This is a Japanese film. I write some music part for it.
#01. Requiem (Giuseppe Verdi) - Prologue
「レクイエム」(ヴェルディ)—プロローグ
It is very rare in movie case where the song “Requiem” is used bluntly as the background music in the prologue of a movie. Battle Royale scores with this exception. The original “Requiem” is written by Giuseppe Verdi is to commemorate the death of
Gioachino Rossini and
Alessandro Manzoni and lasted for 72 minutes. The part that was used in the film is the shortened version edited by music composer of Battle Royal film,
Masamichi Amano. It is common in to hear such music in those funeral or horror scene. However, there wasn’t such scene in Battle Royale. Instead, the opening of the song which is so intense and mind blowing were used during the opening of the movie, to create the horrifying and stressful atmosphere which last through the whole movie. This song is also the only soundtrack in the movie that has vocal in it. Well, I used to have this song as my wake up morning call which I think is pretty effective but leave me haunted for the rest of the day. What do you think?
#07. Radetsky-Marsch Op. 228 (Johan Strauss)
「ラデツキー行进曲
During the first broadcast of the death name lists, it was started with Johann Strauss most famous work, Radetzky March which was dedicated to the
Austrian Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz after the victory of Venice revolt. However, due to the controverial status of Joseph Radetzky, Johan Strauss refused to mention or play the song for the rest of his live. Yet, despite its military nature, the tone of the song is rather festive than martial, and its upbeat atmosphere and catchy tunes has secured its popularity in the ballroom, carnival and even the battlefield. Thus, it is passed down through generations and lasted until this century. It is almost always played as the last piece of music at the
Neujahrskonzert, the Vienna New Year Concert. The way where Kitano or the Battle Royale Act itself suppress the students through killing and forced them to participate in the game somehow reminiscence with the victory of Venice revolt which this song is dedicated to.
#09. An Der Schoen, Blue Danube Waltz Op. 134 (John Strauss Jr)
「美しく青きドナウ
Compare with the first broadcast, the second broadcast started with An Der Schoen, where Blue Danube is the common
English title for the song. It is composed by John Strauss Junior which is the son of John Strauss mentioned above. The reason of using this song in the film is quite simple, by the time of second broadcast, almost half of the students are dead in the bloodshed game. However, a scene of dark humour occured when Kitano reminded his students to put down their weapon and stop their fight to have their lunch properly. It somehow suit fittingly into the melody of the music itself and manage to carry out the contrasted atmosphere
#19. Aria from Orchestral Suite No.3 in D (Johann Sebastian Bach)
「G线上のアリア(バッハ)
This song, played during the later part of the fight between Kiriyama and Mitsuko. The serene music initially contrast strongly but blended nicely with the killing scene. During Mitsuko’s final moment, The tranquillity of the music, followed by the fading of her life, create a very peaceful atmosphere, which signified the liberation of her soul from the cruel life cycle. Her last words, “ I just don’t want to be the loser anymore…” carried the sadness and sorrow of her which resonance with the music. At least, in her last moment, the atmosphere created allowed the audience to sympathize her.
