The Complete Anatomy of "Asience": Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Asience" is a fantastic piece
Have you ever wondered what makes Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Asience" a timeless masterpiece? It's a perfect storm of harmony, structure, and subtle aesthetic choices. In this complete deep-dive analysis, we deconstruct every layer of the piece to reveal the genius behind the beauty.
Overall Aesthetic & Mood
1. Harmony
Impressionistic Harmony: Sakamoto avoids the strong, directional pull of traditional Western harmony (e.g., the dominant V chord resolving to the tonic I chord). Instead, he uses non-functional harmony, where chords are chosen for their individual sound and color, like dabs of paint on a canvas. The chords flow into one another smoothly without creating tension that demands resolution. Chord Vocabulary: The piece is built on a foundation of lush, extended chords. You will rarely hear a simple major or minor triad. Instead, Sakamoto uses: Major 7th chords (e.g., Cmaj7): These sound gentle, dreamy, and contemplative. Minor 7th chords (e.g., Am7): Softer and more pensive than a standard minor chord. Added 9th chords (e.g., Cadd9): Adds a layer of brightness and openness. Suspended chords (e.g., Gsus4): These "floating" chords create a sense of gentle anticipation without creating harsh tension. They feel unresolved but in a peaceful way.
2. Chord Progression
Stepwise Bass Movement: Notice the bassline in the first line: C -> B -> A -> G. This descending stepwise motion is incredibly gentle and pleasing to the ear. It guides the listener smoothly through the progression. The second line does something similar: F -> E -> D -> G. Diatonic Movement: All of these chords are built from the notes of the C Major scale (they are diatonic). This creates a sense of unity and coherence. Avoidance of Strong Cadences: The progression ends on a Gsus4 - G movement. While this is a V-I function in its most basic form, the preparation with Dm7 and the use of Gsus4 softens the resolution significantly. It feels less like a definitive "end" and more like a brief, restful pause before the cycle begins again.
3. Scale
Major Scale (Diatonic): The fundamental building block for both the melody and harmony is the Major Scale (the piece is often performed in C Major or Db Major). All the primary notes belong to this scale. Influence of Modes: While it uses the notes of the major scale, the way the chords are arranged gives it a modal feel. The emphasis on chords like Fmaj7 and Dm7 can evoke the feeling of the Lydian and Dorian modes, respectively. This prevents the piece from sounding like a simple, "happy" C Major song and contributes to its more complex and sophisticated emotional landscape. Pentatonic Feel: The melody often has a simple, elegant contour that feels related to the Pentatonic Scale. This scale is a hallmark of East Asian music, and its use (or influence) subtly connects the music to the "Asian" aspect of the "Asience" brand name.
4. Melody Line
Simplicity and Space: The melody is not flashy or virtuosic. It consists of long, held notes and simple, singable phrases. Sakamoto masterfully uses space (rests) between phrases, allowing the melody to "breathe." This is a key element of Japanese aesthetics, known as Ma (間), where the empty space is as important as the sound. Contour: The melodic phrases often have a gentle, arch-like shape. They rise slowly and then fall back, creating a very natural and calming effect. Relationship to Harmony: The melody notes are almost always core components of the underlying chords (the root, 3rd, 5th, or 7th). For example, when the chord is Cmaj7 (notes C-E-G-B), the melody might linger on E, G, or the beautifully expressive B. This tight integration ensures the melody never clashes with the harmony and instead feels like its natural, soaring extension.
5. Interval of Note (in the Melody)
Stepwise Motion: The melody predominantly moves by step (intervals of a Major or Minor 2nd). This creates a smooth, connected, and vocal-like line. Consonant Leaps: When the melody does leap, it's almost always by a stable, consonant interval like a Perfect 4th or Perfect 5th. These leaps provide a gentle lift without creating tension. Expressive Leaps to Extensions: The most emotionally resonant moments often involve a leap to a chord extension, like the Major 7th or the Major 6th. A leap up to the 7th of a Major 7th chord is what gives the piece much of its signature "yearning" but peaceful quality.
More to Consider (Going Beyond the List)
Instrumentation and Timbre: The primary instrumentation is an acoustic piano and a lush string orchestra. The piano has a soft, delicate touch, often making use of the soft pedal. The strings provide a warm, sustained pad of sound that the piano melody floats on top of. There are also subtle synthesizer pads underneath, adding to the ambient, atmospheric quality. The choice of these timbres is essential for the song's gentle character. Rhythm and Tempo: The piece is played at a very slow tempo (Adagio/Largo). Critically, the piano is often played with rubato, an expressive technique where the performer slightly speeds up and slows down, breaking from a strict tempo. This makes the performance feel human, intimate, and deeply emotional. Structure: The piece follows a simple, song-like structure, typically an A-B-A' form. A Section: The main, unforgettable theme. B Section: A contrasting bridge or development section with a different chord progression and melodic idea. A' Section: A return to the main theme, often with richer orchestration (e.g., more prominent strings) for a climactic but still gentle finish.
Summary
Lush, colorful harmony that prioritizes mood over function. Smooth, logical chord progressions with stepwise bass movement. A simple, lyrical, and spacious melody that is perfectly integrated with the harmony. A soft, warm timbre from the piano and strings.
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