I chose Chopin: Ballade No. 1 in G minor Op. 23 (The covered version that featured in the anime “Your Lie In April” because I like the duality of the personalities between the Piano and the Violin. The Piano having this elegant but chaotic sound, representing to me the more mature side of my mind that thinks logical. The way the piano goes from soft and slow to fast and chaotic, almost as if theirs a conflict in the song. When the violin begins to start at 4:34, the song transforms into a sort of love story as the piano and violin merge into one sound. The violin, representing to me the more creative and child-like side of me, bringing me a sense of peace and balance within my own self. Even as the piano begins to speed up, the violin meets with it and starts to balance the sound. At the end of the song, the piano begins to take over as the violin stops and starts to dominate the song once again. The song is great to listen to for me when I’m doing something like typing because I can feel my hands speed up along with the piano. Even my own world around me begins to speed up as I listen to the song, for example when I’m on the train. The sound drowns out the world around me.

(Spoilers ahead for whoever wants to watch the Anime) When it comes to the anime however, the song compliments both of the characters greatly. The main protagonists, Kousei and Kaori are polar opposites when it comes to their personality and choice in instruments. Kousei being a prodigy that was only taught by the notes and Kaori being a violinist that plays by what’s in her heart. During this scene, Kaori is in the hospital as she begins to die from an unknown disease. Kousei is at a competition for a pianist/violinist duet and he knows Kaori didn’t make it. He still chooses to perform for the crowd even though he’s now disqualified. You see the world around him disappear as the blue sky, and reflecting floor appears instead of the stage and crowd. Before his eyes, he sees Kaori and even though no one can see her and she’s not really there, he’s imagining she’s there as she begins to play with him. Their sounds merging together in the scene as Kousei closes his eyes and tries not to cry, knowing the girl he sees as more than just a friend is now dead. He smiles though and continues to imagine her being there. As the song reaches to an end he is brought back in reality and he sees her vanishing before his eyes into balls of lights. As the song ends, we’re back in the auditorium where he’s playing with his head down, the crowd silent as tears run down his face.

A song as beautiful as that with a video to match the intensity of the song is why I chose this version. It’s haunting but yet in a happy way as if saying there’s always a certain someone that you could love and create music with.