the gift of musical energy you provide us. If I had a piano I would definitely purchase your course.

I'd love for Charles to go over music from Kingdom Hearts. It is not only some of the best video game music ever composed, but some of the best compositions in general. Dearly Beloved alone blew my mind as a kid and I'd love to see a breakdown of why!

THIS IS LITERALLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG BY JOE HISAISHI, SO MEMORABLE SONG

i really love the way you use your perfect pitch! it’s the first video i’ve seen of you but not the last

I just listened to One Summer Day when your video popped up. Spirited Away features my all time favorite anime music. It’s so incredibly well written and fits the movie perfectly.

YES LETS GO I was so scared Charles was getting tired to cover anime stuff Idk if he genuinely enjoys them, but I hope he continues giving it a go

The way you can just pick up and play any sound is incredible. Really talent!

One Summer’s Day is one of my favourite pieces to play and I love seeing others playing it!

One of the pieces that got me into really playing the piano!❤️

Anyone ever recommended the song Deference for Darkness from the Halo 3: ODST soundtrack? I played that game as a kid growing up, and that song always had me feeling some kind of way. The simple - but highly effective - piano chords and overall musicality of the song is haunting. In the context of the dark, depressing, hopeless story and setting of the game, it's a masterpiece. Would LOVE to see you dive into it. Thanks for doing what you do!

ive been in love with piano/classial music with very little theory knowledge. and hearing a soundtrack like this one broken down gives me alot more insight. loved every second of it

I am so happy to see the notes played now. Amazing video as always

The fact that people can take literally nothing (just freaking air) and turn it into something that sounds this good is insane to me

Joe Hisaishi is one of my favourite composers!

with this soundtrack you can feel that world..

I have always loved the music of Spirited Away.

I'd love to see you break down/react to Interstellar's score! It's become increasingly popular thanks to modern day social media and I think it would be an awesome video!

I love these type of videos. making one about The Karate Kid would be amazing and I think it would sum up most of the 80's movie sountracks. I bet we can learn a lot from that.

This was a movie I watched over and over growing up, and it wouldn’t have stuck with me as strongly if it weren’t for the score. The visuals and music are inseparable, and they really do Spirit me Away 😌

love this video thank you. One summers day makes me cry.

Joe hisaishi is such an amazing composer. His music is absolutely timeless.

I'd LOVE for Charles to analyze the soundtracks of the Final Fantasy games 9, 10, and 15. (FFIX, FFX, FFXV) They're masterful, and there's a very specific emotion the composer has infused into them to elicit that response from the player. Not going to give any of it away 😉

I absolutely ADORE Spirited Away! ❤️ Loved your reaction to the beautiful music. 😊 Thanks for the interesting analysis!

i love watching you get excited about music i already am familiar with and love. gives me frisson all over again for music i was kinda already desensitized to. thanks for making tunes like these feel fresh to me again ✌🏻

I love this. This is especially exciting and engaging for me since I absolutely loved Spirited Away and the soundtrack. That first chord immediately got my attention when I first heard it and I think saying that it’s rooted in simplicity yet not afraid to go to complex harmony is pretty spot on. You know what those stacked 5ths and 4ths remind me of, though? Breath of the Wild. But that kind of makes sense as the team that did Breath of the Wild took inspiration from the Ghibli stuff. I really enjoy your videos because in addition to learning some new things, they’re also great for ear training. And, personally, I’ve always wanted to write stuff like this. Don’t think I can get anywhere near Hisaishi but I did start using stacked 5ths and 4ths almost immediately after watching the movie. And I’m more a rock person. Speaking of which, any chance you’d ever do a video on Babymetal? They have quite a bit of simple yet complex harmonies with a number of subtleties that’s beyond your standard metal fare. I think Rondo of Nightmare is fantastic as are some of Su-Metal’s other solo pieces. But a song like “Road of Resistance” is great too.

I adore this video so much, Joe Hisaishi is one of the greatest composers of our time. I looked up your other videos and was shocked to see you haven't talked about Ryuichi Sakamoto before! He's such a personality and so musically intelligent. I'd love if you talked about any of his work, though Merry Christmas, Mister Lawrence is probably his best known! Again, amazing stuff as always :)

Another beautiful analysis Charles, well done

Your analysis helps me to stop and really listen to the music. It's beautiful and thanks for helping me hear that.