|
Choral Suite for Female Chorus and Piano: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
I have been living with this CD for about 5 weeks now.
This CD resembles the Symphonic Poem in quite a few ways. This CD comprises
six tracks, each of which is about 7 minutes in length. All tracks are
assembled from parts of previously written Sailor Moon music. Unlike the
Symphonic Poem, there is no original track on this CD. It is very similar
to the Symphonic Poem in the way that it transforms light and easy-listening
Sailor Moon songs into something rather grand. Another thing in common
with, or perhaps even more so than, the Symphonic Poem is that it really
can use the help of a stereo system which can properly render the texture
and express the dynamics of the midrange.
The first day I got it, the radically different images
conveyed by the choral arrangement clashed with the original songs. I was
rather disappointed and filed it for cold storage. It wasn't until a week
later when I decided to try it again. I managed to get over the odd feelings
of the songs and was favourably impressed. When I listened to it for the
third time the next morning, I was becoming quite amazed. During the two
weeks that followed, I had basically been brain-washing myself with the
CD day-and-night. And the more I listened to it, the more I was amazed.
At about the third week mark, I was pretty sure I much prefer this CD over
the Symphonic Poem. The chorus adaptations are closer to the original songs
than the symphonic adaptations, but the images are still very different.
It takes quite a few listens to realize how much of the original essence
of the songs have been preserved. It is very difficult to imagine how such
a feat is ever possible...even the composer didn't think it was possible
at first. He set out to transform the songs into chorus singings which
are easy and kind to the ears, and it shows in the result. Now my hopes
are high for the "Brass Fantasy" CD too.
The choir consists of 7 sopranos, 7 mezzo-sopranos, and
7 altos. The voices are bright and strong, while the singing is sweet with
spirit. Each track consists of parts from several songs and BGM pieces,
and the tracks can switch back-and-forth among them at times. Here is a
list of what each track is composed of, along with some personal remarks:
-
OVERTURE: FANTASY
"Ai wa Energy" - This is Sailor Moon's R single. I haven't heard the original
one yet, but this version is certainly very nice. Two verses of this song
open track 1 and form the main part of it. "Moonlight Densetsu" - A mono-syllable,
hymn-type verse of the popular OP. Contrasting the lively image of the
original, this version conveys a melancholic and mystic feeling of the
ancient Silver Millennium. "Princess Moon" - Only two lines are used. The
song then closes with one more iteration of the refrain part of "Love is
Energy".
-
MAKE UP (BGM) "Tuxedo
Mask Theme" - Starts the track with a short, slow adaptation. "I am Sailor
Moon" - This is now the fourth version of the same song. There were two
vocal versions, the symphonic version, and now the choral version. The
singing preserves the liveliness of the original song, with the added beauty
of female voices in unison. Like the previous track, two verses of this
song forms the main part of the track. (BGM) "Make Up!" - a slow version
of the "R" transformation theme. "Koisuru Otome wa Makenai" - this is an
adaptation of the OP. song for the PC Engine Sailor Moon game.
-
PURE MIND "Ai no Energy
wo Ubae" - this song is originally from the "Ai ha Dokoni Aruno?" album.
I never paid enough attention to the original song to listen through even
the first verse, and never realized this was actually Queen Beryl's image.
After converting to a requiem type of music, it has the proper feel for
the lyric. Still, a bit strange. "Setsunakuteii" - This is Sailor
Venus' R single. "Onaji Namida wo Wakeatte" - S.Mercury's image from
"Mirai he Mukatte". A bit faster than the original. "Ai no senshi"
- a slow adaptation of the song from "Mirai he Mukatte"
-
ACTION "Route Venus"
- A slow, short version with no word. This track closes with more of "Route
Venus" at the end. The part at the end is a complete iteration of the refrain
part, with words. "Ai no senshi" - Main body of the track. Fast like
the original, but the scale of choral singing is still somewhat mismatched
with the lyric of the song. "Tsukini kawatte oshiokiyo" - The Moon,
Mercury, Mars trio song from "Ai ha Dokoni Aruno?". The quality of the
voice here is a definite improvement for this song. (BGM) "Uranus,
and Neptune" - The first part is a piano version of Uranus and Neptune's
transformation theme. The dynamic of the high piano notes sounds fabulous,
then when it goes into the chord with the foundation of the low notes,
it sounds incredibly nice. The theme for World Shaking and Deep Submerge
was also used later, but not as nice. (BGM) "Transformation Theme"
- Uses the voice part of the very original SailorMoon Make Up theme.
-
Lovely Girls "Otome no
Policy" - If you like this song, you definitely have to take a listen to
this album to hear how good it sounds when performed by a good female choir.
This is definitely one of the best adaptations in this album. The arrangement
of the Soprano and Alto parts is just awesome. The sopranos have a really
good part, and they deliver an excellent performance. This is the main
body of the song; two verses plus one more iteration of the refrain part
interweave parts from the other two songs. "Yume Miru Dakeja Dame"
- Sailor Moon's image from "In Another Dream". "Suki to Itte" - The
image song by Ishida Yoko originally from the "R" TV soundtrack. This version
is slower than the original song.
-
FINALE: DESIRE "Moon
Revenge" - This track opens with the two verses of "Moon Revenge". The
instrumental intro to the original song has been replaced by a very smooth
and beautiful piano intro. The singing is not as lively, but stronger and
more robust. Dynamic in the rhythm has been suppressed to sound darker
and more solemn. Perhaps this image is more true to the lyric. The altos
have a great part in this song, while the sopranos provide the support.
"Tuxedo Mirage" - This part is mainly alto until the refrain part. Initially,
the altos may sound a bit too robust. The sopranos take over after it enters
the refrain. "Onaji Hoshi ni Umareta Futari Dakara" - Brilliant singing!
This is the finale where the choir unleashes all the power in their voices,
and the words of the song are very touching. A fabulous finish of the album.
This is originally the ED. for the PC Engine game. Conveniently enough,
the side graphic of this CD also supplies the code for the single: Forte
Music, FMDC-510.
(c) Takeuchi Naoko, Koudansha,
TV Asahi, Toei Douga
Back to the Compleat Sailor
Moon CD List
Back to the
Immense & Immortal Beej's Homepage (w/ SM Jukebox) |