[Choral Piece] Difficult but cool! A work that overwhelms its listeners

Time to Depart ~Asian Dream Song~NEW!sakushi: dorian suke kawa / sakkyoku: hisaishi jō

Time to Depart ~Asian Dream Song~ [My Song Singers EX]

Composer Joe Hisaishi—well known for insert songs and theme songs from Studio Ghibli—wrote the choral piece “Tabidachi no Toki ~Asian Dream Song~.” Although the word “Asian” appears in the title, the melody is crafted to evoke a distinctly Japanese sense of wa, perfectly matching the term.

It even has a faint resemblance to Princess Mononoke, doesn’t it? While the piece was created as a choral work, the melody itself has a contemporary classical flavor, making it fairly challenging.

In particular, the B section features many choral parts, so singers must hold firmly to their own pitches and timing without getting pulled off.

The beauty of the melody is overwhelming, and it’s a work I’d love to see performed by choirs with strong technical ability.

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Wild horseNEW!Sakushi: Nakamura Chieko / Sakkyoku: Iwakawa Saburou

Wild Horses [Choral Ensemble EARTH]

When it comes to choral music, attention tends to focus on the vocal section, but the accompaniment section is also an indispensable member of the choir.

“Wild Horses” is a piece whose piano part is so demanding that it can make the pianist—who upholds the very foundations of the ensemble—hold their head in their hands.

It’s a work with drastic shifts in tempo, and compared to the equally fluctuant “Human,” its piano-led structure means it places a particularly high premium on the accompanist’s sense of rhythm.

Of course, the vocal lines themselves are highly challenging as well, making this a piece where you can experience overwhelming power from both the singing and the performance.

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human beingNEW!Sakushi: Kataoka Akira / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Norio

2015 Miyazaki Nishi High School Gold Prize Class 3-10 Chorus “Human”

If you’re in a choir, chances are you’ve heard “Ningen” at least once.

What makes this piece difficult, above all, is the tempo.

High-difficulty choral works are often challenging because of the number of parts or the wide pitch range in the chorus, but that’s not the case here.

Its hallmark is an irregular tempo, demanding extreme shifts between slow and fast.

In choral music, where timing is everything, it’s fair to say few pieces are as difficult as this one.

It’s reputed to be tough even for highly skilled choirs, so be sure to check it out.

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The prince does not returnNEW!Sakushi: Miyoshi Tatsuji / Sakkyoku: Miyoshi Akira

“Ōson Fukikaeri” for Male Chorus (composed by Akira Miyoshi) / Chorus Group Oedo Coraliers

When people think of difficult choral pieces, they tend to picture mixed chorus, but there are challenging works in male chorus as well.

Among them, the one I especially recommend is “Ōson Fukui” (The Prince Who Did Not Return).

Composed by Akira Miyoshi, it carries the somber atmosphere characteristic of his music, bordering on noise music.

Beyond its eeriness, it’s packed with difficult elements: overwhelming long tones, complex dissonances, and sudden, striking harmonies.

It’s the kind of piece that can’t be mastered by a school choir but requires a full-fledged choral ensemble, so it’s definitely worth a listen!

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Ballad of the MonstersNEW!Sakushi: Okada Fumiko / Sakkyoku: Tokaiji Osamu

[Good Song 2020] Ballad of the Monster (Mixed Chorus in Three Parts)

Among the many choral pieces, The Ballad of the Kaiju stands out for its especially flamboyant melody.

Its difficulty is around a B level; the vocal parts themselves are not particularly challenging.

However, the accompaniment is closer to an A-level difficulty, and its brisk tempo and rich developments give the chorus tremendous power.

Because the piece also contains elements somewhat reminiscent of a musical, it can be considered very approachable for those who have only recently become interested in choral music.

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Song of Distant DaysNEW!Sakushi: Iwasawa Chihaya / Sakkyoku: Hashimoto Shōji

“A Song from a Distant Day” sung by Osaka College of Music students and the Children’s Choir

A highly popular piece with a familiar, approachable melody, “Song of Distant Days.” In its early days it carried the subtitle “Song of Distant Days ~From Pachelbel’s Canon~,” and its appeal lies in the moving progression built on the canon chords.

Rather than a virtuoso showpiece, it’s moderately challenging—about a B-level in difficulty.

Its orthodox development, with gradually layering choruses, conveys beauty amid its power.

If you like canon chord progressions, you’ll surely enjoy this, so be sure to check it out.

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O King of Fire, in your country…NEW!Sakushi: Shinkawa Kazue / Sakkyoku: Suzuki Teruaki

Fukushima Prefectural Asaka Reimei High School "O king of fire, in your land..."

A notoriously difficult piece by the celebrated composer Teruaki Suzuki, “O King of Fire, In Your Land…,” which many middle and high school choirs tackle at least once.

In this feature, I’m introducing works that range roughly from B- to S-level in difficulty, and this one is unquestionably in the S category.

It’s a piece where vertical alignment is extremely hard, with many exacting intervals, and the chords in particular are overwhelmingly challenging.

There’s a touch of Ravel-like transparency, but overall the work packs tremendous power—definitely give it a listen.

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