Animenz’s Merry-Go-Round of Life Reimagined: from the Composer’s Perspective
- Yeoul Choi
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Joe Hisaishi’s The Merry-Go-Round of Life, originally written for Howl’s Moving Castle, is a masterpiece of orchestral color and narrative charm. When Animenz brings this piece to the piano, however, it transforms into something more than an arrangement—it becomes a new composition in itself, one that stretches the expressive and technical possibilities of a single instrument.
If you’re looking for a challenging piano sheet music of The Merry-Go-Round of Life, this is the article that you must read now! How can Animenz’s piano arrangement be analyzed from a composer’s perspective? Let’s begin by exploring its genre as a Waltz.
The Story of Waltz
The waltz is widely regarded as a dance genre in triple meter that became the most popular dance of the 19th century. Its defining feature is that a man and a woman hold each other and move in circles, accompanied by a 3/4 rhythm with a strong–weak–weak pattern.
The term ‘waltz’ carries two major meanings: it refers both to the dance itself and to classical musical works based on it. In particular, composers active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries wrote numerous piano and orchestral works inspired by the waltz. Among them, Frédéric Chopin is considered one of the most representative composers of piano waltzes. His Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 34 No. 1 is even nicknamed the ‘Valse Brillante,’ for within its refined waltz rhythm unfolds a dazzling display of virtuosic technique.
Waltz in Merry- Go-Round of Life
Joe Hisaishi’s Merry-Go-Round of Life is built around the classic waltz rhythm of strong-weak-weak beats, with flowing melodies that capture the listener’s imagination. The colorful orchestration layered over these melodies adds a delightful charm, making the piece timeless—a waltz that has remained a favorite from the 19th century all the way to today. Its enduring appeal is evident in how it has been reimagined as modern film music perfectly suited to Hayao Miyazaki’s cinematic world. Many performers have also been drawn to the sheer joy of playing waltzes like this one.
Animenz’s piano arrangement stays true to the waltz structure, with moments that evoke Chopin’s Waltz. Yet, it also reflects the arranger’s own imagination and fantasy. Animenz mentions that his arrangement follows the film’s narrative through various variations while incorporating newly composed sections to enrich the piece.
Now, let’s dive into Animenz’s piano version of Merry-Go-Round of Life.
Variation: Structural device
Animenz makes extensive use of variation techniques to shape his own musical structure. After Section A, the music returns to the waltz rhythm where the main theme—built from the rising, unfolded figuration of the G minor chord (D–G–B♭–D)—reappears. Yet, this passage is markedly different from the original. Instead of keeping it simple, he introduces octave tremolos as a form of variation. In the score, this section is marked quasi mandolino, which means “like a mandolin.” The mandolin, a plucked string instrument resembling a guitar, produces a softer and more delicate sound. By imitating this effect on the piano, Animenz not only captures the character of the mandolin but also enriches the texture through variation.
Another striking variation occurs in Section F, where the opening idea from the introduction returns in a transformed way. Marked with tempo rubato (“to play with a flexible, expressive tempo”), this passage carries the spirit of a concerto cadenza, giving the performer room for freedom and expressive flair.
Variation: The Heritage of Classical Music
In Section G, the meter shifts to 6/8. While still maintaining the dance-like character, the faster pulse propels the music forward with a new sense of urgency. Later, in the second half of Section I, a dazzling chromatic ascending motion emerges, strongly reminiscent of Chopin’s études in its brilliance and virtuosic flair.
The connection to Chopin becomes even clearer in Sections J and K. Here, Animenz returns to the original 3/4 waltz rhythm, introducing another layer of variation. The section begins pp (very soft), with harp-like arpeggiations and a delicate inner-voice counter-melody in the left hand. These gestures do not state the main theme outright but subtly evoke it in the listener’s imagination. This eventually leads to glittering, rapid-fire piano scales—passages one might expect to encounter in Chopin’s waltzes—bringing the variation to a thrilling peak.
Virtuosity as Storytelling
Animenz goes beyond literal transcription, heightening the drama with virtuosic devices. Octave passages and double-note textures magnify the theme’s grandeur, transforming lyrical lines into sweeping climaxes. Rapid broken chords evoke harp glissandi and swirling strings, propelling the music forward like a carousel spinning ever faster. Extreme dynamics—from whispered pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo—trace the emotional arc of Howl and Sophie’s journey through chaos and love. For the performer, these effects demand not only agility but also control, balancing brilliance with clarity so that the narrative line remains intact amid the fireworks.
Compositional Transformation
What sets Animenz’s arrangement apart is the way he treats the piano as a fresh compositional canvas. He adds cadenzas and embellished transitions absent from the original, heightening dramatic tension before thematic returns. By stretching harmonic pacing and using rubato, he gives the performer space to breathe before diving back into motion. The result remains faithful to Hisaishi’s theme while showcasing Animenz’s own voice—a fusion of Romantic pianism and cinematic intensity.
A Composer’s Reflection
As a composer, one can often wrestle with the challenge of translating orchestral imagination into the intimacy of a single instrument. Animenz demonstrates that with technical mastery and artistic vision, the piano can carry not just the notes, but the spirit of an entire piece. His arrangement is less a reduction and more a re-creation—a reimagining of color, energy, and emotion within the pianist’s two hands.
If you want to play a Studio Ghibli masterpiece with a fresh new twist, check out the sheet music here and start practicing right away! You’ll get to experience the excitement of challenging techniques and the charm of rich variations firsthand.
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