ZUN's most repeated melody!

You thought "Theme of Eastern Story" was ZUN's most used melody? Wrong!
This is basically something I noticed while I was listening to the music of Touhou, so I basically decided to make a video of it. I was quite surprised, to be brutally honest with you. I mean, I actually listen to ZUN's music a lot and I never noticed this until now.
So yeah, this video is essentially a compilation of some of ZUN's themes that pretty much share the same leitmotif, along with some bonus tracks which are themes from Touhou fangames and non-Touhou games, not composed by ZUN of course.
Enjoy!

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Hey there guys! This is completely unrelated to what this video is about, but here's something that may be of your interest: Recently, I've uploaded a video of a Touhou-like engine I've been developing using GameMaker ever since it became free to use. With that said, after 3 months of work, I've got something that very closely resembles the gameplay of the original games. So yeah, if you guys are interested to see it, go check it out here! ► kzbin.info/www/bejne/ena7o4CLoJukpK-No ◄ Looking forward to see what do you guys think of it.

[@lazydelibird]

Damn, an update from a 10 YEAR OLD VIDEO. This is probably the very first time I've seen such a thing.

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Well... considering that this is one of my most viewed videos, I thought it'd be fine to get the viewers' attention with something I've been cooking up recently.

[@shikikenju1588]

legend

[@snapcracklebop]

Have... *HAVE I BEEN MISLED TO BELIEVE 'THEME OF EASTERN STORY' WAS TOUHOU'S MAIN THEME ALL THIS TIME?!*

[@guy_th18]

no

[@Azrielfiend]

no

[@jangel8446]

no

[@Jann75]

yes

[@abarette_]

@バナニーナ! >also used in PCB, SA, and most ZUN albums anyway Uh... ^^"

[@hsbinh1412]

How could you forget Sakuya's theme? It is pretty much everywhere in the entire main melody >_>

[@Fishnberg]

explane to me?

[@hyperslayer7338]

@@Fishnberg This constant/repetitive-like melody is used quite a bit in Sakuya's theme in Touhou EoSD. The part where the song changes to a 3/4 time signature.

[@Fishnberg]

@@hyperslayer7338 I see, thanks alot!

[@hyperslayer7338]

​@@FishnbergNo problem!

[@roecatgaming]

​Bro thanked hyper slayer 3 years later​@@Fishnberg

[@CanaryAsylum]

It's called a Leitmotif, kids. I-it's a thing. In music. Especially music that's part of a story or play.

[@yuithekitsuneko]

i always love to tell people about leitmotifs; its cool to tell them then they can tell just what themes are repeated and it blows their minds

[@basedmod2139]

lol I think you give zun too much credit

[@ns6q333]

@@basedmod2139 oh no, zun deserves all the credit

[@Antonwas12]

Wait wtf it's called Leitmotif in english??

[@Kuumin]

"I-its a thing" Why you gotta frame it as common sense

[@GarryDumblowski]

Here's one song that uses this leitmotif that I legitimately feel like nobody except me noticed it. This motif was used in Pandemonic Planet, right after the intro. The thing is, the leitmotif isn't just a straight copy of all the other uses of it, it's actually inverted. I don't know why Zun did this, but I can't tell if I should be surprised nobody has noticed it.

[@beepboopily6285]

I really felt something weird when I heard it to but didn't expect it to be like that.

[@lecorbak]

nice catch

[@Kromiball]

Bell of Avici at 9:12 uses both the normal motif and the inverted version.

[@GarryDumblowski]

@@Kromiball Oh wow, I think I hear it. Thank you for pointing that out!

[@lady_monarch-gp9tl]

I think it’s also in doll judgement from PCB in the intro specifically

[@irycate3006]

00:00 Eastern Demon-Sealing Record ~ Pure Land Mandala 00:30 A Dream Transcending Space-Time 00:49 Maniacal Princess 02:05 Bad Apple!! (Touhou 4: Lotus Land Story) 02:25 Cute Devil ~ Innocence 03:01 Those Who Live in Illusions 03:23 Wondrous Romance ~ Mystic Square 03:32 Legendary Illusion ~ Infinite Being 03:49 Shinto Shrine 04:06 Mystic Dream (Touhou 5: Mystic Square) 04:33 Illusionary girl from Canaveral 04:41 Magical Girl's Crusade 04:51 Fantasy Science ~ Doll's Phantom 05:09 Girl's Divinity ~ Pandora's Box 05:27 Warrior Maiden ~ Heart of Valkyrie 06:05 Forest of Dolls 07:15 Magical Girl's Crusade (Ghostly Field Club version) 08:09 Boys and Girls of the Age of Science 08:26 Fantasy Machine ~ Phantom Factory 08:53 Heartfelt Fancy 09:11 Bell of Avici ~ Infinite Nightmare 09:34 Humans and Youkai Coming and Going at the Canal 09:55 Elfin Mint's Theme 10:02 Life-Guiding Song ~ Prospect Mirai 10:09 Assholevania 10:36 Sorrowful Requiem (Elemental Master ending theme)

[@imadsting2467]

legend

[@maxtes252]

Bad Apple is from Touhou 4

[@vorondanil54]

ASS!

[@LARADEKA]

_ZUN cannot help but reuse his favorite medleys ever since he made them. He cannot help but love it._ *_And we all love it._*

[@GarryDumblowski]

ZUN actually snuck this really sneakily into Pandemonic Planet. You know the part just after the intro? It's an inversion of this melody, it's "upside down"!

[@blockeontheleafeon]

Sakuya and Alice in the Windows game love to use this melody. It makes sense why Alice uses this melody in both her Stage Theme and Boss Theme. We're led to believe that this is the same Alice from the PC-98 Era. As she recognizes Reimu, which shouldn't be possible for people starting with the Windows Era. So there's a lore reason as to why Alice has this melody in her themes during the Windows Era, which is awesome. Gotta respect ZUN for going all out, Another Theme that uses this melody is "Shoutoku Legend ~ True Administrator". Miko's Boss Theme.

[@247snowflake]

This can also be found in "Moskau" by Dschinghis Khan.

[@cirnobyl9158]

Came here looking for this comment.

[@flying0possum]

*The History of Touhou* Part 1: 1162 AD

[@LuckySmashNine]

Not all of these melodies sound quite the same, and as stated before, Theme of Eastern Story is still used more. That being said, this was still a nice catch. Good ear~

[@benholley4621]

well, they share the same tonal sequence, though. melodies are nothing but a sequence of notes. And those do share said melody. They do have different purposes in different songs, though, gotta give you that.

[@booksen5327]

ANGRY VIDEO GAME NERD ADVENTURES?

[@Naudiz]

Double Dealing Character has at least four themes with the bassline of _Shoutoku Legend ~ True Administrator_ playing in the background.

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Yeah, I've noticed that too.

[@casperthefriendlypotato9046]

Nobody talks about how Reincarnation is in Mist Lake...

[@vinzer72frie]

what what which ones? i havent notice

[@casperthefriendlypotato9046]

@ShadowLoli R00mia kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKDHqqZsbquHe80 It's around here. Doesn't it sound similar to Reincarnation in the build up to the chorus?

[@GrahamChapman]

Incidentally, Prince Shoutoku spearheaded the revival of worship of both Ookuninushi/Daikoku, known for his medicinal knowledge, and Sukuna Hikona, Shinmyoumaru's ancestor, known for having come from Tokoyo no Kuni and even having returned from death, and promoting them as gods of Kotobuki no Kuni, the Land of Long Life.

[@rett064]

i keep using this leitmotif in my works too, dunno why but it always goes back to this

[@commetsftw]

Tbh, that leitmotif is how I know a ZUN track is gonna go hard. It's an amazing build up.

[@wingedflyingforce5139]

But *WHOSE* leitmotif is it? I wish to know, else how can you call it one when no one knows who it is for?

[@Vali_Claire]

...Huh, I can't believe I didn't notice that ever. That melody does show up everywhere.

[@tacticalAneurysm]

recently found this leitmotif in your best nightmare from undertale.

[@nanimuwu]

I hear this in Undertale as well...

[@goldentiramisu7935]

i forgot how obsessed ZUN with this tune

[@Djay_B]

This melody even shows up in Battle Against a True Hero!

[@AllisonGhost]

The yellow soul at the end of undertale also uses this leitmotif xD

[@onezerozeroonethree2369]

This is a video of all the times that zun has used a variation of an alberti bass. It's a thing in classical music. Listen to Mozart sonata 16 k545 in C or the ending to Super Mario Bros 2 (USA).

[@jamm6_514]

its a descending alberti bass, a broken arpeggio, that so far from research i wasn't able to find any names or anything in regards to it; of course it isn't original from zun, it has been used quite often but both examples you've given don't fall under that category, mozart's had a basic rendition, SMB2 (USA) had an ascending-descending variation. i still wonder if this specific form has any sort of nomenclature or the kind given how often it appears

[@Kromiball]

Chinese songs have had it for a long time, iirc Gong Xi Gong Xi is mostly just this melody.

[@Joshthepikachu2123]

This makes me wonder if it Shoutoku Legend was inspired by this Leitmotif, just on a minor key.

[@Jann75]

Makes me wonder if it inspired Gengetsu's theme in general. It just seems like one of those themes.

[@mami.quiere.mequetrefe]

Ik this was like 7 years ago but if you listen or look at the midi to desire drive, it disguised itself in the beginning part it's just spiced up a bit

[@spaghettiking7312]

We've discovered the secret to ZUN's genius.

[@spaghettiking7312]

God, I love Touhou.

[@win100000]

I still think Theme of Eastern Story is used more. (I think it's referenced over 20 times) You should add song names on the screen as annotations :D

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

I would like to add annotations, but I'm really lazy. ^^;

[@roniari9659]

Sadly annotions are gone now

[@ns6q333]

@@roniari9659 RIP annotations

[@ganime9497]

We have chapters now

[@tizizicoblack1246]

well, for the first part i totally agree, but in the sencond meh, :/ i'll try to explain: when u compose u have tocreate notes pattern from 0, but u have to be inspired to do such a thing, however there some basic pattern of notes or tricks if u want to nome them which allows to compose a perfect piece of music without errors, this kind of notes-scheme is taken form Bach and his toccata and fuge and it consist in an alternance of 2 times: 1 note is the same and the 2 changed according to the scale... however lots of ZUN's OST have this alternance descentent for both notes

[@saiyoucho]

I've always recognized multiple similarities between his songs but I didn't think about this. Thanks for making this video it's very interesting!

[@marimari65]

and the doll maker of bucuresti‼️

[@SaekaKusaki]

what about PCB Stage 3?

[@abarette_]

I knew I heard this a LOT. But I mean, this is BAD Apple !! main bassline, so obviously I heard it a lot

[@TheDiego908]

What about Doll Maker of Bucuresti and Doll Judgement?

[@alansartrignot]

Damn, I have never found any music more beautiful than THIS!!

[@mauricestardddude8317]

Have you fallen to the Touhou hole yet?

[@alansartrignot]

@@mauricestardddude8317 I haven’t played it but yea I love touhou but also I forgot about this song until you commented haha

[@Libops]

​@@alansartrignotI bet you forgot again.

[@vriskaserketvore413]

There's a part of BL1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON (One of Terezi's themes from Homestuck) around the 45-second mark that sounds very similar to this leitmotif.

[@FrogmaskMusic]

I think it's on purpose- A sort of proto-Theme of Eastern Story.

[@ToraeMoegiiro]

so basically everyone is gengetsu

[@ryanleatigaga7596]

Man, who would have thought ZUN was the guy behind Black Diamond by Stratovarius?

[@kitsune_shinobu]

I feel proud noticing leitmotifs lmao (listened to too many Touhou originals, arrangements, remixes that I could literally wake up from comma if someone started playing some of my favourite ones xD)

[@wingedflyingforce5139]

Alright, what is the name, or whose leitmotif is this for/who does it represent & what is the name of it? In order for it to be called a leitmotif it must have this, else it's just a popular zun melody

[@HikariP]

The am g f e chord progression too cmiiw

[@infinitemagnesium]

ginger Marisa

[@crimsonlotus1084]

10:11 was not expecting Avgn!

[@battlnerd2128]

not just ZUN's, I don't remember the name of it, but it's quite prevalent in music ever since baroque times

[@ghost7263]

It was in Stage 3 Of PCB's BGM as well, you can here it at the start

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

You're like the 5th person in here(I think, I've genuinely lost count) who pointed that out, and at this point, I'm genuinely getting sick of it, lmao.

[@ghost7263]

@@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon ah ok, is that a bad thing? 😭

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Not really. I just personally wish people didn't repeat the same thing over and over, but I can't judge them for not reading the comments.

[@ghost7263]

@@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon oh ok, I didn't know other people had commented that, sorry I guess

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

No worries, you're fine.

[@K-Agric.A]

いいものを見つけましたよ、ほんと

[@EasternStory]

you can find this melody in Len'en 2 as well! Stage 4 boss, Hibaru Kokutenshi's theme!

[@bappityyyy]

Also Yabusame's theme's in general, I believe. Especially the intro of their theme in Len'en 1

[@danielokit1619]

I could hear that melody in Some themes I didn't knew it was in like Junkos theme

[@entropee4974]

Im happy im not the only one notice this. Since i started playing touhou. all music in every game has a special same melody.

[@calebcebr2786]

it's funny how from all the soudtracks with the same melody there's not the most obvious ones being the Alice's theme from both her stage and boss fight

[@averyrhythm]

zun's favorite melody in a nutshell i guess

[@azurechen123]

I Know This Was Posted In 2013 But WBAWC Stage 1 Has The Leitmotif... Again...

[@believeinthenet]

This little motif is very similar to 'Devil Speak' from Megami Tensei Ii, the connection between these two series' music is pretty interesting

[@Ivanox]

You forgott stratovarious - black diamond

[@Shaker626]

Nothing like clav-, I mean ZUNpets.

[@jamesheiman1602]

More like Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor

[@poughtheighteau]

wait until you guys hear Moskau by Dschinghis Khan

[@mohamedashrefbenabdallah2545]

damn this is nice, i want to know more

[@infinote175]

What the heck, its even in the AVGN game!?!

[@flariz4824]

Really interesting

[@daanthehopeless6566]

In Moskau - dschinghis khan there is a rhythm like this in the Intro, it's called alberti bass, it's a chord technique that comes from classical music.

[@emishimaru-sama6449]

And here I thought It was the same one as Alice stage's theme In th07 [Doll maker of Bucuresti]

[@jamm6_514]

it is, he forgot to add

[@jermfanaccount]

i always thought that the short little meledy that plays at times in chen's theme sounded a little like flandres theme in a way (around the 1 minute mark). maybe thats on purpose because remilia and flandre are basically the princesses, arent they?

[@jordanjackson6151]

All artist have some constant that shows up in most of their music. But I like when artist like Zun use it sparingly but do it enough that when heard by close listeners, it becomes the thing that is known for defining their sound. When many of us hear Touhou music, its safe to imagine that there is some dance hall with the many characters across each game dancing to some oh the upbeat tracks while Zun and some other backup musicians (maybe, Rinnousuke and Myorin or the Prism River Sisters) rock out on stage. -Edit- Mmmm or perhaps Raiko or even Benben. Yeah let’s just reduce male characters as bartenders serving sake that causes oni fights to break out. It’ll give Aya something to report the next day.

[@cinjackb]

You can find this melody in Eternal Shrine Maiden, said to be the ZUN's first.

[@dirtyrat7181]

how the hell did i not notice this

[@Hijiri_MIRACHION]

What about Doll Maker of Bucuresti? The intro for that theme is literally just that melody in different keys.

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

If you guys mention PCB Stage 3 one more time, I swear to God...

[@gaylussacjosephlouis5229]

He did it again with the new games stage 2 boss

[@marisakirisame867]

Why wondrous romance's opening bass melody is cool

[@pyroparagon8945]

16-step tr sequencer.

[@marcusfromtwoson]

OMG. How couldn't I be able to spot SA stage 4 !!

[@zeta6972]

i call it Gengetsu Leitmotif

[@psionichelmsman]

It would be nice to label the music but pretty neat!

[@lecorbak]

8:53 MEOW~

[@Imaizuko]

Hiroari shoots a strange bird Kinda, but i think Toes repeated the most

[@jadebayoba7073]

Touhou 3 theme its literally Lunar Clock

[@aincradonline9986]

I thought it was just me, glad im not crazy!

[@chocokeeki]

Does this leitmotif have a name? I've also heard it in quite a few power metal songs, such as "The Martyr" and "Tommyknockers" by Blind Guardian.

[@SlyHikari03]

Descending Alberti Bass

[@lexi2863]

wat about lunar clock~luna dial?

[@kooma4500]

It's not a repeated thing.

[@yuithekitsuneko]

Dosent Lunar Clock-Luna Dial have the same leitmotif too? That one is so well known im suprised it was left out

[@akaiyui9300]

Turns out ZUN and Yngwie Malmsteen share a similar leitmotif.

[@jamm6_514]

what the hell i thought that leitmotif was exclusive to bdd apple and doll maker of bucuresti, lmao i made a song based on that leitmotif. i really need to make a new version of it

[@kagummi]

You forgot The Doll Maker of Bucuresti too !

[@kimcringson7106]

Nemuno's theme in HSiFS deserves the place

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

'Kay? Where's the leitmotif on her theme? Because I don't hear it.

[@thapoint09]

DJ Shadow - Organ Donor

[@perverse_ince]

Reminds me of the song "MOSKAU " by the german band Dschingis Khan

[@UniqueReisen]

I was expecting Lunar Clock to be in this video you forgot it lel

[@progresszio]

Wouldn't Kanako's theme count?

[@sneakykng768]

Based zun

[@MRazorK10]

Assholevania! That got me chuckling x) (to readers ; it's the name of the AVGN song)

[@AlexanderRM1000]

Interesting. Does Bad Apple (the PV, maybe the original as well though) use this? I heard what I thought I recognized from Bad Apple in Theme of Eastern Story and have spent forever trying to find it.

[@nostalplant]

it's at 2:10 lmao

[@AlexanderRM1000]

@@nostalplant Thanks!

[@neoclassicalfanatic8416]

Pedal notes are pretty much common in classical music Especially in baroque music So zun ain't really recycling motifs But rather using an already known music cliché

[@redacted8983]

Can someone list down the tracks used in this video?

[@pmd9801]

I wonder if ZUN was influenced by J.S. Bach?

[@user-lb9kv8cp4b]

最終的にNerdになるのほんと草

[@Neopentane2009]

This sounds a lot like poison mind

[@tarragon111]

thats actually shocking wtf

[@cocopuffs88]

You missed The Doll Maker of Bucuresti

[@Tulipia5]

Wait, Zun did all this?! I thought Seihou proyect was made by another person!

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Nononono, ZUN did work on Seihou, but only did the music for the games, and the graphics for his characters, such as Reimu, Marisa and Yuuka. Everything else were done by somebody else. I should point out btw that ZUN was not involved in the development of Banshiryuu, the last Seihou game.

[@Tulipia5]

Kurenai ok

[@ctm0661]

Eh? Well, what song is it anyway~? Oh well. I can still hear the similarities...I think. =/

[@gumipasta]

Isn't this used in The Doll Maker of Bucuresti also?

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

Yeah, I forgot to add that one, I apologize. Also, other songs that I forgot to add in this video include _Hiroari Shoots a Strange Bird ~ Till When?_, _Onigashima in the Fairyland ~ Missing Power_, _Legend of Aokigahara_ and _Futatsuiwa from Gensokyo_.

[@walkthroughsepic]

Is there a tracklist?

[@literallyafrog367]

What about the build-up that Koishi, Wakasagihime, Mayumi, and Momoyo all share?

[@KurenaiTheScarletBullgon]

They have a build-up, but none of them sound similar. Also, I made this video before WBaWC and UM existed.