Carrying You from "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" - Joe Hisaishi

New Sounds in Concert Band Series(NSB) for small band with 2-part choir Duration: approx.4'10" Arranged by Eiji Suzuki"Carrying You" was composed as a theme song to Castle in the Sky, an animated film produced by Studio Ghibli and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, released in 1986. The composer for Castle in the Sky was originally not Joe Hisaishi, but the director Miyazaki strongly requested him. The director told Hisaishi his vision for the film, and based on the world he imagined, Hisaishi made a collection of music called the Image Album. The melody that later becomes the basis for "Carrying You" was born from this album. However, the director Miyazaki was not planning on including a theme song in this film. Isao Takahata, the producer, proposed including a song, for the audience to think over the film at the end. He wanted the audience to think, "While the protagonists sought for the treasure, they didn't obtain any treasure. What did they obtain instead?" They thought, if they are going to create a theme song, it should be something organically connected with the entire film. Takahata requested the director Miyazaki to write the lyrics for the theme song. And to Hisaishi, he gave instructions to create a melody for the theme song using an instrumental piece called "Pazu and Sheeta" from the image album mentioned above. Director Miyazaki handed a piece of memo with lyrics to Takahata. "Carrying You" we hear now is this lyrics with some changes, set to Hisaishi's music. The melody is used at the opening of the film as well as the scene where Laputa is destroyed, and the song is used for the ending. Performance Advice from Arranger Suzuki: This is an extremely simple arrangement that can be performed by lower grade bands and singers. Of course, it can be played without singers and chorus, but the contents of the lyrics are very tasty so if possible, we recommend that you perform using the voices. Depending on your resources, the voice parts can be done as all solo, all female chorus, and so on.