ReMix: Secret of Mana 'Return To Elysian Lands'

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"If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled -- for you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!"

Though the above is really just an excuse to quote a cool line from Gladiator that only bears a passing connection to this mix's title, that film's soundtrack (by Hans Zimmer) does have some vague similarities to this excellent title theme orchestral arrangement of Secret of Mana from Nigel Simmons. This is a lush composition, at times epic and others soft and intimate, and does a good job of working with the classic but relatively minimal original theme and using it both overtly as well as subtlely, embedded in transitive progressions and spliced into the beginnings and endings of phrases, with good counter-melody and harmony. The deliberate nature of the mix at times makes it less 'exciting' than many might prefer, but there's bombastic climaxes aplenty circa 2'40" or thereabouts that should jolt you out of any zonage. Some of the cymbal crashes in the section immediately following seemed a little lonely/isolated, but I like the low strings coming in very strong afterwards. The ending is... a bit odd. I think I would have gone for more closure, using a different progression to give more resolution to the end of the phrase rather than using the same one that appears throughout the arrangement. As is, the conclusion here is a little abrupt, and leaves a sense of tension still in the air; that's certainly a feel that can be intentional and can work, but I'd like to have seen something a bit more challenging, as the piece itself does some very interesting things with the melody and deserves an equally interesting resolution. Regardless, this is the Mana title theme done up in full symphonic regalia and sounding pretty sharp. If they made a Mana film, this could easily be the overture that introduces the setting and to which initial credits are rolled, and has a beautiful flow to it. A competent, impressive, enjoyable arrangement of a classic theme from Mr. Simmons.

― djpretzel