Masakatsu Takagi, Inner Garden Review
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Masakatsu Takagi is a composer living in a small village in the mountains of Japan. Takagi communes with his natural surroundings to encompass a duality of simplicity as well as a vastness that comes from the freedom from life’s distractions. Takagi is a frequent collaborator with the Japanese animated film director Mamoru Hosoda (The Boy and the Best, Wolf Children). The Wolf Children score was chosen as the iTunes Best Soundtrack of 2012 in Japan. Additionally, Takagi composed music for The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2013), a documentary film for Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) directed by Mami Sunada. Mirai is a new collaboration between director Hosoda and Takagi. Following a critically acclaimed run on the festival circuit, GKIDS will be releasing Mirai in the United States on November 30th, 2018. Takagi is releasing a single from the Mirai sound track titled, “Inner Garden.” Takagi’s composition is a beautiful tapestry of sounds and instrument colors that conveys feeling of anticipation with the relaxed sounds of nature. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
"Inner Garden” contains Takagi’s signature piano playing surrounded by strings, woodwinds and percussion. Takagi is a clear orchestrator of instrumental colors and creator of themes.
Bottom Line:
Masakatsu Takagi again tells a story through his music with his beautiful single, "Inner Garden." Takagi’s delicate compositional style is one of subtleties. The piano presents a musical theme that is surrounded by colors and motion. The counterpoint between the pizzicato double bass and the piano is especially creative with syncopations that push the music forward. Upper register strings and flute trills adorn the composition to provide atmosphere. Takagi’s orchestration of instrumental color is excellent and balanced between activity and space. The percussion adds even more personality. "Inner Garden" builds feelings of joyous anticipation. Takagi is a master of subtlety, and I cannot wait until the full sound track of MIRAI is released on November 30th,the same day as the film's release.