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Game Music Concert ~The Best Selection~ :: Review by Dave and Nick
OverviewWritten by DaveThe Orchestral Game Music Concert was an annual event in Japan from 1991 through to 1995, in which orchestral arrangements of music from numerous Nintendo games were performed live over five different albums. Innovative in nature, Game Music Concert ~The Best Selection~ holds some of the most widely respected arrangements of the themes to date, and it is great to see that some of them are even being used in concerts today, a whole 15 years on. Sixteen arrangements from seven popular series of games grace the ears of the listener in this magnificent album, with music being composed by the likes of Koji Kondo, Nobuo Uematsu, and Koichi Sugiyama, some of whom returned to arrange their own themes, too. So, as far as orchestral concerts go, how does the music on this album compare to those of recent years? Read on to see what we both thought! Track-by-Track Reviews1) Wizardry "Opening Theme" (Written by Dave)The Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra starts off the album with feelings of desire, grandeur, and magnificence as they belt out one of the most famed themes from the Wizardry series. Kentarou Haneda's "Opening Theme" is arranged and conducted by himself, and quite possibly, this may have been the driving force behind this theme, with it being so meaningful for the composer to hear his own piece being played live. Starting with swaying strings and low underlying brass movements, the theme gathers in power as it goes through a section filled with timpani smashes and cymbal crashes. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this arrangement is the way that it seems to transition perfectly with minimal effort from section to section. Unlike some orchestrations, this one certainly seems very natural due to these transitions, and through this it does the original theme a lot of justice. With this opening theme ending with a recapitulation of its opening seconds, one can't be help feel hungry to hear the next track. (10/10) 2) Wizardry III "Adventurer's Inn 3" (Written by Dave)Kentarou Haneda returns with "Adventurer's Inn 3" from Wizardry III, which he once again conducts to ensure maximum justice is done to the original theme. With it starting off with a wailing solo oboe and accompanying harp, this theme automatically feels a lot more peaceful than "Opening Theme," and above all, feels extremely emotional. A violin comes in at 0:50 to emulate the oboe melody and to extend it further into what is a glorious setting filled with strings and a full orchestra. The brass creates perfect undertones as this section leads to the 1:34 mark, where the piece is led by a delicate flute and wind motif. Naturally, this is soon graced by an oboe part, before it rushes into an extremely grand section that is just as overwhelming as the ones we heard in the first arrangement. Once more, this arrangement runs seamlessly from section to section, delicately embracing each of the melodies in what seems to be a perfect arrangement. These two tracks alone have provided us with the perfect start to the album. (10/10) 3) Dragon Quest IV "Palace Minuet" (Written by Nick)This remarkable piece is the first Dragon Quest arrangement we are graced with on this album and boy does it certainly deliver well. "Palace Minuet" suggests a hopeful future for the Dragon Quest arrangements featured in this series. I have never really been a big fan of the music Dragon Quest had to offer, but this piece changes my mind slightly. The piece is entirely a string ensemble which does very well in capturing a 'majestic' feeling which is kept constant through the piece. There are fancy instrument collaborations during the piece which cause the musical notes to flow like a calm river. This piece reminds me of great and epic pieces composed by legendary composers of old. For a piece to invoke such a notion in me, it certainly has to be very powerful and uplifting, but this track offers that and so much more. As I have mentioned the piece is very majestic and the small segment which lasts from 36 seconds into the piece to 45 seconds is a good example of the sheer elegance of the arrangement. It actually provokes the listener to close their eyes and imagine a lovely castle banquet. Very powerful stuff, my only complaint is the length, as I feel certain parts of the piece could have been developed a little bit more. (9/10) 4) Dragon Quest IV "Sea Breeze" (Written by Nick)Unlike the previous track, "Sea Breeze" takes a different approach as is not as melodious as "Palace Minuet." This arrangement is slightly more emotional and invokes a sad yet optimistic feeling. The optimistic feeling is achieved in small segments that have a playful vibe, for example the segments clocking in at the 1 minute and 49 second mark which cleverly blends woodwind and brass together. The blend of strings, brass and woodwind in this piece is really remarkable, so much so that it feels like they are all the same instrument. They blend so well together that it forms the image of a consistent wave in the listener's mind. While there is no apparent melody, the sheer effectiveness of the orchestra makes up for any lacking melodies. The title suggests that the theme is played during a journey on a gallant ship heading towards a fearsome foe. I guess that is the reason for the sad yet hopeful feeling that is conveyed throughout the piece. (8/10) 5) Super Mario Brothers "Super Mario Brothers" (Written by Nick)I never thought it was possible to orchestrate one of the most celebrated compositions in the history of video game music. Yes that's right, this album has the chance to show off the much loved, "Super Mario Brothers" theme which has been arranged and orchestrated for your pleasure! May I say that the outcome is a piece that I hold in very high esteem? A booming brass section marks the start of this arrangement and it sure does get the listener motivated. The string section that follows incorporates a fancy mix of an agogo bell and violin strings being plucked, this effectively establishes the playful feeling that the original piece is so famous for. The track then progresses into introducing the brass again which is kept at a low profile for the majority of the piece. However there are parts where the full effectiveness of a brass ensemble is utilised and the instruments are turned up a great deal to simply blow the listener out of their socks. The 1:35 mark signals the progression into an addictive waltz which forces the listener to be lifted up in the musical bliss this piece weaves. After the lovely waltz, the brass is played in a low key before progressing into the main theme once more. To mark the end of a very uplifting arrangement, a small but effective string section graces us with its presence marking the end of the track. (10/10) 6) Super Mario World "Super Mario World" (Written by Nick)After the previous piece I was just about to get up and dance and "Super Mario World" got me on my feet. Unlike the previous piece, this one shows off touches of Jazz and Ragtime which of course is set up beautifully by the prominent brass ensemble. The percussion featured in this arrangement is the highlight of the piece for me, as it manages to weave its own story and provokes the listener to imagine the beloved little Italian man running around in 8bit. The thing about this track is that it does not resemble a traditional orchestral piece; it reminds me of a big band more than anything else. I believe that is because of the bold brass featured in it. All in all it is a cute piece but it does not quite hit the spot for me the same way the previous track did as it is not as hard hitting. Do not get me wrong, the piece is very good, it has a evocative charm about it that is very attractive, but I just feel it lacked in sincerity and was rather rushed. A good example of this would be the main theme that was short and not developed much during the play time, I fell the track has a bit more potential than what the end result displayed. (7/10) 7) The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods "Hyrule Castle" (Written by Nick)This piece takes a different approach to what we have heard so far. Instead of the hopeful and playful charms the listener has had the pleasure of hearing this track shows off a more mature feeling. It starts off with a powerful cymbal followed by a build up achieved quite well by the brass. Another cymbal signifies the entrance of the strings at the 29 second mark. I believe the symbols are the key instrument of this piece because each time they are played another instrument is added to the build up or the piece flows on to another part of the theme. The brass is obviously the core characteristic of the arrangement because it weaves its own story as the piece progresses. It is clear that the piece is building up to something because of the dragging notes and increasing tempo as it progresses, however the listener is left hanging as there is not release of the tension built up. That is until the 3:52 mark where a lower cymbal is sounded and the brass and string ensemble emit an even more sinister sound. This release was interesting because I did not expect the piece to end this way, I was not too satisfied because the thematic development during the playtime led me to believe something great was on the way. I felt it was a metaphor for a brave soul gearing up to face a gruesome foe but nothing happens! The piece leaves the listener wanting more, so I do not know if this was meant to lead on to the next piece but it certainly did not impress me. I wished more happened during the development. (7/10) 8) The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods "Legend of Zelda Theme" (Written by Nick)"Legend of Zelda Theme" makes up for the lack of development that the previous track had. The piece commences with a mystical feeling, established by dreamy violins coupled with a seductive horn. 18 seconds into the arrangement there is a slight build up which reminds me so much of the main theme featured in the old Superman movies. It is just as effective here too because it gets me ready for action and battle which is what the theme represents. A bit I really like starts up at the 1:17 mark as the more sincere side of the orchestra is shown. The strings played here are really so calm and give off the image of complete serenity really well suggesting that even though the battle is fierce there will always be hope. From here on cinematic development takes the centre stage until the Superman build up returns at the 3:13 mark which provides a nice passage back into the main theme which is played with a bit more emotion this time around. The piece ends with a lovely collaboration of strings and brass which create the feeling of frenzy leaving the listener satisfied and refreshed. This arrangement is hard to review because it is just so special in the way that it captures sadness and happiness both at the same time. It is certainly a remarkable addition from Mr. Watanabe. (9/10) 9) Populous "Bitplane ~ It's a Process" (Written by Dave)I happen to remember the original Populous game, and how this piece sounded while you played on what was called the 'Bitplane'. My, oh my, the game was practically influenced by its music, so it won't come as a surprise to you that this arrangement is certainly amongst the best on the album. Kazuo Sawa sees his piece arranged by none other than Motorou Takenouchi here, who gives it a really joyful and triumphant aurora. Emphatic drum beats, cute string motif, and a dominance of bass instruments make this theme extremely powerful, despite the fact that the melody itself isn't stretched too much. At the 1:25 mark we reach a minor section that is headed by violins and tender flutes. This section stands as a small but glorious motif that leads us into "It's a Process," which was one of the more memorable themes from the game. Sadly, we don't stick around this section for too long, as soon enough, the rest of the brass all join together to lead us into what is a very dramatic end. Although this theme may not be as sophisticated as the liked of some of the earlier themes, it is certainly just as effective. (8/10) 10) Populous "Ending Theme" (Written by Dave)"Ending Theme" from Populous is almost certainly one of the most creative arrangements when it comes to the exploration of timbre and different instruments. Starting off with some suspended brass notes and oboe counteractions, this piece slowly grows through a string section before we are granted with a loud 'wah' from the trumpet section at the 0:40 mark to announce the arrival of a main motif. From here on, the theme seems to become filled with that '80s Sci-Fi film score effect, where the hero meets a monstrous enemy; the introduction of a glockenspiel seems to indicate a troublesome time as it antagonises the lower brass parts, who suddenly become triumphant as they defeat the enemy. An ominous rise in tone followed by a strangely relaxed scene headed by the string section brings this theme to a wondrous pre-climax. Yet, the glockenspiel returns once more! But no, the brass section can not be foiled as we are lead to an end that is even more triumphant than ever! This was a great track, and a great nostalgic journey for me, too. (9/10) 11) Sangokushi "Sangokushi Theme" (Written by Dave)Sangokushi (aka Romance of the Three Kingdoms) is famed for its inspirational themes, and with the composer, conductor, and arranger being Yoko Kanno, there is no wonder. Sometimes, I really wish that she composed a lot more mainstream video game music than she does, as she is quite possibly one of my favourite composers. Sadly, I don't watch much anime, which is where she is normally sited, so I am led to live off wondrous orchestrations like this, and frankly, why would I mind when they are as sweet as this one? Just like with Populous' "Ending Theme," "Sangokushi Theme" excels with its instrumentation and timbre, with pretty much every instrument featured being given its own little time to shine. Starting off with a flute and some ethnic instruments, the theme places itself in the highlands of Japan. The flute creates an image of mist, and out from this comes a lone ranger: an oboe. Equipped with a tambourine as a sword, strings as memories of a loved one, and brass as desire, the lone ranger interweaves amongst an embodiment of supernatural beauty created by the rest of the orchestra. Soon, the strings begin to swell as we are led into his brass-filled desire, and albeit in a minor key, one can only see that he loves his life. Led out as beautifully as it started, Yoko Kanno's arrangement is a delight to hear. (10/10) 12) Sangokushi II "Main Theme" (Written by Dave)Despite being from the same series as Yoko Kanno's "Sangokushi Theme," this time we see Makoto Mukaiya as the composer and Reijirou Kogo as the arranger. In many ways, I regret the fact that Kanno wasn't brought back to arrange this theme too, but in other respects, the originality brought forward by Kogo seems dominant in what is a very unique album. Unlike Kanno's 'tale' telling track, "Main Theme" seems to be more of a saga, in that it is a group of random events that somehow seem interlinked (seamlessly too, might I add). The track starts off in an almost epic manner in a Jason and the Argonauts style with its 17 second long brass chorus. Soon, we are led to a much more Asian setting where the melody seems to flow much more smoothly while it is accompanied with some drastic undertones. This is further heightened around the 1:25 mark where the swings sway in delight amongst the brass. As the piece continues, its epic nature seems to grow until we reach the last chord, which acts as a true tribute to all of the main themes from first generation consoles. (9/10) 13) Final Fantasy IV "Red Wings" (Written by Nick)While this piece is simply an orchestration of the original theme it does have some key aspects that I shall highlight in a while. "Red Wings" is a memorable composition by Uematsu for the ever so popular Final Fantasy IV so it is understandable as to why it is featured on this album. It starts off with a snare played in a typical military style which captures the essence of the Red Wings who are the air force in Final Fantasy VI. The snare is kept prominent throughout the track which works well with the strings and brass that alternate in playing roles during the start of the piece. At the 1:10 mark the brass takes the center stage and pretty much booms my speakers because of their tonal changes. After this, the piece repeats with the prominent snare and the alternating ensembles. As I said, this was a simple orchestration of the original composition and the very little arrangement was involved. I felt it could have done batter in that aspect and a little more development would have been nice. (7/10) 14) Final Fantasy IV "Theme of Love" (Written by Nick)I loved the original composition featured in Final Fantasy IV; "Theme of Love" is a piece I hold dear to me and this arrangement also gets that spot. The piece starts with a soothing oboe playing the main theme for one ostinato and then is accompanied by the strings which add as a nice backdrop. However at the 1:33 mark the strings take their own direction and pretty much cause a surge of emotion in the listener. This is where the arrangement kicks in for me because the instrumentation creates a dreamy vision of two lovers walking down a cold street arm in arm. It is really a powerful image and crowns the piece worthy of bearing the title, "Theme of Love." Throughout the piece we are also greeted with soothing violin string pizzicato notes which add even more dreaminess to the piece. In order to grasp the absolute power of this arrangement you have to listen to it yourself. It is so great that I am at a loss for words, if you want to cry and be reminded of loves long gone, listen to it! (10/10) 15) Final Fantasy IV "Ending Theme" (Written by Dave)Clocking in at 7:15, Katsuhisa Hattori's arrangement of Nobuo Uematsu's "Ending Theme" from Final Fantasy IV is the longest on the album and certainly one of the most developed too. The theme starts off slowly with a longing trumpet solo that introduces the main theme that we see manipulated through the course of this monster arrangement. Soon enough, it finds itself accompanied by its string chariots, which lead it into a mesmeric bridged section that certainly highlights the experience. Before we know it, at 3:00 we are lead into a fun section that features a syncopated trombone line as a delightful string melody plays over the top. Next up is a militaristic section that acts as a track of its own in this 'medley'. At 4:28, I was surprised to see the piece die down into a section built up around arpeggios and a cute melody line, but immediately saw where it was going when more and more instruments seemed to pop up. "Final Fantasy" soon pops up to create an ode to Uematsu and his music, much like at the 20020220 Music From Final Fantasy concert. This was a delightful arrangement, and quite possibly the best from the Final Fantasy series, too. (10/10) 16) Dragon Quest III "And Into the Legend..." (Written by Dave)The last track on the album is just as hard hitting as the first theme that we heard, and I will tell you something, Koichi Sugiyama's arrangement is astounding. "And Into the Legend" seems to contrast all of the ideas that have been strung out through the entire album. The melody is inspiring, the development is astounding, the performance is virtuosic, and above all, the atmosphere is glorious! Starting with a trumpet fanfare, we are soon taken into a majestic section that features syncopated motifs and a glorious string melody. The longer it lasts for, the further we go up the scale before we reach a section at the 1:20 mark, which seems to be filled with dignity and a sense of direction. Finally, it hits us, this theme was made to end this album, and we sure know it! Koichi Sugiyama's choice in instrument becomes more orientated around the lower brass section as we once again hear a rendition of the main theme. Much more glorified than in the game, the original composition is brought out and extended to supreme limits in this arrangement. What a way to end an album! (10/10) SummariesWritten by DaveThe orchestration of wonderful themes is a very hard task, and such a feat can only really be performed by those closest to the original composer, or by those who have extensive knowledge of orchestration, and ultimately, the skill to do so. Apparently, it would seem that the team of arrangers who came forward to take part in this event all had this extensive knowledge and skill, and admittedly, there is hardly a bad theme on the album! The best thing about the album is the way that each theme has been developed in its own little way to create a fantastic musical journey. The pairing of themes from similar series' and games really helps this journey flow, as do the seamless transitions throughout the arrangements. Altogether, this makes this album amongst the best of the collective orchestrated albums there. For me, full credit goes out to the composers who returned to orchestrate their original themes. Kentarou Haneda, Koichi Sugiyama, and Yoko Kanno's themes were by far the best on the album, and this is through one reason alone: they all had the heart and the sentimental value that came with arranging the piece. It just goes to show that motivation can play a big part in the way that an arrangement turns out, and when the original composer is there to help things along, nothing can really go wrong! This is an experience that you really won't want to miss. Fifteen years down the line, it's not too late, as albums like this never grow old. (9/10) Written by NickFifteen years down the line and this album still remains one of the most celebrated arrangement albums in Video Game Music history. The arrangers have put their heart and soul into orchestrating some of the most memorable themes that most of us enjoyed way back in the super Nintendo days. It was a bold task and the result is simply magical. Renowned composers like Miss Kanno, Mr. Haneda and the much loved Koichi Sugiyama return to arrange their own themes which is good because they themselves would know the feelings they wanted to portray in the original compositions, and the results are wonderful orchestral pieces that are fit to stand with classics like Beethoven's "The 9th Symphony." Do not get me wrong though, the pieces arranged by other people are great too. The Zelda and Final Fantasy pieces are really memorable. The pure novelty of this album will never die for years to come and 15 years from now, I am confident it will still be the most cherished arranged album as it is today. (9/10) |
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