Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli 25 Years Concert
One of Japan’s most talented and prolific composers is Joe Hisaishi. According to People’s Daily (a Chinese paper), he has composed over 100 films and solo albums. To Western audiences, he is perhaps best known as the composer of all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films, from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to The Wind Rises (2013). In August 2008, Mr. Hisaishi presented three concerts in Budokan, featuring the New Japan Philharmonic World Dream Orchestra, Ritsuyukai Choir and Little Singers of Tokyo, as they performed his works from 25 Years of Studio Ghibli films. A review of the third concert, featuring guest visitor Hayao Miyazaki himself, can be read here.
On September 23, 2012, Mr. Hisaishi published his concert online, which you can enjoy below:
https://youtu.be/eY1XtWyKlJA
The program:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind 00:00:45 – 00:11:31
01. Opening [Legend of the Wind]
02. Requiem
03. A Battle Between Mehve and Corvette
04. Tooi hibi (Days Long Gone)
05. Tori no Hito (Bird Person)
Mononoke Hime 00:11:37 – 00:19:11
06. Ashitaka Sekki (Tale of Ashitaka)
07. Tatari gami (The Curse God)
08. Mononoke Hime (Princess Mononoke), Vocal: Masako Hayashi
Kiki’s Delivery Service 0:19:41 – 0:29:10
09. Umi no Mieru Machi (A Town with an Ocean View)
10. Shoushin no Kiki (Heartbroken Kiki)
11. Kaasan no Houki (Mom’s Broom)
Joe Hisaishi introducing the musicians Speech 00:29:38 – 00:31:00
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea 00:31:25 – 00:50:28
12. Shinkai Bokujyou (Deep Sea Ranch)
13. Umi no Okasan (Mother of the Sea), Vocal: Masako Hayashi
14. Nami no Sakana no Ponyo (Ponyo of the Fish of the Wave)
15. Fujimoto no Tema (Fujimoto’s Theme), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki
16. Himawari no Ie no Rondo (Rondo of the Sunflower House), Vocals: Mai
17. Haha no Ai (Mother’s Love)
18. Imouto-tachi no Katsuyaku (Little Sisters’ Activities)
19. Haha to Umi no Sanka (Song of Praise for Mother and the Sea)
20. Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea), Vocals: Fujioka Fujimaki and Nozomi Ohashi
Laputa: Castle in the Sky 00:50:29 – 01:01:00
21. Hato to Shounen (Pigeons and a Boy) with Marching band
22. Kimi o Nosete (Carrying you) with Choir
23. Taiju (The Huge Tree)
Porco Rosso 01:01:50 – 01:06:37
24. Kaerazaru Hibi (The Bygone Days)
Hayao Miyazaki speech 01:06:56 – 01:08:38
Howl’s Moving Castle 01:08:40 – 01:20:56
25. Symphonic Variation “Merry-go-round”
26. Cave of Mind
27. Jinsei no Merry-go-round (Merry-Go-Round of Life)
Joe Hisaishi introducing vocals from Ayaka Hirahara 01:21:30 – 01:22:05
Spirited Away 01:22:05 – 01:30:24
28. Inochi no Namae (The Name of Life), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara
29. Futatabi (Reprise), Vocals: Ayaka Hirahara
Tonari no Totoro 01:31:00 – 01:41:38
30. Kaze no toori michi (The Path of the Wind)
31. Sanpo (Stroll), Vocals: Chorus + All guest singers
01:36:39 – 01:37:10 Hayao Miyazaki singing Tonari no Totoro
32. Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro), Vocals: Chorus
Thank you from Hayao Miyazaki 01:41:23
Encore 01:43:20
Porco Rosso 01:43:20 – 01:46:23
33. Madness
Princess Mononoke 01:47:35 – 01:52:19
34. Ashitaka and San
Applause for Joe Hisaishi 01:52:20 – 01:56:02
Blu-Rays of the concert may be purchased here and at other fine online retailers.
To learn more about Hisaishi-san, visit his website.
Theodore Roosevelt’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, October 29, 1902
By the President of the United States of America. A Proclamation
According to the yearly custom of our people, it falls upon the President at this season to appoint a day of festival and thanksgiving to God.
Over a century and a quarter has passed since this country took its place among the nations of the earth, and during that time we have had on the whole more to be thankful for than has fallen to the lot of any other people. Generation after generation has grown to manhood and passed away. Each has had to bear its peculiar burdens, each to face its special crises, and each has known years of grim trial, when the country was menaced by malice domestic or foreign levy, when the hand of the Lord was heavy upon it in drouth or flood or pestilence, when in bodily distress and anguish of soul it paid the penalty of folly and a froward heart. Nevertheless, decade by decade, we have struggled onward and upward; we now abundantly enjoy material well-being, and under the favor of the Most High we are striving earnestly to achieve moral and spiritual uplifting. The year that has just closed has been one of peace and of overflowing plenty. Rarely has any people enjoyed greater prosperity than we are now enjoying. For this we render heartfelt and solemn thanks to the Giver of Good; and we seek to praise Him not by words only but by deeds, by the way in which we do our duty to ourselves and to our fellow men.
Now, therefore, I, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, President of the United States, do hereby designate as a day of general thanksgiving Thursday, the twenty-seventh of the coming November, and do recommend that throughout the land the people cease from their ordinary occupations, and in their several homes and places of worship render thanks unto Almighty God for the manifold blessings of the past year.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington this 29th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-seventh.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Grandpa Dragon’s New Home
Want to hug a dragon? Well, now you can. At long last, Grandpa Dragon has found a home, at the Wellington Zoo in New Zealand.
Here are a couple shots of his arrival:
After he was transported from his previous location, Grandpa had to have his two halves sealed properly. Here he is waiting for the “original recipe” to make him whole. Not very dignified, the poor chap.
Now, here he is, good as new, ready to greet visitors to the zoo. He won’t bite. Except for crumpets, maybe.
A hearty congratulations and kudos to Kim and Warren Beaton, for sharing their magnificent masterpiece with the world.
You can also say “hi” to Grandpa online, and he’ll respond! Click here for Grandpa’s Facebook page.
Click here to visit Kim Beaton Studios, where she’s developing a new super-sculpting material called “Pal Tiya” – named after Kim’s ancient American Indian ancestor. It means “the beautiful.”
Photos © 2013 Warren Beaton.
Green Onions, Anyone?
Let’s groove to a snazzy tune by Booker T. & the M.G.’s. From 1962, it’s Green Onions!
