Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke score gets first vinyl release

From legendary composer Joe Hisaishi.

Joe Hisaishi’s compositions for the Studio Ghibli film Princess Mononoke are being released on vinyl for the first time, this July.

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Originally released in 1997, Princess Mononoke explored environmental issues through an epic feud between forest gods and a mining community.

A year after Princess Mononoke’s release, Hisaishi revisited the soundtrack to perform it as a symphonic suite with the Czech philharmonic orchestra, the recordings of which are now making their vinyl debut as Princess Mononoke (Symphonic Suite).

Making its vinyl debut, the soundtrack was recorded with the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, and features the main theme song with vocals by Yoshikazu Mera.

Alongside these two versions, Studio Ghibli is also releasing the Image Album, which was recorded before the official soundtrack, and based on legendary director Hayao Miyazaki’s notes.

(An “image album” is an LP created specifically for Japanese animations, to give a sense of characters’ personalities.)

All three versions will be released on the 24th July.

Head here to pre-order the soundtrack, here to pre-order Symphonic Suite, and here to pre-order Image Album; check out the artwork and tracklist below.

Soundtrack

Side-A

2. The Demon God

3. Departure -To the West-

4. Demon Power

5. The Land of the Impure

6. The Encounter

7. Kodamas

8. The Forest of the God

9. Evening at the Fireworks

10. The Demon God II -The Lost Mountain-

Side-B

2. The Tatara Woman Work Song

3. The Furies

4. The Young Man from the East

5. Requiem

6. Will to Live

7. San and Ashitaka in the Forest of the Deer God

8. Princess Mononoke Theme Song (Instrumental Version)

9. Requiem II

Side-C

2. Battle Drums

3. Battle in Front of the Ironworks

4. Demon Power II

5. Requiem III

6. Retreat

7. The Demon God III

Side-D

2. The World of the Dead

3. The World of the Dead II

4. Adagio of Life and Death II

5. Ashitaka and San

6. Princess Mononoke Theme Song (Vocal Ending)

7. The Legend of Ashitaka (Ending)