Higurashi When They Cry - Music

Music

Parts of this article (those related to the themes for Higurashi Kira) are outdated. Please update this section to reflect recent events or newly available information.

Unlike visual novels created by established companies, 07th Expansion did not create the music found in the Higurashi games. The music for the question arcs consists of license free songs found on the Internet, while the music for the answer arcs was provided by dōjin music artists that were fans of Higurashi. Later, a CD album called Thanks/you was released by the dōjin music artist, Dai; many of his tracks were used in the answer arcs. Fans initially referred to this album as the official soundtrack, however the actual official soundtrack has since been released for the series, featuring a majority of the songs featured in the answer arcs. This two-disc set is, to date, the most complete collection of songs from the games.

The first season anime's opening theme is "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni" sung by Eiko Shimamiya; it went on sale in Japan on May 24, 2006. The ending theme is "Why, or Why Not" sung by Rekka Katakiri; it was released on June 28, 2006. There have been two original soundtracks released for the anime adaptation. The main composer for the tracks was Japanese composer Kenji Kawai and the albums were produced by Frontier Works. Volume 1 was released on July 21, 2006 and volume 2 was released on October 6, 2006 in Japan. Three character song CDs were also released, sung by voice actors from the anime adaptation, between March 28 and July 25, 2007. The second season anime's opening theme is "Naraku no Hana" also sung by Eiko Shimamiya. The first season's opening theme, when played backwards, includes the words Nigerarenainda (逃げられないんだ, can't escape?). This 'backwards' portion of the song is also included in the second season's opening theme. The ending theme is "Taishō a" performed by anNina. The OVA season's opening theme is "Super scription of data" by Eiko Shimamiya, and the ending theme is "Manazashi" (まなざし?) by anNina.

For the first live-action film, a short version of the film's theme song was released on December 22, 2007, in Japan. Once again, Eiko Shimamiya sang the song, entitled "Wheel of Fortune" (運命の輪, Unmei no Wa?). Shimamiya also performed the ending theme entitled "Diorama" (ディオラマ?).

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Famous quotes containing the word music:

    O I shall hear skull skull,
    Hear your lame music,
    Believe music rejects undertaking,
    Limps back.
    Owen Dodson (b. 1914)

    During the cattle drives, Texas cowboy music came into national significance. Its practical purpose is well known—it was used primarily to keep the herds quiet at night, for often a ballad sung loudly and continuously enough might prevent a stampede. However, the cowboy also sang because he liked to sing.... In this music of the range and trail is “the grayness of the prairies, the mournful minor note of a Texas norther, and a rhythm that fits the gait of the cowboy’s pony.”
    —Administration in the State of Texa, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)

    As for the terms good and bad, they indicate no positive quality in things regarded in themselves, but are merely modes of thinking, or notions which we form from the comparison of things with one another. Thus one and the same thing can be at the same time good, bad, and indifferent. For instance music is good for him that is melancholy, bad for him who mourns; for him who is deaf, it is neither good nor bad.
    Baruch (Benedict)