"Unmei no Nagare" is one of my personal favorites from the Hibike! Euphonium soundtrack. Like many other tracks in the OST, it's imbued with a subtle sense of nostalgia and melancholy. Beyond that, its four-part structure tells a complete story: from unchanging daily life, to mustering the courage to take the first step, then the bitter realizations that follow, and finally, the return to a new normal after growth. In just over two minutes, it completes an almost Campbell-esque "hero's journey," which seems uncommon in soundtrack music.
(Due to its varied emotional progression, the piece is often trimmed when used as background music in the first season. It appears in its more complete form usually in complex scenes where emotions slowly build, such as when the two characters climb Mt. Daikichiyama in the first season, and recently in episode 12 of the third season when they meet at the observatory. Additionally, the first appearance of this piece at the end of episode 2 in the first season left a strong impression on me, as it fit perfectly with the story: On the riverbank, Aoi talks to Kumiko about the seemingly calm daily life at school where everyone tries to fit in, often at the cost of not speaking their minds. She then vaguely mentions her own "alibi" before warning Kumiko not to leave any regrets in the fleeting three years. Encouraged by this, Kumiko finally strikes up a conversation with Reina.)
When I started taking piano lessons three months ago, this was the first piece I decided to learn. The reappearance of this piece before the third season finale feels like a nod to my ongoing fascination with it. This version is a further adaptation based on the arrangement Pianonime published on SheetHost (sheet.host/sheet/LEaNXs) eight years ago. Initially, I only wanted to "correct" a few notes that didn't match the original, but I increasingly felt that the string parts were integral to the original's texture. So over two months, as I learned and revised, I tried to incorporate some string voices to approach the richer layering of the original. Despite repeated attempts, there are still aspects of both the arrangement and performance that I'm not satisfied with, but considering my current beginner level, I can say I've done my best. So, like Kumiko, I'll accept this small regret. Sheet music video: • Hibike! Euphonium - 運命...
This is to commemorate the conclusion of Hibike! Euphonium's third season. With gratitude to Kyoto Animation for their work.