Connect (Puella Magi Madoka Magica OP)-ClariS

Ever since I uploaded the Madoka Magica Soundtrack Medley in 2014, I've always wanted to arrange the Opening song "Connect" for the piano as well. Probably one of the most iconic songs of the Madoka franchise, this song has been covered in different ways by many pianists on Youtube already. And finally, the time has come for me to create a piano cover as well with my own arrangement style.

My focus for this arrangement is to keep the upbeat rhythm alive and to make use of differentiated voicing for the entire duration. I have been using more "three hand technique" (left hand is playing the main melody, while right hand is playing a secondary pattern) than usual for this arrangement because I wanted to create a more orchestral feeling for this piece.

For the second verse in 1:42 I have created a "duet" voicing again (similar to my earlier upload "History Maker"), where both the left hand and right hand are playing the main melody. I was imagining Homura and Madoka communicating with each other in this moment.

The most difficult part for me to arrange was actually the bridge part starting at 02:47, because there are so many different ways to arrange it and it was difficult for me to decide on one specific pattern. I was experimenting with a lot of different rhythm patterns until I find a good musical balance for this "drummer solo" part.

I was also thinking what to do for the final chorus, the climax of the entire song. Since Madoka is ultimately telling you a story of tragedy, I let the music stop for a moment in 03:47 to give it a moment of silence. The chorus melody is played in the highest register possible to give the listener a feeling of loneliness - and yet, faint hope at the same time.

With that said, I honestly can't believe it's been almost 9 years since Madoka Magica has aired. I still remember I was fanboying really hard about Madoka, because of how unpredictable the story was, and how it defied all the stereotypes of your usual Magical girl genre. Essentially, the "dark magical girl" Anime genre was born in 2011. Mami's missing head memes went viral, lengthy philosophical essays about entropy were written and Kyubey became the embodiment of a evil mascot character. Madoka really changed the landscape of Anime back then.

Alright, with this upload, my Madoka Magica piano arrangements have finally been completed. I have made a piano arrangement for the

Ending song Magia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzmmTlyiMzI

Sis puella Magica https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TuXf_R7sV8

Sagita Luminis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRH6PrmwZjs

a Soundtrack Piano medley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xVyBmkEZX4

and as of today, the Opening song has also been arranged for the piano.

Take care everyone and be safe!

And until next week.

Animenz

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Piano arrangement by Animenz

Original Song: Connect / コネクト

Anime: Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica / Puella Magi Madoka Magica / 魔法少女まどか★マギカ

Published by: SME Records (2011)

Composed by: Sho Watanabe / 渡辺 翔

Performed by: ClariS