Product Description
Key Signature: G Maj, E min
Time Signature: 4/4, 6/4, 3/4
Tempo: Andante (the orchestra version goes a little bit faster i think.)
Difficulty: Advanced (very)
Joe Hisaishi, born Mamoru Fujisawa in 1950, is a legendary Japanese composer and musical director best known for his work on Studio Ghibli films. His music blends classical, minimalist, and electronic styles, shaped by early influences like Philip Glass and European romanticism. Hisaishis long-standing collaboration with director Hayao Miyazaki has made him a cornerstone of Japanese cinematic music, crafting unforgettable scores for films such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away.
"A Town with an Ocean View" was composed for the 1989 film Kikis Delivery Service, a coming-of-age story about a young witch navigating life in a seaside city. Hisaishi wrote the piece to reflect Kikis emotional journeyboth the freedom of newfound independence and the undercurrents of uncertainty. The cheerful yet graceful waltz captures the seaside towns breezy charm, while subtly underscoring the storys deeper themes of self-doubt and resilience. According to interviews, Hisaishi envisioned the music as a sonic painting of the townbright, flowing, and full of motion, like the waves that roll beyond its streets. The melody evolves with layers, mirroring how Kiki slowly grows into herself in a world that's as beautiful as it is unpredictable.
The songs popularity has endured far beyond the film, becoming one of Hisaishis most iconic works. Often performed in concerts and reimagined across genres, it remains a vivid reminder of how music can evoke place and emotion as powerfully as any image or dialogue.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.