ReMix: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse 'A Clockwork Vampire'

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Dhsu confides:

"A small confession: I've never watched the Kubrick film (or played the Saturn game, if that's what you were thinking). Still, I thought it was a fitting title, so I went with it.

If just to hear the amazing electronic Beethoven arrangements by Wendy Carlos (and originals as well) and witness one of the better adapted screenplays (highly interpretive and additive, and also by Kubrick from the Burgess novel) in existence, the film is worth seeing. The ReMixer continues:

"As usual, I didn't take a whole lot of liberties melody-wise (I like to mess with chords progressions and tempo/rhythm instead), although there's a little nod to the Circle of the Moon rendition at around the 0:45 mark. The production was 100% GrayLightning's work. He rendered my recording to MP3 and did all the mastering and post-production work. A very big thanks to him, as this submission wouldn't have been possible without him."

Sometimes people hear a verbatim melody and they mistakenly conclude that the arrangement is minimal, or even a cover, but much can be done under the melodic hood to change the context and feel entirely, without altering a single note of the theme itself. From the beginning, Dhsu's work displays the dynamics and fluctuating tempo a good solo pianist can and should bring to the table, as a strong, moving left hand underpins the very classical, often chromatic melody line. At under three minutes, this is a rather short piece, but from the more flowing, impressionistic intro to the frantic, impressario passages beginning at 1'35", and then to the forte Vampire Killer cameo towards the end, there's a good variety, esp. in terms of tone and pacing. The latter reference to Killer has some minor nits which you may or may not notice. Dhsu explains:

"Also, the arrangement was originally just Clockwork, so I used the extra time to extend the arrangement to include the obligatory Vampire Killer (I forgot about Bloody Tears) and re-recorded it. 90% from memory, 100% by ear. 0% sped up or edited in any way (that's why there are mistakes near the end)."

I especially like the pick-up at 2'15" into a softer, quicker, brighter rendition of what I suppose could be considered the "verse" of that particular source track. Fun and fast, Dhsu's latest (since June of last year!) shows that he can still play like the business, and that he can arrange almost anything to seem like it was virtually born for solo piano performance.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

Dhsu is a piano master, no doubt about it. This piece starts out somewhat slow and ponderous, but it's the frantic, frenetic, and downright amazing stuff in the second half that really makes this arrangement shine.

- Lucentas on December 6, 2008

This song really grows on you after repeated listenings. I mean it was great from the get go but over the last few weeks ive been listening to it and all I can say is Amazing :-o

The youtube video is nice but the echo's and lower quality dont do it justice, Listen to the MP3.

- mathesar on June 21, 2008

Outstanding. Performances like this make me want to learn to play the piano.

- atox on November 25, 2007

Check it out ya'll.

- Dhsu on November 12, 2007

Sheet music now available (.MUS format). Thanks to Andrew Owen for the much-needed assistance!
PDF will be coming later.
Edit: PDF is now up.

- Dhsu on December 28, 2005

I've practically already praised you in the topic concerning of you playing most of this song with that bag over your head (which was the shite by the way) But being a long time Castlvania fan, (since numero 1) This does justice to Clockwork, so including I like me some piano solos often, so again, Dshu, great job!

- Darkmetamorphasis on December 1, 2005

I bow for myself and two piano learning friends i have that are going ape-crazy trying to play clockwork vampire. One can play up to where it gets real fast!
*bows*

- CE on October 30, 2005

copycat wrote: *bows down to the mighty DHSU*
sheesh... I played piano for years and was never that good.

seconded, AND I suck at arranging, one sort of builds on the other, I guess
Excellent work *bows*

- Crazyonr1 on October 29, 2005

Amazing. The piano skill in this number is phenomenal. So good, in fact, that no accompaniment is neccessary. And, after watching that vid (which brought tears to my eyes), I'm just stunned. You make the world a better place.
My only (minor) complaint is, of course, the combination of songs. Most disagree with me on this, but this is OC Remixed not OC Recombined. Please, don't take me wrong: I love this tune and the skill.

- meccaneer on October 28, 2005

DHSU, you're the piano master 8O

- Turboman on September 30, 2005

*bows down to the mighty DHSU*
sheesh... I played piano for years and was never that good.

- copycat on September 24, 2005

Not to keep off topic, (PS: this song rocks), but next time, try for the [b]Garbage Bag of Ultimate Skills +30[/b].
-mythril

- rainbowflavoured on September 23, 2005

Dude, they've already been nerfed. If this were OCR 3.0, I wouldn't have even made mistakes.
I did think about using the [b]Blindfold of Mario[/b], but that was only +5 to talent, and I felt the recycling penalty was worth it. ;)

- Dhsu on September 22, 2005

mythril nazgul wrote:

Dhsu wrote: Did this for fun one day...just a little treat for all my fans. ;)
Video (7MB)

He's wearing [b]Bag of Skills[/b] with +10 to Musical Talent and -10 to Recycle/Reuse. Commendable.

Nerf bags! :roll:

- Stalwart Jester on September 22, 2005

Dhsu wrote: Did this for fun one day...just a little treat for all my fans. ;)
Video (7MB)

He's wearing [b]Bag of Skills[/b] with +10 to Musical Talent and -10 to Recycle/Reuse. Commendable.

- myf on September 22, 2005

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