Full Orchestra - Level 4 - Digital Download

SKU: A0.1236780

By Kumiko. By Joe Hisaishi. Arranged by Tom Maher. 21st Century,Classical,Film/TV. Score and Parts. 92 pages. Tom Maher #832309. Published by Tom Maher (A0.1236780).

Merry Go Round of Life is a beautiful instrumental piece composed by Joe Hisaishi, a Japanese composer known for his work on various Studio Ghibli films. The song is featured in the soundtrack of the 2004 animated film Howl's Moving Castle, directed by legendary Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.

The piece opens with a delicate piano melody, heard in our arrangement on the vibraphone, gradually building in intensity as the rest of the orchestra joins in. The music captures a sense of whimsy and nostalgia, evoking images of a carousel or a child's music box.

In Howl's Moving Castle, the song is used as a recurring theme throughout the film. It is played during several key moments, including the opening credits and the final scene. The music perfectly captures the film's themes of love, magic, and the passing of time.

The title Merry Go Round of Life is fitting, as it suggests the cyclical nature of life and the idea that we are all constantly moving in circles. The music also conveys a sense of hope and joy, encouraging listeners to embrace the ups and downs of life and enjoy the ride.

This arrangement is meant for intermediate to advanced high school symphonic orchestra. Most instruments play some version of the melody, and many of the figures from the original film version are present, yet written with younger players in mind. The strings should take extra care to play under the vibraphone solos, or the director may choose to double this part on another mallet percussion or piano.

Instrumentation: 2 Flutes, 2 Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, Alto Sax, 2 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 2 Trombones, Mallet Percussion, Snare Drum/Crash Cymbal, Bass Drum, Timpani, Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Double Bass.