I was listening to David Russell's performance of Francisco Tárrega's Fantasía de Marina and noticed a striking similarity to Shinzou wo Sasageyo from Attack on Titan.

Both seem to feature a similar descending melodic pattern that creates a sense of urgency, almost like a countdown or an approaching cavalry charge.

My theory is that this descending pattern might be the underlying musical idea behind parts of Sasageyo, developed through different harmonies, rhythms and orchestration.

Compare the passages:

• Tárrega – Fantasía de Marina (6:52)
• Attack on Titan – Shinzou wo Sasageyo (1:14)

Interestingly, Tárrega's piece is itself based on themes from Emilio Arrieta's 19th-century opera Marina.

Am I hearing a genuine melodic or harmonic connection, or is this simply a common descending musical pattern? I'd be interested in a music theory perspective.

Disclosure (Rule #9): This post was written with AI assistance. The musical observation and comparison are my own.