The Music Analyzed

9 min read

The Music Analyzed

Kensuke Ushio: The underrated genius of anime music

Kensuke Ushio Most of us familiar with anime music have heard of Joe Hisaishi. How about Hiroyuki Sawano, or Yoko Kanno? Most likely, you have. But how about Kensuke Ushio? Even if the name doesn't ring a bell, you may have had the pleasure of hearing his music. As recently as last year in fact, if you were among the millions who watched the Chainsaw Man movie. Most notably with "in the pool", a stunning and pivotal piano and string piece. In this article, we'll explore three of Ushio’s most...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Like Spring After Winter: Translating BTS’s “Spring Day” to the Piano — An Overview of Pianella’s Reimagination

These days still carry the lingering chill of winter. Although spring has yet to fully arrive, BTS’s Spring Day feels like the perfect music to play while longing for warmer days ahead—when the cold finally fades and flowers begin to bloom once again! Released in February 2017 as the title track of YOU NEVER WALK ALONE , Spring Day is an emotional alternative hip-hop track that delivers a heartfelt message about holding onto hope while waiting to reunite with someone precious who has...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

ENHYPEN 〈Fatal Trouble〉: Official Piano Sheet Music Review An Intermediate Level Repertoire for K-Pop-Loving Pianists

Are you a pianist who loves K-Pop? If so, this is one release you won’t want to miss. HYBE recently launched official piano arrangements of songs by its artists, and today we’ll take a closer look at one of them—ENHYPEN’s 〈Fatal Trouble〉 . In this article, we’ll explore the musical structure and key characteristics of the song, along with an in-depth review of its newly released official piano sheet music. <ENHYPEN- Fatal Trouble Official Music Video> ENHYPEN’s “Fatal Trouble”: Dark Fantasy...

5 min read

The Music Analyzed

Demon Slayer: To the Infinity Castle Transformed – Animenz’s Epic Piano Arrangement

<Demon Slayer> is a dark fantasy manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge, serialized in Japan since 2016. The story centers on the conflict between demons who prey on humans and the Demon Slayer Corps, an organization dedicated to hunting them. After losing his family and witnessing his younger sister Nezuko turn into a demon, the protagonist Tanjiro joins the Demon Slayer Corps in hopes of turning her back into a human. As he faces countless battles, the narrative unfolds...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Reflections on the Water: Animenz’s Piano Journey Through Chainsaw Man Sound Track, 'In the Pool'

If you’re into Japanese anime, Chainsaw Man is one you simply can’t miss. Created by Tatsuki Fujimoto, the series has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump since 2019 and is still continuing today. The story begins with Denji, a boy who unexpectedly gains the strange ability to transform and becomes a devil hunter. From there, he’s thrown into a world full of terrifying devils, unpredictable twists, and emotional chaos. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc (September), focuses on Denji’s encounter with the...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Reliving the Movie’s Ending on Piano – Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc ‘JANE DOE’ Piano Version (HalcyonMusic)

<Chainsaw Man> No fan of Japanese animation can leave out "Chainsaw Man". This work, by Tatsuki Fujimoto, began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2019 and continues to this day. In the early story, the protagonist Denji becomes a “Devil Hunter” through a unique transformation ability he acquires by chance, battling various devils along the way. Despite its violent scenes, Chainsaw Man intricately portrays human emotions and presents a unique and intense world, earning widespread acclaim...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Animenz’s Merry-Go-Round of Life Reimagined: from the Composer’s Perspective

<Howl's Moving Castle by Miyazaki Hayao> Joe Hisaishi’s The Merry-Go-Round of Life , originally written for Howl’s Moving Castle , is a masterpiece of orchestral color and narrative charm. When Animenz brings this piece to the piano, however, it transforms into something more than an arrangement—it becomes a new composition in itself, one that stretches the expressive and technical possibilities of a single instrument. If you’re looking for a challenging piano sheet music of The...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Bringing Westeros Back: A Deep Dive into Dan Romer's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Score

<A knight of the seven kingdoms> The article is written by the pianist, Torby Brand A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (also known as "Dunk and Egg") is the newest Game of Thrones spin-off, based on George R. R. Martin's novellas of the same name. In stark contrast to both Thrones and House of the Dragon, these are short stories, and much more lighthearted at that. It's not for me to say whether this weighed in on HBO's decision to hire a new composer, but one thing's for sure: it worked. And in...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

K-pop Vampire Performance reimagined on the piano! ENHYPEN - 'Criminal Love' Piano Sheet Music Review

ENHYPEN's musical universe is always unique, but Criminal Love stands out as a song fans captivated by the vampire concept call “the very essence of ENHYPEN.” Created as the second OST for the HYBE original webtoon <DARK MOON>, it was released on July 31, 2023, and included in the following year's MEMORABILIA album, continuing to receive immense love from fans all around the world. The piano sheet music version of Criminal Love, recently officially released by HYBE, is also receiving an...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Our Eternal Classic Ballad “You’re Still the One” – A Beginner’s Guitar Sheet Guide

Hello to all music lovers and guitar hobbyists, and to those thinking of picking up the guitar in the New Year! Are you wondering which guitar sheet music to tackle in 2026? If you read this, you’ll be able to make a choice you won’t regret. Today, we’re looking at Shania Twain’s You’re Still the One, released in 1997—a timeless song that quietly expresses love that endures, no matter how much time passes. Shania Twain - You're Still The One This song starts not with flashy or dramatic...

3 min read

The Music Analyzed

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town: A Christmas Carol Born in the Great Depression, Reimagined for Jazz Piano

As the end of 2025 approaches, many pianists start asking the same question: Which Christmas carol should I practice this year? If you’re looking for something familiar yet musically refreshing, this piece might be a perfect choice. Today, we take a closer look at “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” arranged for piano by jazz pianist Daeyoun Kim. The original song is, of course, world-famous. In Korea, it is especially well known through its localized lyrics often sung by children during...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

The Heart of the Endless Castle: Listening to ‘The Entrance to the Infinity Castle’ on Piano

<Demon Slayer S4> Demon Slayer (鬼滅の刃, Kimetsu no Yaiba) is a dark fantasy manga by Koyoharu Gotouge, serialized since 2016. The story follows demons (鬼) that prey on humans and the Demon Slayer Corps (鬼殺隊) tasked with hunting them. The protagonist, Tanjiro, loses his family and discovers that his younger sister, Nezuko, has been turned into a demon. Determined to restore her humanity, he joins the Demon Slayer Corps and faces countless battles. The series has captivated audiences worldwide...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

Can Extreme Pop music be recreated on the Piano? Chainsaw Man Movie “Reze Arc” OST: IRIS OUT and Ru’s Piano Arrangement

<Chainsaw Man “Reze Arc”> If you’re a fan of Japanese anime, you can’t ignore Chainsaw Man . Chainsaw Man is a work by Tatsuki Fujimoto that has been serialized in Japan’s Weekly Shonen Jump since 2019 and continues to this day. The early plot of Chainsaw Man follows the protagonist Denji, who accidentally gains a unique transformation ability and becomes a devil hunter, facing unknown devils and experiencing chaos. Chainsaw Man is known for its unique world that portrays violent yet...

4 min read

The Music Analyzed

'프릴 왈츠'가 들려주는 이야기: 음악을 파형으로 쓰는 시인, 니와모리 피아노를 만나다

니와모리 피아노 공식 프로필 *해당 인터뷰는 한국어만 제공하고 있습니다. (This interview is available in Korean only.) 햇살에 비치는 프릴 커튼이 바람에 흔들리는 모습. 작곡가 니와모리 피아노에게 이 평범한 순간은 하나의 음악적 영감이 되었습니다. 그의 가장 많은 사랑을 받은 곡 '프릴 왈츠'는 그렇게 탄생했죠. 클래식에 대한 깊은 이해를 바탕으로 자신만의 미니멀한 왈츠를 만들어내는 작곡가 니와모리 피아노. 그의 음악적 철학과 창작의 의미, 그리고 '프릴 왈츠'에 숨겨진 이야기를 직접 들어봤습니다. 안녕하세요 니와모리 피아노님. 첫 질문으로 작곡가님의 시작이 궁금합니다. 음악을 처음 접하게 된 계기와, 수많은 음악 활동 중에서도 특별히 '자작곡'의 길을 걷게 되신 이유가 궁금한데, 작곡가님께 창작이란 어떤 의미를 갖나요? 니와모리 피아노 : 꽤 오래전 기억을 떠올려 보자면, 세 살 무렵부터 부모님께서 밤마다 클래식 음악을 들려주셨습니다. 그중...