Final Thesis - John Williams - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State ...

employed both in the composition and by the instruments follow Sayuri’s journey of
pain and sacrifice throughout the film’s storyline. In addition to strings, John
Williams uses a variety of flutes, as heard in “The Journey to the Hanamachi,” “Brush
on Silk,” and “Confluence.”
Throughout the score, while strings play the main part, the flutes come a
close second, followed by drums, harps, horns, and oboes. Overall, the score is a
unique symphonic approach that still resembles John Williams’ style, but
demonstrates differences from his typical orchestral approach in his use of
instrumentation and the thematic elements he emphasizes. His mastery of
composition is apparent throughout this score in the way he has adapted his style to
create culturally accurate pieces that still exude a depth of emotion.
Memoirs of a Geisha: Scene by Scene Music Analysis
0:00:37-0:03:42 – Lone shakuhachi (Japanese flute) echoes in the background
accompanied by some booming drums that follow the lightning and thunder storm
on screen. As the scene intensifies with the death of Chiyo’s mother, more flute-like
wind instruments join in, but eventually resolve into the same lonely flute solo. This
same flute follows Chiyo and her sister to the train station with “Journey to the
Hanamachi” and its mournful tones and melody seem to echo the pain and
loneliness felt by the two girls with the loss of their mother and home.
0:03:43-0:05:00 – As the narrator (Sayuri) introduces the audience to the story, the
music changes to “Sayuri’s Theme” which is a haunting cello melody, which is fluid
and graceful, but sorrowful. Fittingly, the narrator compares herself to the power of
water to overcome obstacles.
0:05:01-0:05:40 – Abstract sounds and snippets of music assault the audience as
the girls travel the strange journey from the train station to the okiya, which mirror
the strangeness and confusion felt by the young girls from rural Japan.
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