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

0:58:38-1:00:30 - Chimes in the background punctuate the transformation of Chiyo
into her new identity of “Sayuri.” Continuing cello and string melodies quietly play
in the background.
1:00:40-1:01:55 - Mameha plays a stringed Japanese instrument solo while Sayuri
performs for the audience in the teahouse, which demonstrates another example of
diegetic sound. The melody aptly increases in tempo as Hatsumomo and Pumpkin
enter the room during the performance.
1:02:55-1:03:05 – A sinister wood block rhythm accompanies Hatsumomo waking
Sayuri up in the middle of the night threatening to destroy her.
1:08:08-1:08:57 – A reprise of “The Chairman’s Waltz” begins again as the
Chairman’s leitmotif when Sayuri searches the newspaper for his picture.
1:16:55-1:17:50 - A deep cello melody punctuates Sayuri learning that Hatsumomo
has been spreading lies about her purity. It morphs into a fast paced string melody
as Mameha and Sayuri devise a plan to bring back her reputation.
1:18:55-1:19:20 - High pitched flutes begin the scene of the dance performance,
followed by traditional choral singing with the other dances being performed while
Sayuri prepares for her dance.
1:20:00-1:23:07 - A lone flute punctuates Sayuri’s entrance to the stage for her solo
performance. As her performance reaches its climax, other plucked string
instruments and drums are added in to create a cacophony of sound. Eventually she
collapses as part of the dance and it goes silent, before she rises and finishes the
performance with the percussion punctuating her talent and artistry.
1:25:05-1:26:00 - Harp and violin accompany Sayuri’s journey to see the cherry
tree on the Baron’s estate. Although Mameha has warned her about the Baron’s
intentions, the melody is hopeful sounding as if it echoes Sayuri’s adventurous spirit
and curiosity.
1:26:39-1:27:51 - A flute follows the light-hearted conversation between Sayuri
and the Chairman in the garden.
1:29:00-1:31:15 - An uncomfortable scene where the Baron undresses Sayuri in a
veiled attempt to give her the gift of a valuable kimono. Although the scene is devoid
of music, the lack of music and its stark contrast to the rest of the film makes the
scene more uncomfortable and frightening for the audience to view Sayuri’s
powerless struggle.
1:35:37-1:39:03 - A light string melody begins the scene revealing who won the
bidding war for Sayuri’s mizuage. The mizuage scene unfolds with a lone flute
punctuating the rite of passage with “Dr. Crab’s Prize.”
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