Animenz钢琴改编主观Top20评测

主观向聊聊个人最喜欢的20首Animenz动漫钢琴改编。

前言

Animenz (Youtube主页)是近年出名的动漫歌曲改编钢琴家。相对于扎实的演奏水平,他的改编风格更加令人印象深刻,我尤其惊叹于他对于多声部的驾驭能力以及丰富的和谐编排,颇有一种“一个人就是一支乐队”的气势。以下列举出我个人最喜欢的20首Animenz改编作品。

No.20 紅蓮華

出自动漫《鬼灭之刃》。

这首改编里Animenz使用了极为广阔的音域还原了原曲的激情:

Since this is a powerful rock song, I was using more notes in the deeper bass regions than usual, resulting in a massive sound on the piano. There were instances, where I was even using the entire keyboard of the grand piano at the same time. The best example would be the buildup moment before the chorus in 0:54, where both hands are jumping in opposite directions and playing the highest and the deepest notes simultaneously.

此外,2分45秒 ~ 3分15秒的高潮蓄力部分也是这首改编的一大亮点,无论是右手的和弦分解伴奏还是三手技巧的运用都令我听的非常舒适。

No.19 Everyday World

出自动漫《我的青春恋爱物语果然有问题。续》。

这首改编很难用言语具体去描述具体某一篇章的特点或者优点,相比起其他的知名改编里它似乎并没有那么难,也没有某段特别抓耳的旋律,然而总体听完之后却总感觉心底最柔软的部分被击中了 - 似乎有一种爱而不得的忧伤,又似乎有一种经过长途跋涉之后的释然。极致的温柔。

No.18 Avid

出自动漫《86-不存在的战区-》。

这首改编是近年Animenz的创新之作之一。除了招牌的多手技巧与旋律处理,Animenz着重突出了整首改编的“空灵感” - 这种感觉主要来源于Animenz对于踏板的独到理解。Animenz在多个地方仅仅半踩踏板,让延音保持着和谐的同时,缓慢减弱:

Fitting to the lyrics of 「Avid」(“it calls, it calls”), I let the piano “resonate” its sound a bit more than usual by mostly using half pedal during the performance and releasing the sustain pedal very slowly for longer notes. This creates a very interesting “mixed harmonic”, which slowly clears up by itself until only a very few notes remain. It can be heard in 1:47, 4:04, and 5:02.

No.17 Merry-Go-Round of Life

出自动漫《哈尔的移动城堡》。

这首改编充满变奏的惊喜。Animenz在贴合原曲主旋律的前提下,尽可能多地引入了各种曲风进行变奏,并且每一段都相当生动地还原了电影中的一段情节:

0:13 A simple melody describing Howl’s childhood and his humble beginnings.

0:57 Once he has reached Adulthood, he is being faced by the reality of society as a professional wizard. Symbolized by the complicated octaves in the right hand and multiple voicings.

2:06 Finally met Sophie and slowly develops a romance with her. The left hand is playing a different harmonization now, this time in a major key.

2:40 This playful segment represents the various adventures he is having with Sophie and the other characters. Interestingly, it also reminds me of the symphonic poem “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” from Paul Dukas.

3:23 Howl is finally opening his heart to Sophie and showed her the flower garden - his secret hideout from his childhood days. Represented by sorrowful piano notes in the high register.

4:24 Gathering his determination to do the right thing. The “introduction” melody from the very beginning is being cited here again to build up the music.

4:31 Finale and conclusion of his story with a virtuoso octave passage at the end.

此外,改编的点睛之笔在于结尾的最后一个和弦 - Animenz效仿原曲使用了一个开放式和弦收音,然而听起来却不显得突兀或者戛然而止。用他自己的话说,他领会了久石让的寓意,并且也希望哈尔的故事可以一直持续下去:

I have a feeling, Joe Hisaishi created this chord on purpose to let the viewers know, that Howl’s story will still continue - similar to a Merry-Go-Round which continues to spin around.

No.16 光るなら

出自动漫《四月是你的谎言》。

这首改编可以视为Animenz早年改编的一个技术性总结,包含了绝大多数他之后将反复运用的技巧。同时他也尝试加入了适量的原创篇幅,打造了一个接近叙事曲的版本。用他本人的介绍是:

That’s why I started from the scratch again and made a slower, “ballad-version” instead. I took the main motif from the chorus and created many “original passages” - mosty noticeable in the beginning part and the build-up transitions before the chorus.

No.15 One Last Kiss

出自动漫《新世纪福音战士》。

宇多田光的这首名作其实并不容易改编 - 原曲中充满了大量节奏强烈的和弦,倘若改编时只知道一味重音砸琴,会使得听感特别嘈杂。用Animenz的话形容便是:

I also had to arrange the voicing on the piano very carefully in order to distinguish the multiple layers of music, because it can be easily “drown” the music if I add too many notes. Especially the many cross rhythms was quite difficult to play, because you have to be very precise or else the rhythms will fall easily apart.

Animenz最终理解的改编主题是”Echo”:

It is hard to believe, but this song actually consists of only two harmonic progression patterns, which is repeating itself over and over again. If I had to use one word to describe the mood of this song, it would be “Echoes”.

可以说这个理解相当精准,Animenz用并不算非常复杂的和弦编排巧妙营造了循环与回响的氛围,听罢之后仍觉得余音绕梁不绝于耳。此外Animenz高超的左右手分奏能力也极好地凸显了各自的节奏感。

No.14 The Ultimate Price

出自动漫《紫罗兰永恒花园》。

这首改编是相对少见的纯音乐配乐改编,对于旋律的情感表达能力具有更高的要求,而Animenz的改编在表达上完全达到了原曲中弦乐合奏的效果。整首改编整体是一个渐进结构,从1分35秒的再现部开始就开始升华,而直至2分05秒开始彻底进入高潮。Animenz控制主旋律声部缓慢、沉重的同时,加强了其他的声部的流动性用来衬托主旋律的悲壮。此外,高潮部分Animenz设计的伴奏也十分精妙,用刻意重音的低音八度营造沉重感,再用下行琶音营造坠落感 - 由此来体现出原曲译名中“最悲伤的主题”。

值得一提的是,这首改编也是在京都动画纵火案纪念日发布的:

Today is the 18th July and it’s been three years since the 2019 Kyoto Animation Arson Attack. “The Ultimate Price” is one of the most heart-breaking soundtrack in Violet Evergarden and it brings tears in my eyes whenever I am listening to it. It reminds me of the lost souls which can never come back again to this world.

这也让这首改编拥有了更深刻的意义。

No.13 Euterpe

出自动漫《罪恶王冠》。

先聊几句Animenz和《罪恶王冠》的故事 - 整部《罪恶王冠》中诞生了诸多经典配乐,Animenz本人相当喜欢这些曲目,因此倾注了大量心血进行改编,使得《罪恶王冠》的几首改编作品质量都相当之高。

这首改编是Animenz相当早期的作品,因此充满了浓厚的古典演奏技法,Animenz对原曲旋律进行了大量的改编,使得改编版本的情感表达极其强烈,但却又并不违背原曲的主题。此外,从第二段开始Animenz引入了演奏技巧,例如三手技巧、大量高速的和弦拆解跑动、三连音八度等等,Animenz认为这些技巧的尝试为他之后几年的其他改编提供了许多灵感:

It is also the first arrangements where I am utilizing the three-hand-technique (starting in 2:32): the left hand is playing the melody and the bass, while the right hand is playing an accompaniment.

Thinking back, it’s one of the prototypes for my future “orchestral” arrangement style and an important personal milestone.

No.12 Only my Raingun

出自动漫《某科学的超电磁炮》。

这首改编可以说是Animenz的“开山之作”:

Only my Railgun was actually the first arrangement I have ever created, in November 2009 to be exact. I was running an Anime blog, writing anime reviews and sharing my anime piano arrangements, before I decided to create my own YouTube channel 2 months later in January 2010.

尽管因为欠缺演奏技法和改编经验,初版的效果不佳并被Animenz视为失败作品,但在之后的六七年中Animenz也因此有了动力精益求精,终于在2016年他完成了目前为世人所知的这个版本的改编。整首改编对于原曲旋律的还原度相当之高,同时也解决了Animenz在六七年前最困扰的多手演奏问题。借鉴动漫里的设定,这首改编对我而言就像”Level Upper”一样,总能在心情低沉时点亮我的情绪。

No.11 aLIEz

出自动漫《Aldnoah.Zero》。

“核爆神曲”一直以曲风激昂,节奏感强烈闻名,而这对钢琴改编是一个极大挑战。Animenz在改编中提供了一个思路:让左手与右手独立开来,以重复、低沉、快速、规律的左手伴奏模拟原曲中强节奏感的鼓声。尽管左右手的节奏相对独立,但Animenz并没有让多声部顾此失彼,而是通过切分音等技巧,既维持了很强的节奏感,又能时刻突出当前篇章中的主旋律。

这首改编最打动我的地方在于2分54秒开始的右手八度主旋律,几乎总能令我产生鸡皮疙瘩。相较于原曲,Animenz将这段右手的旋律提高了八度,效果却异常地出众 - 在高音之下是持久的,濒临绝望却又坚持不能倒下的壮烈感。

No.10 スパークル

出自动漫《你的名字》。

要理解这首改编必须对《你的名字》这部电影需要有一定的了解。在电影中这首曲子出现于高潮时刻(彗星坠落至地球),因此改编的版本需要有一定的故事性,和电影中这一段的人物情节对应上。Animenz对此的理解是“Connected”:

Since the central topic of the movie was “being connected to each other”, I tried to represent it in the music as well. If you listen closely, you will notice that there are many times, where the “voices” of Taki and Mitsuha are collaborating with each other.

由此便能感受到Animenz编曲的精妙之处了。无论是左右手交替主旋律对应男女主角彼此的呼唤,亦或是原创的长篇幅情感积蓄后的迸发,都令人听后欲罢不能。

No.9 Ninelie

出自动漫《甲铁城的卡巴内利》。

这首改编和原曲风格迥异,却出人意料地抓耳,并且充满了惊喜。原曲中”F#3 C#4 F#4 B3 F#3 B3 C#4 E4”的固定音型(Ostinato)被恰到好处地通过多声部 + 左右手交替主旋律复刻进了改编;而第一次进入副歌时的高八度轻处理比起原曲更增添了一种空灵的奇幻感;结尾部分主旋律再次回归左手的同时,右手转变为了高速的跑动,这一部分双手演绎出了截然不同的风格 - 左手厚重的同时右手轻巧灵动,最后还能完美归一,真有种“尘归尘,土归土”之后的六根清净。

No.8 βios

出自动漫《罪恶王冠》。

βios原曲自从当年动漫问世之后就一直以“拔剑神曲”著称,而Animenz的改编完全还原了原曲的风味。在2012年的初版改编中,Animenz就已经完美还原了原曲的激昂摇滚元素;而在2021年的再版改编中,Animenz在初版基础上添加了更多的声部演绎,让整首改编的情感更加丰富饱满,甚至隐隐有一种“悲从中来不可断绝”的感觉。

值得一提的是,初版改编的调号基于的是原曲的c小调,而再版改编的调号则更换为了升f小调,以此和泽野弘之在《罪恶王冠》十周年纪念时发布的升f小调版本同步。(十分有趣的是,Animenz承认这个调号改变让他更容易在KTV演唱这首歌曲。。)本已十分熟悉c小调版本的我在听到升f小调新版时的确有一种耳目一新的感觉。

回到改编本身,Animenz的再版改编相较于初版大幅增加了长度,拥有了长达2分多钟的引子和接近1分钟的后记,结构上更加完整。此外在初版旋律再现的部分中,Animenz用这些年更加精进的多手演奏技巧去贴近原曲的旋律:

Compared to my old “Bios” arrangement from 2012, I realized that my tendency to use three-hand techniques has exponentially risen with every year. With other words, this “Bios” remake is a true paradise for all three-hand technique lovers and I tried to replicate the background instruments of the original song as much as I can. They are most noticeable in the guitar solo in 2:48 and in the chorus 3:55.

The most difficult part to arrange was definitely the double voice climax in 4:34. Technically, it’s even a 4-hand technique, because the right hand is playing the main melody and an ornamental figure while the left hand is playing the sub melody and the bass.

No.7 Sincerely

出自动漫《紫罗兰永恒花园》。

Animenz的这版改编娓娓动人,非常契合《紫罗兰永恒花园》细腻、温柔的情感主题。Animenz在这首改编中引入了大量多声部设计,并且精心设计了数段长时间的伴奏修饰音阶,保证节奏的流动性的同时也能更好地和动漫中的主角薇尔莉特故事呼应 - 不同的声部构造而成的主旋律,更能描绘出薇尔莉特这一段悲喜交加、充满起伏的情感旅程。

同时这首改编发布于京都动画纵火案一周年,因此Animenz无缝衔接了一个长达三分钟原创篇章表达了对京阿尼罹难员工的悼念。这段原创可谓画龙点睛之笔,既在旋律上契合了前五分钟的Sincerely原曲,又仿佛讲述了一个京阿尼浴火重生的故事。用Animenz本人的话来总结便是:

Initially, the music would have ended here, but I wanted to include a more positive message in my tribute. I believe there is still hope and that KyoAni will return one day. The right hand plays the main theme A-C-G-A again but this time it’s a little bit hidden within the chords. The violin tremolo is returning as well and the music is swelling up until it finally unleashes a bright and optimistic F-Major chord. It symbolizes the rebirth of KyoAni, where it slowly rises from the ashes, only to shine brighter, than it ever has.

No.6 君の知らない物語

出自动漫《化物语》。

一直以来Animenz对于Ryo就极为推崇。《君の知らない物語》作为Ryo的经典编曲作品之一,Animenz毫不吝啬对其的赞赏:

Did I also mention that Supercell is one of my favorite J-pop bands of all time? Ryo is seriously amazing for composing all these timeless melodies. I think I have listened to this piece more than a hundred times already, and I still get goosebumps while listening the chorus.

而这首改编也开创了Animenz“交响式编曲”的先河,相比起早期改编作品中更加注重古典式演奏技巧,Animenz开始更多地侧重改编的旋律性,用更多的声部、更丰富的和弦设计、更连贯的篇章来体现音乐的“流动性”(natural flow of music)。这个改编思路对于《君の知らない物語》相当契合,Animenz几乎做到了对原曲的极致还原,每一次我聆听的时候都能感受到旋律的细腻,以及琴声之后充满欢笑又带有遗憾的青春回忆。

No.5 The Everlasting Guilty Crown

出自动漫《罪恶王冠》。

这首改编的最大特点就是几乎完美地还原了原曲背景声部一直循环的Ostinato - Animenz甚至将这段反复出现的音型先后塞进了三个声部。除此之外,从4分55秒开始至结尾的华彩部分融合了诸多技巧,用Animenz本人的描述是:

In this short moment, I was reflecting all the past arrangements I have created, all the struggles I had to go through in order to continue and my constant obsession with perfectionism. So I utilized everything I could think of to make the final chorus count, be it three hand technique, fast right hand runs, or multiple voicing.

初次听完这段华彩部分的我真的有一种想从椅子上坐起的冲动,我知道这段旋律在我脑海中也将成为”everlasting”了!

No.4 Unravel

出自动漫《东京食尸鬼》。

这首改编可以说是Animenz最为人们熟知的一首改编,截止2024年中,Youtube上已有接近1亿次播放。作为Animenz的代表作,整首改编基本融合了他能想到的所有高难度演奏技巧,并且以极高的还原度复刻了原曲狂放的旋律,听罢令人酣畅淋漓。

我个人也曾花费相当长的时间练习这首改编,但惭愧的是至今也只能演奏出简化版本。全曲最大难点当属贯穿左手部分的和弦分解伴奏,需要在高速跑动的同时兼顾跨越数个音域的准度;其次就是右手部分的各种主旋律变奏,尤其是需要依靠无名指/小拇指强调高音的部分,十分考验四五指的基本功,甚至是多声部的理解驾驭能力。除此之外,遍布整首改编的各种修饰音、颤音、同音换指等高阶技巧中任意一项都需要演奏者具有极深的演奏基本功。

有趣的是,Animenz本人似乎也在日后回顾这首改编时觉得应该降低一些难度:

In hindsight, if I would arrange this song again, I would use my gained experience from the past five years to make it less frustrating to play, but without losing its musical quality.

No.3 グランドエスケープ

出自动漫《天气之子》。

进入排行榜前三名的改编在我心中都达到了一个新的境界 - 超越了原曲。原曲本身已经十分精彩,然而Animenz的改编却给予了我原曲之外全新的聆听感受。

这首改编几乎始终维持在三或四声部,并大量运用到了换手演奏等技巧,可以看出经过多年历练后,Animenz对于多声部的理解和掌控能力已至化境。与之对应的自然就是演奏难度的大幅提高 - 演奏者必须有极强的左右手分奏能力和协调能力。

然而真正让我觉得这首改编超越原曲的地方在于最后一分钟,可以说在此之前的三分半是一个大型铺垫,一切都是为了最后一分钟的情感迸发做足准备。对应《天气之子》的剧情而言,原曲这一段配乐发生在剧情高潮之时(男女主角逃离天空祭坛,降落回地面重获自由);而Animenz的改编用极为高超的编曲将这一段画面生动描绘出来了。用他本人的介绍是:

The climax in 3:42 I really wanted to include that cheerful hand clapping from the original music into the piano, so I used the three hand technique again to let the right hand play the CLAP CLAP CLAP. This is one of the few times, where the left hand is literally going all out and play the most glorious forte fortissimo ever!

诚如其所言,改编的高潮部分充满生机、梦幻,既有重获自由的喜悦,又有对未来生活的向往。此刻我的脑海里只剩下天野阳菜那句经典台词“ねぇ、今から晴れるよ!”,这种雨过天晴的幸福不是通过祈求上天得来的,而是自己拼命换来的,唯有这种幸福才是人类最宝贵的力量。

No.2 カワキヲアメク

出自动漫《家有女友》。

我在初次听罢这首改编之后惊叹到失语,同时我也庆幸借着这首改编认识了美波这一位才华横溢的歌手。美波的原曲演绎几乎已经是完美的了,她歇斯底里、悲怒交杂的招牌唱腔让这首歌极具感染力,而Animenz不仅将这种感染力带到了钢琴上,甚至还在此基础上进一步丰富了旋律编排,令我真正领会到了“钢琴的怒吼”。

Animenz本人将这首改编视为Unravel的“精神续作”:

It’s hard to explain, but this song feels like a “lost twin” of another song: “unravel” from “Tokyo Ghoul”. The similar chorus melody, the similar chord progression, the similar song structure with the “soft” part at the beginning - the similarities are astonishing.

Before I started to arrange this song, I actually practiced many of my old piano arrangements again in order to re-learn my “old arrangement style” (which focuses a lot on piano technique). And similar to my “unravel” piano arrangement, I am also utilizing many notes from the high register of the piano to create a cold - and lonely - atmosphere. I am pretty sure you can hear many similar sections between these two arrangements.

我个人则认为这首改编的难度甚至在Unravel之上,因为它不仅继承了Unravel之中的诸多难点,对于多声部演绎的要求也要高出不少。Animenz花了接近其他曲子三倍的时间来改编这部作品,然而这样呕心沥血的改编并不是单纯炫技,正如前文所提他希望用这种方式真正让钢琴“怒吼”起来,以此让观众更好共鸣。他也确实做到了,这首改编是我心目中最为接近“一个人就是一支乐队”的典范。

No.1 My Dearest

出自动漫《罪恶王冠》。

这首改编无论对于Animenz还是我本人都有极为深刻的意义。

对于Animenz而言,他先后为My Dearest出过两个版本的改编,初版是其早期的经典代表作,用Animenz自己的话形容是“my most ambitious fusion between the world of classic and pop”;而再版则特意选择了YouTube首次投稿十周年纪念日当天发布,在保留了初版的绝大部分风味的情况下润色了部分旋律编排和修饰音处理。两首改编基本可以视为一脉相承的一个整体,Animenz也希望借此传达自己不忘初心的想法,以及对所有人的致谢:

With the 10th anniversary around the corner, I knew exactly which song I would upload: “My Dearest” - the OP song of Guilty Crown. Because back in 2013, when I was having a dark time period in my life, this was the piece that showed me the possible future of Anime piano. It was an experiment, a prototype for a new type of music: By combining classical music elements with Japanese anime music, I have managed to create something new on my own.

Without this piece, “Animenz” wouldn’t be what it is today.

而对于我个人而言,这首改编的意义就更特殊了。一方面,这是我接触的第一首动漫歌曲改编,彼时我对整个二次元领域所知甚少,对钢琴曲的理解更是几乎全部局限在古典乐和少数近现代流行乐上,这首改编完全为我打开了新世界的大门。另一方面,如歌名My Dearest所指,这首曲子是献给至爱之人的,因此我也曾在某年的跨年夜向彼时远隔重洋的至爱演奏了这首曲子。即便现在想来演奏效果可能并不会太好,也不知道心意传达了几分,然而这样的经历却让这首曲子在我心中留下了极深的烙印。每次练琴时,我都会尽可能用最认真的一次状态演奏一遍My Dearest,甚至我自己尝试一些编曲作品的时候也会情不自禁地联想到My Dearest。用哈利波特中的那句经典台词来形容这首改编再合适不过了:”After all this time?” “Always.”

回到这首改编本身,我至今仍认为这是Animenz编曲的巅峰,将原曲中原本相对激昂的摇滚元素完美转变为了细腻、婉转的叙事曲风格。尽管从演奏难度而言它并不一定是最难的,但它有着无与伦比的旋律美感。即便听了多年之后,每次重新播放之时我仍然像第一次听到时被打动。我尤其倾醉于这首改编中的和弦拆解 - 我第一次领会到这种近似练习曲的演奏技法能带来这样优美的旋律,这在之后很多年内都影响了我的音乐观。

感谢Animenz能为世人奉献这样精彩的作品。