Studio Ghibli has captured the world’s imagination with its animated films for nearly 40 years, and that includes their incredible musical scores. The soundtrack to each movie acts as its own character, molding the emotional narrative as we follow the story. While each film has its own magic, it’s hard to top ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ from Howl’s Moving Castle, which has captivated listeners – and musicians – since its debut in 2004. The song, which serves as the film’s main theme, has racked up over 130 million Spotify plays and is one of the most popular sheet music purchases in the world. Now, 21 years after its release, we’re examining one of the top scores on MuseScore, and what makes it so significant and timeless.
Joe Hisaishi’s Musical Journey to ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’
Composer Joe Hisaishi was born Mamoru Fujisawa, and although his family was not musically inclined, he studied music composition in college. He wrote for several television shows, including the series Gyatoruzu, Sasuga no Sarutobi, and Futari Daka, before changing his professional name to Joe Hisaishi as he gained notoriety. It was during this time that the composer’s musical identity began to take shape, blending classical, jazz, and pop elements. Another important aspect to Hisaishi’s work is minimalism, which he studied during college.
‘In music, minimalism is defined by the use of limited musical materials and often involves the repetition of phrases and patterns,’ WDAV explains. ‘Though his compositions span many styles and forms, Hisaishi’s early exploration of minimalism has made a clear impact on his work in the genre he is best known for today: film music.’
In 1983, he was recommended to Studio Ghibli to create a soundtrack for Hayao Miyazaki’s film ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,’ which marked the beginning of a long and close creative partnership. Howl’s Moving Castle was the tenth Studio Ghibli film scored by Hisaishi. The animated fantasy follows a young woman named Sophie, who is transformed into an old woman by a witch, and a wizard named Howl. Its beautiful storytelling explores themes of love, war, and human connection. The ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ is the film’s main theme, which helps viewers delve deeper into the story’s emotions by employing several compositional techniques.
Musical Structure and Composition of ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’
‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ is a flowing waltz in 3/4 time that begins with a captivating piano intro. With rich chord structures, the melody has an ascending motif that continues to build excitement and anticipation. The original recording is orchestrated for full symphony, with an oboe solo bridging the piano and full accompaniment by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. The melody is played again by the piano before being traded to the brass, woodwinds, and strings.
Harmonically, Hisaishi employs chord extensions, or notes beyond basic three-note chords, such as the 7th, 9th, and 11th. These help to enrich the harmony to build and release tension, invoking a sense of nostalgia. These denser chords are reminiscent of jazz voicings, while the orchestration implies a classical setting, and the chord movement has the accessibility of pop music. All of these aspects help to make it sound timeless.
Another important aspect of the composition is its dynamics. The solo piano intro evokes a sense of intimacy and even wistfulness, but as the song evolves, the dynamics rise and fall, much like the horses on a merry-go-round – mirroring the ups and downs of life.
The Cultural Impact of This Studio Ghibli Classic
‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ follows the narrative arc of ‘Howl’s Moving Castle,’ including Sophie’s blossoming from timidity into self-acceptance. The motif applies to nearly every theme, reappearing to emphasize feelings of romance, adventure, and melancholy. As such, people have used the song for weddings, tributes, social media posts, and just about any other life event. This has also made it a popular piece for performance in professional concerts, community ensembles, and musicians playing at home.
Notable Performances and Arrangements
Joe Hisaishi with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Here’s a fascinating look at the song with a performance from the composer himself as he conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London. This new arrangement captures the emotional appeal of the original recording while bringing it up to date.
Grissini Project
Grissini Project is a group of classical musicians devoted to performing music from anime, video games, and film. This gorgeous version pares the composition down to a three-piece ensemble of piano, violin, and cello. The trio’s take reimagines the piece with more of a classical angle.
Leiki Ueda
‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ has taken on a new life in part to solo piano arrangements. You’ll be hard pressed to top this amazing rendition by Leiki Ueda, which was arranged by Kyle Landry.
Why ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ Still Resonates
21 years after its debut, ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ still provides the emotional payoff that people crave, thanks to its broad expressive range and harmonically satisfying modulations. The song has been streamed hundreds of millions of times across Spotify, YouTube, and more. The music stands on its own as a beautiful work, but it is more gripping when tied together with the themes of Howl’s Moving Castle.
Theatrical performing artist and music producer Roger Tirazona poignantly summed it up, perfectly.
‘Miyazaki wanted to convey through Howl’s Moving Castle, that life is always worth living if we make it so, even if it is not as interesting and magical as Howl’s life,’ he wrote. ‘This musical theme from Howl’s Moving Castle, written by Joe Hisaishi; a playful, yet majestic waltz for Orchestra reminiscent of the music one hears on the merry-go-round, is a great soundtrack that reminds of the hope that Miyazaki wants us to have, even if life may depressingly be not much more than a merry-go-round of revolutions around the sun.’
Not only is it deeply satisfying to hear, it’s deeply satisfying to play. Whether you’re playing for a recital or for your own enjoyment, ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ is a perfect piece of music to help express yourself, which is the whole point of music to begin with.
With ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life,’ Joe Hisaishi did more than write a piece of music. He tapped into emotions that can’t be expressed with words. For 21 years or for eternity, ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ will continue to be a beloved composition.
