Probably the biggest Blog Update ever

Hello everyone!

It’s been while since my last update, I apologize, but don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten my blog. I was just a bit lazy in the last few weeks, and updating my activity status on my facebook page was a lot less work, than creating new posts here on wordpress.

A lot of thing has happened in january, so let’s start chronologically with my first Transcriptions for the winter anime season 2013 so far,  AKB0048‘s insert song Niji no Ressha (Rainbow Train)

Chieri X Nagisa are my OTP

Prominently featured in the first episode of the second season of AKB0048, (dat concert scene) this is still one of my favorite series of this winter season so far. I think I went a littlbe bit overboard with the difficulty of this transcription, (especially the last run of the right hand) but I simply wanted to express the high spirit of the original song.

My second sheet is AKB0048 again (because there is still not enough love for AKB0048, seriously, why is this series so unbeknownst among anime fans) featuring the new ending of the second season: Kono Namida wo Kimi ni Sasagu (I dedicated this to you, my tears)

And surprise! It’s my first collaboration video with none other than TehIshter!

It was a lot of fun to record the piano duet, even the creation of the sheet went very smoothly, despite being my first time scoring a piano duet. In fact, this sheet was written by both of us, me and Tehishter. He scored the draft, while I finished the rest. The sync is not 100% yet, but there will always be room to improve. On our next collab maybe, you will never know. Well anyway, it was really fun, and I want to thank TehIshter again, for realizing the duet, we both have dreamed of. Also, many many thanks to Castlevaniapro, who mastered the audio track for us. Check out his blog too, he is doing really awesome anime remix tracks!

Following next is the transcription of my favoriteEnding song of this winter season 2013 so far: Kibou no Hana (Flower of hope) from the anime Koutora-san

DAT ending ;___;

A hauntingly beautiful ED song I instantly fell in love with. Naturally, this is a must-do in my transcribing list. I kept the sheet difficulty rather simple, to express the calm atmosphere of the song. However, there are some parts of the sheet (in bar 12 for example),  where you have to play a 10th span chord. You can simply play an octave instead.

The fourth and most important of the transcription is my Angel Beats! Opening Transcription: My Soul, Your Beats.

everyone loves kanade ;_;

Before you go and listen to this, let me tell you a little story behind the creation of this sheet:

Only a few of you may remember, but three years ago, when Angel Beats! was airing, I wanted to transcribe the Opening at any cost, because the music was practically MADE to be played on the piano. But I tried and struggled with the sheet for a week, and ultimatiely, I dropped the sheet.
I failed miserably because I couldn’t met everyone’s huge expectation. I wanted to made the most epic piano transcription ever, but back then I was lacking ideas and almost went insane due to the pressure.
So instead, I made the sheet Brave song and I sweared to never touch a finger on the sheet My Soul, your Beats! again.
The original sheet remained unfinished at 40 % progress until today.

Now.. three years (and several transcriptions) later, I’ve gained enough confidence to transcribe it again, not only because I have more experience with sheet arrangements by now, but I also wanted to redeem my past failure.
While arranging this, I remembered the hard days back then when I couldn’t make any progress for days, and therefore I’ve put all my heart and soul in this transcription, trying to express all those frustration and sorrowful moments back then. This is especially audible in the last third of the transcription, where I included an excerpt of Ichiban no Takaramono (My most Precious Treasure).

This sheet is dedicated for all those people, who have waited years for my arrangement of the Angel Beats! Opening, and their patience should be rewarded with a full version special transcription.

Well then, that would be my status update for the year 2013 so far, and in a few days or so, I’ll announce something really really special. Stay tuned!

Me on the left

Animenz

A lame excuse why I haven’t been updating my blog lately (filler post)

Yeah, I know, I said there will be more updates for the summer season and I still haven’t uploaded a sheet yet.

AND

there is a reason for that:

I finally found it.

After all these years.

My new all-time favorite anime.

Ladies and gentleman: Let me present you, AKB0048, the first anime since years who made it into my top 5 anime list!!!

Welcome, AKB0048, to my personal “Hall of fame”

Now, many of you will probably ask yourself: “What, AKB0048? Never heard of it, and besides, it’s not even popular”

Yeah, I know. I was also very sceptical about AKB0048, which purpose is basically promoting the real life idol group AKB48.

I mean, the basic setting is: entertainment is entirely forbidden in the whole galaxy and some space idols are going to give guerilla concerts on the planets and fight the no-fun-allowed-police with some silly mechs and micsabers? (yes, you heard it right, micsabers). Seriously?

Yes, of course, and it’s fun!

I cannot say enough good things about AKB0048, because it was just that good.

I never have fanboy’d that hard for a series before. I rewatched every episode at least twice, I have collected every fanart available on the internet about AKB0048, I have told everyone of my (otaku) friends, they should watch AKB0048.

AKB0048 was the biggest surprise of the spring anime season 2012, maybe the biggest surprise of the year. My expectation was initially extremely low, but what I got in the end was by far the most exciting, awesome, dramatic and entertaining anime I have watched – for years.

Takamina is my favorite character btw.

Is this because of the awesome characters? The awesome insert songs? The awesome background arts? The awesome concert scenes? The awesome soundtrack?

Hell, it even converted me to a AKB48 fan, despite the fact, that I have nothing to do with the idol business in japan before. I have downloaded every single of them now, and I even watch those silly AKBingo videos – and I am enjoying every minute of it.

I watched AKB0048 together with Castlevaniapro93, and he even made an awesome fan musicvideo.

I still can’t believe how much I liked this series in the end. Even I can’t fully explain why AKB0048 was so enjoyable, so much fun to watch.

I cannot put into words what I experienced.

But one thing I’m for sure about.

AKB0048 is a masterpiece.

And I will never forget the fun I had while watching AKB0048.

Thank you Kawamori and Satelight for delivering this epic Space Opera Action series!

Because this is a show, I will remember (and cherish) for years.

And the best thing of all is:

SECOND SEASON IS ANNOUNCED FOR 2013!!!1111

FUCK YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

Fuck, 2013 can’t come soon enough.

Oh yeah, since AKB0048 last episode aired a few days ago, I can finally concentrate on making some sheets again. So expect an update in the weekend.

See you in 2013 again!

So why the hell are you even reading this now, when you should have been watching the first episode of AKB0048 already?

Seriously, go and watch AKB0048. You don’t know how much fun you are missing out, if you neglect this awesome series. Go and watch it – NOW ^_^

Animenz

More Love for AKB0048 (AKB0048 Soundtrack – Kanashimi no ato ni)

Takamina ;_;

Whoa, three transcriptions in a row about one anime series?

This can only mean one thing: I love the series.

Once again, the goal of this transcription is to convince more people to watch AKB0048, because it keeps getting better and better every week. Seriously, it’s really unexpectedly good and definitely going to be one of my favorite shows this year.

Also, it’s a special kind of transcription, because it’s not an OP or ED, but a Soundtrack.

Especially one particular piece got stuck in my head and I couldn’t forget about it.

I occurs in the episode 7, in [20:00] to be precisely. (the scene where Takamina arrived in the kirara cave of succesion)

According to the official OST, the title of the track (no. 20) is Kanashimi no ato ni (formerly known as Takaminas theme).

Summer anime is going to start soon, but I am really glad I picked up AKB0048, because it’s the real surprise hit of the spring season 2012.

-= Download the sheet and midi file here =-

[Kanashimi no ato ni]         (difficulty: challenging)

Special update: Guest transcription by Castlevaniapro93 (AKB0048 ED – Yume wa Nandomo Umarekawaru)

Oh well, since I’ve uploaded the AKB0048 Opening, I might upload the piano cover of the ending as well. But this time, the sheet is not done by me, it’s done by Castlevaniapro93.

Here is the link to his website: http://www.castlevaniapro93.webs.com/

He have contacted me via e-mail some months ago and after countless skype chat’s I’ve found out he is also watching the most current anime shows, he ALSO makes anime music sheets for the piano, he ALSO have very high demands to himself in order to deliver the highest quality piano sheets possible – AND he is also german. Awesome.

I’ve only made some minor edits (since he is also using Sibelius as notation software, I could edit the sheet very quickly) because some of the passages are too hard/impossible to play. Nevertheless: I really appreciate his effort for making those amazing sheets.

-= Download the sheet and the midi here =-

[Yume wa Nandomo Umarekawaru]        (difficulty: average)

Also, thank you, for voting whether I should use the e-piano or the grand piano – and you have decided!

It was a close decision, but eventually, more people prefered the grand piano (with inferior recording device) over the E-piano.

One day I’ll get a better mic…. maybe through donations…?

… well, only time could tell.

Alright, see you in two weeks again, where the summer anime season will finally begin!

Animenz

Just testing out something (AKB0048 Opening – Kibou ni Tsuite)

Hello everyone!

No, it’s not summer season 2012 yet, but I wanted to test out something.

I basically want you readers to decide which audio recording you prefer:

Pic related, the ZOOM H2 recorder

A) The (subpar) recording from my ZOOM H2 recorder when I play the grand piano, since I can’t afford any better microphone because I don’t have the money or

This is the one I own btw

B) a digital recording from my Kawai CA 63, where you can finally hear the bass clearly.

Initially I wanted to play a piano piece from Chopin to let you decide which one is better, but then I changed my mind and transcribed the OP of AKB0048 instead.

Why? Because AKB0048 has ascended to my third-favorite show of the season. I expected some boring idol show with a huge uninspired cast but instead we got the NO FUN POLICE, idols battles in space, post-traumatic-stress-disorder-suffering, a MECHA-ITASHA, plenty of good soundtracks – and fantastic backgrounds.

I love the details in background, awesome man, awesome.

So here it is: the transcription of AKB0048‘s Opening – Kibou ni Tsuite.

It’s a really catchy song and I often sing along when the OP starts.

-= Download the sheet and the midi file here =-

[Kibou ni Tsuite]     (difficulty: average)

Now, it’s up to you to decide, which recording you prefer: the grand piano one or the digital one. Vote here: