Talk With Jigo

We start this cue with a little A#m - D# chord vamp in staccato woodwind suggesting the harmonic material we will get with the new character this cue will introduce. As we can see the crowd gathering around Ashitaka, little hints of the Ashitaka Theme can be heard. As the new character Jigo approaches the crowd, the Jigo Theme slowly comes together with its dorian harmonies. Jigo discusses the value of the lump of gold with the woman and the Jigo Theme lurks around in chromatic fashion. As Jigo gets the attention of the crowd, the Jigo Theme plays in full for the first time.

As Ashitaka leaves the setting and Jigo follows him, the score plays a soft and smooth rendition of Ashitaka's Theme. This statement is followed up by the B phrase of Ashitaka's Theme in a similar orchestration. However, the B Phrase quickly sounds very ominous as they recognize that they are being followed. As they run off into the wild, a big G#m6 chord mysteriously plays, forshadowing Jigo's eventual betrayal and alliance with the woman of Irontown, Lady Eboshi.

As Ashitaka and Jigo sit around a campfire, Jigo explains how a landslide destroyed a lovely village and Jigo's Theme plays. As he explains his philosophy and his worldview, an independent melody emerges. It has no thematic connection and will never come back throughout the entire score. Then, Jigo asks Ashitaka if he knows the Emishi people and the Emishi Tribe Theme plays somberly in the background, signalising their tragedy. However, the Emishi Tribe Theme quickly merges with Jigo's Theme, as he goes on about the tribe in more of a comedic fashion. But as Ashitaka asks Jigo about the ball inside of Nago, the score quickly brings up the unnerving and haunting Eboshi Chords (A#m - G#m6). The chord progression also lingers on their conversation quite a bit of time.

Eventually, Jigo reveals to Ashitaka the place of the great forest spirit. This is the first time we hear the music of this enchanting forest. This music also is almost entierly made up of whole tone scales to evoke a sense of wonder. We can hear three significant musical fragments in this scene. First, the high violin chords, which made their first appearance way back in Opening & Demon Approaches. Then, we can hear the signature Kodama Theme played with a mandolin, the signature instrument of the Kodama forest. This is the first time in the score that the theme itself was used, however the mandolin was used before, also in Opening & Demon Approaches. And the last element is a little hint of The Great Forest Spirit Theme, played with the signature instrument for the theme, the Synth Harp. Also, the Synth Harp playes many whole tone scales throughout the scene as a kind of musical decoration.

And as Ashitaka reflects on this situation, the Ashitaka Theme plays in an emotional orchestration, ending the cue.