In the CDJapan interview for Beyond the Gate, he briefly mentioned that he couldn't write music. At that time I thought that it might have been just sloppily translated because I also thought he went to a music university, but I don't know... My first instinct was that he was possibly lying about if for his image (to seem like more a free spirit or something? I don't know), but he really doesn't sound like he's just making it up in this interview. There are two possibilities:Wait... I thought Mana went to a music university... Was this false? Because at a music university, he would have learned things like reading music and music theory and the like... o_O
1. People who say he went to a music university are full of bull.
2. He could have still gone to a music university... Just because he attended one doesn't mean he passed
I felt the same way! The principle thing that drew me to his music is how expertly his counterpoint is written and how he seems to be extremely experienced with music theory. It isn’t too shocking, though. Music comes naturally to everyone, even the complex theories, I guess.I'm very interested to hear that Mana doesn't know music theory or chord progressions, because MdM's songs always struck me as tightly composed and quite 'theoretical' songs to listen to! (Well, I am completely wrong!)
I like very much what he has to say about the harpsichord. He's described its sound perfectly. I never thought I'd find a modern musician that would even consider touching the instrument; much less have similar feelings about it as I do.
I wasn't aware of any orchestra being a part of Bara no Seido. I thought the strings were synthesized (except for the support violin)? They sound like it, anyway.