ReMix: Seiken Densetsu 3 'Not So Ordinary People'

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The ReMixer writes:

"As I am continually forced by my professors to compose original music in various modern idioms, I feel more and more drawn to arranging game music in styles I'd prefer to listen to. Next up is a take on the Ordinary People track (1-03) from Seiken Densetsu 3 that resembles the quick and colorful orchestrations of Russian composers Alexander Borodin and Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. This is actually the first time I went the other way around and decided upon what style I wanted to do first, then found a track that fit the criteria. I wanted a rustic, folk-sounding dance, and I found that here.

For the B theme I used my favorite track Can You Fly, Sister? (3-01) which resembles the original much more than what I do elsewhere in the piece. Why? I guess you could say it's because much of this arrangement is based on the first four measures of the Ordinary People track, but I do manage to make other references to the original. I really hope people will listen to this and say "Yeah, that's SD3 alright!" and not "There he goes again, off on some kind of tangent."

Frankly, I just listen and say "Hey, that's dern good musics!," as Jeremy's latest is also some of his very best work to date. The underlying detail and intonation shifts here are amazing, and he's nailed his stated goal of Russian influence squarely on the head. There's bombastic exuberance, exotic intrigue, victorious fanfare, and beauty all rolled up in one. Right out of the gate you've got a wonderful clarient duet that harmonizes then splits off of the theme, and Robson maintains that high calibre throughout. JJT writes:

"Ah, I love me some Rimsky-Korsakov. I can definetly hear the influence, especially in the use of the low brass and in the percussion. Very nice work, Jeremy. You've got a great ear for arranging, and throw plenty of variations of the main themes into this piece. As you'd expect from a Robson ReMix, the samples are good and used effectively."

Perhaps it's because I like shorter-form pieces in general, but this is my favorite of Jeremy's submissions to date; I really admire the harmonic decisions to no end, the whole thing feels fresh and lively without throwing too large an arsenal at the listener, and even though the ReMixer's last couple pieces have had a Russian influence as well, I think it's standout orchestral work, conspicuous and singular. As a band geek that played a lot of Russian classical pieces (albeit adapted for concert band), I've got a predilection for such material, but I think anyone into orchestral will be able to sink their teeth into this. Great work.

― djpretzel