December 2014: Asian Inspired Soundtracks

I have a personal love for traditional Asian instrumentals that I think is not used enough in soundtracks. Many soundtracks for Asian cinema are inclined to imitate the western orchestra and only strives to imitate. It doesn't live up to the reputation of award winning classical composers. That is partially the reason why I like it when composers use elements from their own culture. It is because you know yourself the best so why not use it to its fullest extent. Another reason is that it sets you apart from other composers so that not everyone sounds the same. It's also very nice to listen to fusion soundtracks where they mix both Asian cultures with western sounds. I gathered a list of soundtracks I came across over the years. There were some names that didn't make it on to the list because I felt that it wasn't too defined for this particular category.

Bakumatsu Kikansetsu Irohanihoheto

This soundtrack uses a lot of flute and bells to give its cultural references. Of course there are some classical elements to it being that the Bakumatsu era had European influences. The prologue track that they play at the beginning of each episode is my favorite song because it embodies that destiny and fate theme that they talk about and the consequences that come along with it.

Saiunkoku Monogatari

I didn't like the first soundtrack as much as I liked the second one. It stays very true to the Chinese instrumentals in terms of composition and throws in more twists to it like some foreign percussion. The flute pieces at times doesn't feel too Chinese, but of a different culture. Overall a very light soundtrack to listen to.

Avatar the Last Airbender, Legend of Korra

Staying true to the fantasy itself, the Avatar series blends a variety of Asian and Native American cultures. The last Airbender had a modge podge of different things. The erhu and jazz is more prominent in the Legend of Korra soundtrack. Both soundtracks contained some very sad tunes used in death scenes or scenes of extreme mourning that I liked. The Legend of Korra soundtracks I personally feel has a more solidified composition possibly because of the story itself. 

13 Assassins

In the entirety of 13 tracks, the soundtrack is dark and ominous. The slower songs are depressing and/or mournful. Given that the movie itself is a tale of killing with no humor, the music is very to the point. I'm happy to say that the tracks don't sound the same altogether, but when you listen to the CD it flows right into each other.

Sword of the Stranger

There is a Sword of the Stranger theme that you can pick up in almost all of the tracks. Tracks like "Sora no Hate Made" are just pure sadness when you listen to them with a tinge of hope. You can't help, but to cry. A few tracks are dedicated to mostly fast percussion used in fight scenes.

Onmyouji

The movie itself is very straightforward and its instrumentals are very simple. It's nothing too complicated. However it does create a very nice atmosphere. The Onmyouji soundtracks have this hollow echo they like to use to give sense to a spirit void or supernatural holiness.

Sengoku Basara

The music in the anime is very over the top. You can have flutes and all of a sudden get heavy guitar and drums. The movie soundtrack mostly recycles tracks from the anime and remix it. Done by Sawano Hiroyuki one of my favorite composers, I think it is very representative of his style experimenting with electronic sounds in areas that you usually hear traditional sounds.

Hanagoromo Yumegoromo

Though I never got to hear the full soundtrack and only snippets of each track, I hope to one day own it. The soundtrack is credited to Rin' and Conisch though it is never written on Rin's website. There's a nice blend of Japanese instruments and classical orchestra. It's very graceful in tone and very beautiful to listen to.

12 Kingdoms

Though not entirely, the soundtrack depicts a very chaotic Chinese fantasy. Because there are themes of war and turbulence in the story, the soundtrack doesn't rely on Chinese instruments too much and uses it only in certain areas. It can get ominous in certain tracks due to the mysterious nature of the 12 Kingdoms universe.

Shounen Onmyouji

This soundtrack gave me a lot of problems to obtain it and I could only obtain a portion of it. I think the most unique part of the soundtrack was its use of shamisen and flute. It gives the typical onmyouji atmosphere, but Shounen Onmyouji tracks give off a very valiant feeling.

Naruto

As much as this is one of the most talked series of this decade, I have to give it up to the soundtracks. The Naruto and Naruto Shippuden soundtracks are some of my favorite music to listen to even though my love for the series had long gone years ago. The tracks are so recognizable even after all these years, a mix of flute, shamisen with rock and loud chanting.

Utawarerumono

It is not easy to pick up as not too many people are familiar with it, Utawarerumono is an Ainu-based story. The Ainu are indigenous peoples of Japan and over the years the concept of a pure Ainu lineage is lost due to intermarriage. It was my first time getting exposure to Ainu culture and I would describe it as very tribal and ethnic.

Otogizoushi

Though I liked part one of the series, the soundtrack doesn't disappoint. It retains a lot of the traditional gagaku of the Heian period.

Mononoke, Ayakashi Samurai Horror Tales

Like the series itself, the soundtrack is eerie and mournful. I think it is one of Yasuharu Takanashi's best works.