Tenku No Shiro Rapyuta (1986)

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For the production of the English dub, Disney suggested for composer Joe Hisaishi to rerecord his much loved score for the film with the Seattle Music Orchestra. This caused a bit of controversy from some Anime purists, but Hisaishi went ahead and did it, since he has an understanding of Hollywood's style of scoring for films. Naysayers dismissed Hisaishi's newly revamped score, but it nevertheless impressed the ears of Anime fans. Then just in time for the film's release on DVD in Japan (in October 2002), Tokuma Japan Communications has released the US score on CD.

Like many fans, I hold the score of LAPUTA close to my heart (as I do for any score Joe Hisaishi writes!), but, unlike those who said nay beforehand, I had faith that Hisaishi could churn out a gem that doesn't have to top the original score for LAPUTA, but would be spectacular enough to hold its own ground. Happily, I am pleased to announce that this album didn't just meet my expectations, it surpassed them... and then some. From start to end, I got what I was hoping to hear - a masterfully arranged orchestral suite of Hisaishi's marvelous score. (It's similar to listening to the GAME MUSIC CONCERTs... the joy of hearing your favorite game tunes played by an orchestra.) For those of you who are worried that this is a butchering of one your favorite scores, don't. The orchestrated pieces follow their original compositions closely and are performed with pure beauty and power by the orchestra. Even better yet, there are piano solos (and some of the same synthesizer sounds from the original score) tucked in more than one track from Joe Hisaishi. The result is nothing less than breathtaking.

Some might have their quibbles about this album; I certainly have noticed a lot of differences in this score, performance wise. The trumpet fanfare for Pazu, for example, is no longer trumpet only, but accompanied by a lyre. Also, the tearjerking choral hymn for the apocalypse of Laputa starts out acapella, then is accompanied by the orchestra. Also, there were some tracks I didn't remember from the movie that weren't on the original soundtrack, so it was hard to tell what was or wasn't changed. But it works.

My one real complaint is that it is much too short - 61 minutes just isn't enough for this masterpiece. After hearing a wonderful arrangement of the "Laputa" motif, I was both missing the original version and crying for more!

Overall, I was more than impressed with this wonderful arrangement of Hisaishi's score. All the recognizable tunes, character themes, and emotions are in the right place, powered by orchestral glory. I suggest you get this soundtrack right away; it is a glorious reworking of one of the most beloved anime scores of all time.

Excellent OST
I first saw Castle In The Sky over a decade ago, and then unfortunately only about half of it but the memorable images and scenes (e.g. the robots laid against the giant tree) immediately came back when I clapped eyes on the US import DVD last april. Ive been a big Miyazaki/Hisaishi fan ever since.
I'm disappointed that I had to import this from Japan, but it was worth it. The music is very majestic and reminds you of the scenes nicely, especially track 8 (on the train being chased by Dola's gang) which is my favourite.
Ive bought several soundtracks since for the miyazaki movies, and would put them in the following order of purchase:
1. Castle in the Sky
2. Princess Mononoke OST (US)
3. Spirited Away (No-Faces' theme is used too often in the later tracks, but otherwise great)
4. Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite (some of the tunes in the middle of the CD are plain noisy)

There is really only one problem with CITS, and that is the closing theme, sung by Azumi Inoue, is missing! I was looking forward to that..