Sound Horizon

Sound Horizon (サウンドホライズン), abbreviated by fans as "Sanhora" (サンホラ), is a Japanese musical group with composer Revo as the leader. They call themselves the 'fantasy band (幻想楽団)'.

Musical Style

Their music is generally in omnibus style; an album contains multiple stories with different themes that create one long, big story. Soprano or mezzo-soprano vocals are mainly utilized. Usage of narration is not restrained. Strong anime influences and applications are apparent in their music; they have started inviting seiyū for narration after their major debut. Their lyrics are very often mysterious and metaphorical, even more so than those of other J-rock musicians, with themes varying from fantastic themes like ancient curse, legend, dream, war, paradise to forbidden lust, longing, obsession, crime, relationship, etc.

Members

There is no constant-running member of Sound Horizon except Revo, the composer. All other support members are different by the albums.

Constant

*Revo: Composer, lyrics, guitar, keyboard, accordion, bag pipe, etc.

upport

Jimang(じまんぐ): Male Vocal, Narraition
Miki : Female Vocal (New since 2008 take over Rikki's place)
KAORI(かおり): Female Vocal
YUUKI(ゆうき): Female Vocal
REMI(れみ): Female Vocal
yokoyan(よこやん): Illustrater
Saito"Jake"Shingo(斉藤"Jake"慎吾): Guitar, Concert Master
Tamura Sigeru(田村滋): Bass
Hasegawa Atsusi(長谷川敦): Bass
Sakagami Ryo(坂上領): Flute
Nanto Ryoji(南都亮二): Drums
Fujimoto Kenichi (藤本健一): Drums
Ishikawa Naomi(石川ナオミ): Drums
Uesato Hanako(上里はな子): Violin
Watanabe☆Fire(わたなべ☆ファイヤー): Saxophone
Ebisu Hirokaju(恵比須弘和): Sound Effects
Ito Ganako(伊藤佳奈子): Violin (solo)
Kana Strings: Orchestra
Gen Ittetsu(弦一徹): Violin (solo)
Gen Ittetsu Strings: Orchestra
Ishigame Gyoko(石亀協子): Violin
Kwai Eiji(河合英史) : Keyboards

Past

Aramary: Vocal, chorus, narration. (now in group 'Rain Note')

Shimotsuki Haruka(霜月はるか): Vocal (participated in Lost, Chronicle 2nd, and recently Moira)

Oosako Gyoko(大迫杏子): Keyboards and Piano

Rikki : retired from Sound Horizon on 2008 because she gave birth and moved to other city.

Ike : English narration

History

It started with Revo releasing his music creations on the internet on his website in the late 1990s. In 2001, Sound Horizon participated Comic Market as part of a doujin circle and released their first story CD, "Chronicle", an all-instrumental track CD, with occasional narration, background chorus and sound effects. The inclusion of actual singing began from their second release ("Thanatos") onwards. Their subsequent works were released at Comic Market and M3.

Sound Horizon's first major release was in 2004, with the album "Elysion ~Rakuen e no Zensōkyoku~" (lit. "Elysion ~Prelude to Paradise~"). Their first maxi-single, "Shōnen wa Tsurugi wo...", which was released in 2006, includes "Shūtan no Ou to Isekai no Kishi ~The Endia & The Knights~", the theme for the PlayStation 2 simulation RPG game Chaos Wars, and "Kamigami ga Aishita Rakuen ~Belle Isle~", the opening theme for the MMORPG Belle Isle.

Discography

Doujin Albums

《Chronicle》 (12/30/01)
《Thanatos》 (08/11/02)

《Lost》 (12/30/02)
《Pico Magic》 (05/04/03)
《Pico Magic Reloaded》 (08/17/03)

《Chronicle 2nd》 (03/19/04)

Major Release Albums

*「Elysion ~Rakuen e no Zensōkyoku~ / ELYSION ～楽園への前奏曲～」 (lit. "Elysion ~Prelude to Paradise~") (October 27, 2004)
# Ark
# Tadoritsuku Uta / 辿りつく詩
# Koibito wo Uchiotoshita Hi / 恋人を射ち堕とした日
# Rein no Sekai / 澪音の世界
# Mahōtsukai Sarabanto / 魔法使いサラバント
# Raijin no Keifu / 雷神の系譜
# Ori no Naka no Hana / 檻の中の花
# Yield

*4th Story CD 「Elysion ~Rakuen Gensō Monogatari Kumikyoku~ / Elysion ～楽園幻想物語組曲～」 (lit. "Elysion ~Paradise Illusion Story Suite~")(April 13, 2005)
# Eru no Rakuen [-> side:E ->] / エルの楽園 ［→ side：Ｅ →］
# Ark
# Eru no Ehon [Majo to Rafurentse] / エルの絵本 [魔女とラフレンツェ]
# Baroque
# Eru no Shōzō / エルの肖像
# Yield
# Eru no Tenbin / エルの天秤
# Sacrifice
# Eru no Ehon [Fuebuki Otoko to Parade] / エルの絵本 [笛吹き男とパレード]
# Stardust
# Eru no Rakuen [-> side:A ->] / エルの楽園［→ side：Ａ →］

*1st MAXI Single CD 「Shōnen wa Tsurugi wo... / 少年は剣を…」 (October 4, 2006)
# Shūtan no Ou to Isekai no Kishi / 終端の王と異世界の騎士 ~The Endia & The Knights~
# Hiiro no Fūsha / 緋色の風車 ~Moulin Rouge~
# Kamigami ga Aishita Rakuen / 神々が愛した楽園 ~Belle Isle~

*5th Story CD 「Roman」 (November 22, 2006)
# Asa to Yoru no Monogatari / 朝と夜の物語
# Honoo / 焔
# Miezaru Ude / 見えざる腕
# Norowareshi Hōseki / 呪われし宝石
# Hoshikuzu no Kawahimo / 星屑の革紐
# Hiiro no Fūsha (Moulin Rouge) / 緋色の風車
# Tenshi no Chōzō / 天使の彫像
# Utsukushiki Mono / 美しきもの
# Yorokobi to Kanashimi no Budōshu / 歓びと哀しみの葡萄酒
# Tasogare no Kenja / 黄昏の賢者
# 11-moji no Dengon (11-moji no Message) / １１文字の伝言

*1st Story Maxi CD 「Seisen no Iberia / 聖戦のイベリア」 (August 1, 2007)
# Arasoi no Keifu / 争いの系譜
# Ishidatami no Akaki Akuma / 石畳の緋き悪魔
# Shinryaku Suru Mono Sareru Mono / 侵略する者される者

*6th Story CD 「Moira」 (September 3, 2008)
# Meiou / 冥王 (8:08)
# Jinsei wa Ireko Ningyou / 人生は入れ子人形 (7:19)
# Shinwa / 神話 (4:44)
# Unmei no Futago / 運命の双子 (5:00)
# Dorei Shijou / 奴隷市場 (4:11)
# Raijin-iki no Eiyū / 雷神域の英雄 (4:24)
# Shi to Nageki no Kaze no Miyako / 死と嘆きの風の都 (7:33)
# Seinaru Shijin no Shima / 聖なる詩人の島 (5:19)
# Haruka Chiheisen no Kanata e / 遥か地平線の彼方へ (5:05)
# Shiseru Monotachi no Monogatari / 死せる者達の物語 (5:42)
# Hoshi Megami no Miko / 星女神の巫女 (4:30)
# Shiseru Otome Sono Te ni wa Suigetsu / 死せる乙女その手には水月 (5:27)
# Doreitachi no Eiyū / 奴隷達の英雄 (5:08)
# Shiseru Eiyūtachi no Tatakai / 死せる英雄達の戦い (5:16)
# Shinwa no Shūen / 神話の終焉 (2:05)

External links

* [http://sound-horizon.net/Circle.htm Sound Horizon] Revo's homepage
* [http://www.aramari.com/ Aramari's Home Page]
* [http://jimang.com/ Jimang Official Web Site]
* [http://www17.ocn.ne.jp/~yokoyan/ YOKOPEKO] yokoyan's homepage
* [http://soundhorizon.com/ Sound Horizon official website] Sound Horizon Official Site