Variations - "Hana-Dan"

VARIATIONS—"HANA-DAN"

— by C. Scott Rider

1. Main Theme Variation #1: Dramatic 2:17

2. Fantasia #1: Tsukushi's Theme 6:00

3. Interlude #1: Anxiety ~ Tension ~ Anger 6:12

4. Fantasia #2: Tsubasa Domioji's Theme 7:25

5. Main Theme Variation #2: Gentle Warmth 2:40

6. Adagio (Love Theme #1) 8:42

7. Interlude #2: Ijime: Dan Dan to Hageshiku 4:07

8. Fantasia #3: Valley of Flowers—Louis's Theme 7:36

9. Adagietto Symphony #5, Mvmt. 4 (Love Theme #2) 10:13

10. Main Theme Variation #3: Cheerful 2:02

HANA YORI DANGO is a shoujo anime about Makino Tsukushi, the daughter of a typical middle-class Japanese family. In an attempt to raise the social stature of their family, Tsukushi's parents send her to a high-class private school. The other students, full of stereotypical snobbishness toward those who live at a standard beneath themselves, treat Tsukushi with contempt; they often work at luring her into situations of embarrassment—or worse.
Against this adversarial background, Tsukushi grows to have a crush on student Hanazawa Louis, a musically talented and soft-spoken boy—but of course things are not that simple. Louis already has a girl, and the "boss" of the school's students, Tsubasa Domioji, takes an interest in Tsukushi. Tsubasa's treatment of her (at least in the early going) is worst of all, but as time goes on Tsukushi begins to feel an attraction toward him as well.
As one might expect in a series about a private school where refinement—at least on the surface—is the norm, the music is tailored to match. Aside from the Fab Four-ish TV opening theme, much of the music is classical. The VARIATIONS—"HANA-DAN" album presents the themes for the principal characters, along with some rather interesting symphonic versions of the opening theme and situation themes.
The three variations of the opening theme are quite pleasant, with a sound much like that of an Erik Satie composition, though the third variation is very Chip Davis (the mind behind Mannheim Steamroller) in essence. They only have one minor drawback: they are too short. The Vaughan Williams-inspired character themes tend to remind listeners of that kind of music heard in a Disney film. Tsubasa's Theme, in particular, evokes visions of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice". Louis's theme, as one might expect, features a solo violinist. The love theme is worthy of note, though it might be more accurately referred to as the rape theme. Those who have seen past the ninth episode of the series will understand. Intentions aside, the theme suggests influences by Pachelbel (famous for that canon the Gallo wine commericials use as BGM). Both love theme compositions are rather long, but if they are played as background music while working at a desk, they go by rather nicely.
For fans of classical music or of the HANA YORI DANGO series, this CD is certainly worth a look.