The Ape Tribe

As Ashitaka falls off Yakul, an A# minor cluster plays shortly. The wolfs notice this and want to attack Ashitaka, while we hear a little hint of the Wolf Tribe Theme. Meanwhile, San wants to go to Ashitaka to offer help and a short sequence of chords, mostly independent of one another, plays, resulting in a statement of the Princess Mononoke Theme, played by single oboe. She talks about Ashitaka and how he's dying, while we hear the end extension of the Ashitaka Theme. Now, as both people speak in dialogue, the chords of their respective themes kick in. At first, there is the A#m - Aaug progression, associated with the Princess Mononoke Theme, followed by an A#m - C# progression, associated with the Ashitaka Theme. At the last answer of Ashitaka, the beginning phrase of the Ashitaka Theme can be heard by solo flute. The princess, though, wants to kill Ashitaka for saving Eboshi, and when the blade stops just at Ashitaka's throat, a solo harp is playing a sorrowful and tragic version of the Princess Mononoke Theme, but as the theme should come to a close, the A# minor chord is replaced with an A# major chord, slowly hinting at the San Theme, which represents the human side of the princess. This major chord does not last long, though, as Mononoke slowly goes back to disliking Ashitaka. We can see one final shot of Ashitaka, ending on an A#5 chord.

The cue is not over, though, as the ape tribe reveals itself. The music also drastically changes. The Ape Tribe Theme slowly reveals itself, building and building throughout the argument between the parties. With only the chords at the beginning, quickly joined by the melody and, at last, arppegios. Mononoke suddenly mentions the Great Forest Spirit and the music changes into whole tone clusters, low rythmic elements played by the marimba and a D5 drone, associated with nature and the Great Forest Spirit. The cue ends with the Apes calling Mononoke a human, which hurts her deeply, while the Princess Mononoke Theme takes over the thematic situation, yet with other, more sinister chords, Aaug and Gm.