Arachnophonia: Joe Hisaishi “A Symphonic Celebration : Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki”

Posted on September 24, 2025 by marmstr3

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Eliana (class of 2027) and features a vinyl record of music from the films of Miyazaki. Thanks, Eliana!

Joe Hisaishi and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
A Symphonic Celebration : Music from the Studio Ghibli Films of Hayao Miyazaki

Joe Hisaishi - A Symphonic Celebration vinyl album cover

Joe Hisaishi is a Japanese composer, music director, pianist, and conductor most known for his collaboration with Studio Ghibli and its creator, Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator and filmmaker. Together, they have created a number of brilliant films, including Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, and Howl’s Moving Castle (my personal favorite!), with amazing musical scores. Through this album, you can experience the movies without even seeing them!

This is an album that I have experienced in both a film concert and through vinyl, and in my opinion, I believe it is an amazing score no matter how you listen to it. If you are a fan of that fairytale feeling you get from watching animated movies made by companies such as Disney or Pixar, there is a chance you will love Joe Hisaishi’s music. Even without knowing the movies associated with each of the songs on this vinyl, the songs can tell you exactly how each movie will make you feel. For example, when listening to “Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea,” I can tell that the movie will give me a joyful feeling; however, do not be fooled by its childlike tone. These songs, and their respective movies, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and they serve as background to the deep and rich stories created by Hayao Miyazaki.

This album may only appeal to specific audiences, and you might have to watch the movies to truly understand where I am coming from; however, I believe that Joe Hisaishi is a brilliant composer that conveys many feelings and emotions through music. And remember, this is only a taste of what Hisaishi has to offer! I recommend exploring his other work as well, and maybe even take a look at Miyazaki’s films so you can see the songs in action!

Arachnophonia: Frozen II

Posted on April 17, 2024 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Eliana!

Frozen II

Is Frozen II (2019) your favorite movie? It should be! While this film has my heart for many reasons, the score is truly what sets it apart from many films of similar caliber.

The piano/vocal selections score, available at Parson’s Music Library, contains all songs from the film. The songs are written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Fun fact, Kristen Anderson-Lopez grew up in my hometown!

The score includes hits such as “Into the Unknown” and “Show Yourself.” In December of 2019, the soundtrack album reached number one on the US Billboard charts, making it the first soundtrack of an animated film to hit the position since Frozen (2013).

The soundtrack of Frozen II has many of the same elements that the first film had, but with even more depth and nuance. The score’s composer, Christophe Beck, said in an interview that the score matured alongside Anna and Elsa, with new sophisticated musical concepts and themes.

To supplement your listening/playing, I highly recommend watching Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen II available on Disney+. It’s a 6-part docuseries that dives deep into not only the film’s score, but the cast, animation, and development process. I should warn you, though, it’s a tearjerker!

Arachnophonia: Amelie

Posted on December 13, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features the soundtrack to the 2001 film Amélie. Thanks, Nicole!

Amélie

Are you looking for the perfect movie soundtrack for a productive study session?

My favorite movie soundtrack to listen to is Amélie, composed by Yann Tiersen. Amélie is a French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, released in 2001. The story revolves around Amélie Poulain, a shy and imaginative young woman with a unique perspective on life. Throughout the story, Amélie searches for love and connection, as she navigates her feelings for a quirky and introverted young man named Nino. The film is known for its visually rich cinematography and imaginative storytelling. It is essentially a celebration of the small joys in life, emphasizing the transformative power of kindness and the magic that can be found in everyday moments.

Yann Tiersen’s enchanting and evocative soundtrack for the film Amélie stands as a testament to the power of music in capturing the whimsy and charm of this cinematic world. The delicate piano melodies, accordion harmonies, and playful orchestration transport listeners into the imaginative universe of the main character. Tiersen’s ability to convey the innocence, romance, and melancholy within the film is truly extraordinary. From the waltz of “Comptine d’un autre ete: L’apres-midi” to the introspective notes of “La Valse d’Amélie,” (my personal favorite) each piece is a musical masterpiece that mirrors the emotional depth and complexity of the narrative.

You can check out the Amélie soundtrack CD at the Parsons Music Library!

Arachnophonia: Back to the Future

Posted on December 12, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Marissa (class of 2025) and features the orchestral score for Back to the Future. Thanks, Marissa!

Back to the Future – Alan Silvestri

One of the most popular movie trilogies of the 1980s, Back to the Future follows Marty McFly, a boy who travels through time in a time machine made out of a DeLorean by local scientist, Doctor Emmett Brown (better known as “Doc”). In the first film, Marty accidentally goes back in time to 1955, and prevents his parents from falling in love. He finds a younger Doc, and they make a plan to get Marty’s parents back together, and then send him back to the future. Throughout the film, you hear a vibrant soundtrack that adds suspense to the story. The composer for this orchestral score, Alan Silvestri, met Back to the Future’s film director, Robert Zemeckis, when he composed the soundtrack for Romancing the Stone (a 1984 Zemeckis film). After the Back to the Future trilogy, Silvestri went on to work with Zemeckis for many, many more years.

If you’re interested in checking out this orchestral score or the scores to your other favorite movies, you can check out this item by Alan Silvestri and many more at the Parsons Music Library today.

Arachnophonia: Casablanca

Posted on September 27, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Eliana!

Casablanca: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Among the shelves of CD’s in Parson’s music library sits the soundtrack of Casablanca, one of the most famous movies of all time with a score that certainly holds its own. The score, composed by revolutionary Austrian composer Max Steiner, will transport you to the 1940s and fill you with the triumphant energy of World War II cinema. Steiner not only utilizes leitmotifs in his scoring, but his songs provide formal and rhythmic continuity for the film as a whole, making his composition a true masterpiece.

The beating heart of the film is the song “As Time Goes By,” originally written by Herman Hupfeld in 1931. It is rumored that Steiner disliked this song and wanted to scrap it altogether, but he was forced to use it because the female lead (Ingrid Bergman) cut her hair for a different production and wouldn’t be able to reshoot any scenes with a new theme song. Notwithstanding Steiner’s disdain, the song is a true masterpiece with the context of the film. “As Time Goes By” represents not only the love that Rick and Ilsa have for each other, but also the past that they shared. When the song is not present in scenes between the two of them, the strain on their relationship becomes all the more apparent. Conversely, the song’s presence denotes a sense of calm between the two. Steiner weaves the song’s melody throughout the film to somehow bridge gaps between scenes, allude to strife, and foster love all at once. It is his compositional ingenuity that sets this film apart from many others.

Other notable songs present in the film are “La Marseillaise,” “It Had to Be You,” and “Die Wacht am Rhein.” You can listen to these, as well as the rest of the score, from the Casablanca CD located in the Parsons Music Library.

Arachnophonia: La La Land

Posted on April 19, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Deisy (class of 2024) and features music from the 2016 film La La Land. Thanks, Deisy!

La La Land

La La Land - movie poster

One of the best films I have watched is definitely La La Land. For the longest time, I have heard so much about this film and how it is so many people’s favorite movie. But I never understood the hype for it until very recently.

La La Land is a musical centered in Hollywood as two individuals fall in love. Emma Stone plays Mia, an aspiring actress, and Ryan Gosling, plays Sebastian, a struggling Jazz pianist. The characters meet and fall in love as they try to pursue their dreams. This is a beautiful movie about following one’s dream, falling in love, and the hard decisions that can intervene between the two lovers.

This movie is filled with beautiful Jazz music, many colorful and beautiful scenes, and moments that make you fall in love with the story. The soundtrack in particular is very compelling. My favorite tracks from the movie are “Mia and Sabastian’s Theme,” “Planetarium,” and “City of Stars.” The Music Library actually has a score dedicated to the music in the film. The score focuses on piano, vocal, and guitar chords arrangements for anyone to try.

If you have not yet watched or heard about the amazing film La La Land, I definitely recommend giving it a try!

Parsons Playlists: Movie Music

Posted on February 24, 2023 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Naron (class of 2023) and features music from assorted movie soundtracks.

Movie Music

Some movie soundtracks have left a deep impression on me with their impressive music. The music in movies is usually carefully crafted by artists to match the main theme. The music often sounds even more powerful, carrying the memory of the story in the movie. Here is a short list of music from popular movies that left an impression on me:

movie music

Nick Laird-Clowes – “About Time Theme” (from About Time – 2013)

Lana Del Ray – “Young And Beautiful” (from The Great Gatsby – 2013)

Alan Silvestri – “Feather Theme” (from Forrest Gump – 1994)

John Williams – “Theme from Jurassic Park” (from Jurassic Park – 1993)

Hans Zimmer – “Why So Serious” (from The Dark Knight – 2008)

Ennio Morricone – “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Main Title)” (from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly – 1966)

Klaus Badelt – “He’s A Pirate” (from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – 2003)

Lin-Manuel Miranda – “You’re Welcome” (sung by Dwayne Johnson in Moana – 2016)

Joe Hisaishi – “The Name of Life” (from Spirited Away – 2001)

Maurice Jarre – “Carpe Diem” (from Dead Poets Society – 1989)

Here is a link to a version of this playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewCfuxxV4Gk3YIhi4ez0R4E

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Slumdog Millionaire

Posted on February 20, 2023 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features the soundtrack to the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire. Thanks, Amy!

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack album cover

“What can a Slumdog possibly know?”

When I think of a powerful and incredibly well-made movie, Slumdog Millionaire is one that comes to mind. The 2008 drama stars Dev Patel as Jamal Malik, a teen on the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Slumdog Millionaire flashes between Jamal’s life as a teen and his childhood, showing the realities of living on the streets of Mumbai as a young child. The story is compelling, and the acting is phenomenal, but the thing that makes this film is the soundtrack. With artists like M.I.A. involved, it is easy to understand how this film won the Golden Globe for best soundtrack in 2009. A. R. Rahman, the score’s creator, wanted to create a mix of both modern and old India in the soundtrack.

A. R. Rahman’s original song “Jai Ho” for the movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture. The song was an international success with remixes and covers of the song coming from across the globe. The song was also the Indian National Congress’s official campaign song in 2009.

While this movie discusses and portrays hardship and is not indicative of every success story, I think it gives hope to those who feel stuck and like they won’t succeed. You can check out the soundtrack for Slumdog Millionaire at the Music Library!

Arachnophonia: Mamma Mia!

Posted on November 29, 2021 by marmstr3

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Kiran (class of 2024) and features the ABBA musical Mamma Mia!. Thanks, Kiran!

Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia! selections piano/vocal/guitar

Songs for the Dancing Queen

If you’re anything like me, Mama Mia! is a classic pick for movie night. The catchy songs, written by Swedish 70s group ABBA, are upbeat and danceable. The movie features Meryl Streep, who plays the hardworking Donna. Her daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), is getting married and wants to invite her biological father. However, it could be one of three different men that Donna was involved with. Sophie sends invitations to all of them, leaving her mother in a predicament as she faces her former lovers. With the addition of breathtaking Greek landscapes and hilarious friends, this film embodies the music that brought it to life. The sweet, slow ballad reminds me of the waves crashing on Greek beaches while the fiery electric guitar solos personify the energy that the men bring to Donna’s life once again. I often wonder how a series of ABBA songs could correlate to form an entire movie. The original recordings are so iconic on their own but Mama Mia! brings them all together for one hilarious story. Parsons Music Library offers both ABBA CDs and the score from Mama Mia!, so you can also listen and read along with these iconic tunes.

Parsons Playlists: Bollywood Jams

Posted on November 5, 2021 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a collection of Bollywood music from the 2000s curated by Music Library student assistant Kiran (class of 2024). Editor’s Note: since Bollywood songs are often from films, I’ve linked to some titles that are available to check out in the library catalog so you can see them in their full context if you want!

Bollywood music has always been a staple of my childhood. On my way home from school, my grandmother would put in a CD with over her favorite songs and we would listen to new ones every day. I love how upbeat it is and the variety of instrumentation used. It is so different from Western music, but just as good in my opinion. These songs are from the early 2000s to 2010.

Bollywood movie posters