I recently challenged myself to make an expanded string quintet arrangement around the theme from the popular anime, DEATH NOTE. My son got me hooked on a couple other shows, namely Demon Slayer and Attack on Titan. Death Note will be the next show I binge watch :).

The theme has an interesting meter (alternating 13/8 and 14/8), and it's extremely stark and transparent: just a melody and a bassline. I tried to make the orchestration as colorful and interesting as possible, using only solo strings. It takes on a much different vibe from the original - almost sounds like something Stravinsky would write!

And then after sitting on the arrangement for a while, I couldn't resist but to add a subtle bass synth pulse, just to fill out the bottom end.

All copyright belongs to their respective owners. 
L's theme by Hideki Taniuchi and Yoshihisa Hirano
Cover Arranged & Produced by Alex Davis

Intimate Solo Strings Bundle - L's Theme from Death Note

For Full Orchestra

Oh my sweetest disaster
where ever you go
you might stay an illusion
but when I close my eyes 
I keep praying to the God

to bring me the beautiful angel
back to my motherless dream

the stars were in alignment 
but the evil eye kept staring on us 
and our new born love finally died

but bring me the beautiful angel
back to my motherless dream

Oh my sweetest disaster
where ever you go
you might stay an illusion
but when I close my eyes 
I keep having you near

For The Ones Who Still Care

Yoshe Malkus

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