The culture of writing letters to one another is now an outdated method of communication, and frankly there are close to none who use personal letters as a form of transmission. However, even now in a world where telephones, emails, and real-time communication via the internet are possible, letters remains a method of communication that somehow hold a special and sentimental meaning.
The rigorous work of reading the written sentences word-by-word with your eyes while imagining the person who wrote them as well as the environment surrounding it may seem old-fashioned and meaningless, but there is something about it that resonates within all of us, which is why it is still loved today. Violet Evergarden is a work that can be said to be the pinnacle of anime based on the theme of "letters from the heart."
This story is about a girl who was raised to be a weapon for war, but graudually matures by learning the power of love through letters. The soundtracks used are perfect for this anime. Of course, the animated work itself is extremely well-made to begin with, but the quality of audio is also surprisingly excellent. Based on the theme, "A world recovering toward peace", the orchestra uses a wide variety of instruments and choruses that will make you want to hear it in a live concert hall. The piece effectively uses environmental sounds (the skillful use of the typewriter sound in the main theme is a must-listen) to express "The growth of a flower gradually blooming and unfolding." The sheer beauty of the symphony is something that cannot be easily expressed in words alone.
Even though the story is set in a fictional world, the music leaves you with a sense of nostalgia after listening to it, which I personally feel is similar to the orchestral version of the soundtracks from Dragon Quest III.
Why this resonates so much, my eyes get teary
There is no doubt the solemn atmosphere, somewhat reminiscent of medieval to modern Europe, is due to the power of the sounds produced by each instrument and the music itself. But I have no idea why I, who was born in the modern era and has never left Japan, feel nostalgic about it. I can't help but say, "That's just how I feel." There is no scientific basis for why people perceive major chords as bright and minor chords as dark, thus I think that the reason I feel such nostalgia from the Violet Evergarden soundtrack is because I feel immersed and coupled with the breathtaking beauty of the visuals.
Through letters, the protagonist Violet learns about the horrors of war, how to interact with people in society, and various types of love such as familial and sibling love. The film is so wonderfully produced with the beautiful symphonies that seem to express and fill Violet's inexpressible feelings with sound. The sad tones, which allow you to empathize so strongly with each scene, make you feel heartbroken and overwhelmed or moved to tears. The song I personally would particularly recommend is "Never coming back". The chorus is very beautiful, and just as the title suggests, it is used in a scene where one is thinking about never returning.
The sad yet beautiful melody played on the harp is layered with piano and violin, and it reminds me not only of the world of animation, but also of the early days of my life, when I was still living happily with my parents with no hardships. (Perhaps it's because the Celtic-style melody is somewhat similar to the background music "Distant Home" from Final Fantasy 5 that I played as a child). It's amazing how such memory-stirring music can play out in a well-written and beautifully visualized piece of art. I'd love for you to listen to it along with the anime.
From the Violet Evergarden official website
