ReMix: Final Fantasy VI 'Cantata for Dancing: II. Fuga Kefka'
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- Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): Derek Oren, Jeremy Robson
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): Dancing Mad, Kefka, Terra
- Posted: 2007-11-11, evaluated by djpretzel
They're baaaacccckkk.... the dynamic duo of Derek Oren and Jeremy Robson return! It seems like just yesterday they released the very popular and undeniably epic Cantata for Dancing: I. Mors ego sum mortis, and now they're back with more cantatatastic dancing action, following up May's success with a piece that incorporates even more choral elements. Mr. Robson had a short novel's worth of comments on this bad boy:
"I remember years ago wanting to give Dancing Mad the orchestral/choral treatment, and I'm happy this is finally coming together so much like I originally envisioned.
I believe Uematsu composed a lot of good material using what knowledge he had of Bach organ fugues to write an arrangement of Kefka's theme with a kind of attention given to motivic development not seen anywhere else in game music. Almost everyone who's a fan of FF6 or Uematsu knows this music by heart and can appreciate its classical subtleties, so the challenge in arranging this segment of Dancing Mad was in staying faithful to the original while bringing out the atmospheric and harmonic qualities using choir and orchestra. The rest is continuing what Uematsu began: arranging Kefka's theme to fit the stylistic and thematic implications of the game.
I guess he seemed especially fond of Bach organ fugues and how they can set the atmosphere for a battle against giant, gothic-like statues, so this second part of the Cantata for Dancing takes its inspiration from Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Gregorian-era chant. There's nothing here extremely academic and I often break the rules in favor of modernisms, so it's all in good fun. I can provide annotation on the use of Kefka's theme for the second half of the piece if necessary.
Stay tuned for Kefka's Adagio coming soon!
Breakdown:
Introit: Terra's theme in plainchant 0:00-0:43 (requiem aeternam)
Recap of second tier of Dancing Mad 0:43-1:55
Third tier 1:55-3:36 (Kyrie eleison)
prelude on Kefka's theme in organ 3:36-4:35
fugue on Kefka's theme in choir 4:35-end"
Interesting analysis and background. Since these collaborations between Derek and Jeremy are monstrous efforts that are clearly being planned out meticulously and then being painstakingly refined, getting the creative context is all the more fascinating. Mr. Oren adds:
"After countless hours of sampling it's finally done! Fuga Kefka was the most challenging piece I've ever sampled up until now. I had to start from stratch at least 20 times. But in the end I believe we made a fantastic piece of music and we both hope you enjoy it."
This arrangement is lush, epic, filled with sounds that are spiritual, reverent, chaotic, bombastic, peaceful, you name it - there's six and a half minutes of music here, with more of a focus given to the organ and a more religious atmosphere than the first part, while maintaining a consistently high complexity and scope of vision. That's probably the coolest thing about these collaborations between Robson and Oren - they just feel BIG. As Emperor Joseph II said of Mozart's work in Amadeus, it may have "too many notes" to some ears, but to mine there's just the right number, and it's a damn large one. If you were into the very grand-scale, elaborate, symphony-choir orchestration these two conjured up last time, you're definitely in for a treat. If you haven't checked it out yet, do so before grabbing this one, to get the chronology right. Both works are monumental efforts that represent huge dedication by their creators, and both stand as unique and powerful examples of orchestral game remixing.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the - dotaino on March 15, 2009
Platonist;518292 wrote: ive always hoped for a part 3 in this series... oren and robson are true geniuses, and as a duo, they make GOLD like these very cantatas .. please give us a third!
Thanks for the compliment. And also go here for a very beta demo of the first 4 minutes of the 3rd movement http://jeremyrobson.com/download.html
- derako on March 14, 2009
- Platonist on March 14, 2009
A really full, rich mix with some of the strongest roots of influence on the entire site. The authenticity here is stellar, and while I don't mean that it sounds exactly like a 80 piece orchestra with 100 person choir, it does sound like it was ripped from the 1700s, had there have been mixing equiptment and software available during that time.
Obviously the choir doesn't reach the uncanny valley, which it sounds like some people would have preferred, but you know, we are at OCR. I think we can all appreciate the skill and sound of something that doesn't precisely meet its grand potential. And anyway, I think the sounds absolutely fantastic. Some parts sound spot on to my ears, and that more than exceeds my expectations.
I love how smart this is and I love the obvious passion for this type of music, which is gradually becoming more and more irrelevant to people these days, which is a great shame. Sometimes throwing subtle influence out the window is the best thing to keep certain flames alive, and there's no better flame to save than great music. Well done.
- Marmiduke on March 14, 2009
Should there be a reason to keep remixing, this is it. I mean, this blows the original out of the water. Never have I felt so enthralled, so inspired, so in love with a song. Some moments built up to a fantastic jubilee that ascended my soul. I say sir, awesome remix.
- Darksun45230 on January 26, 2009
*wack*
Dona Eis Requiem.
*wack*
:<
Like it's twin, this is deliciously orchestrated.
This is just sooooo good.
It's like a medieval treat for the ears.
These are a must download.
- 42 on January 25, 2009
- Lucentas on December 6, 2008
Just wanna point out that some of the pitches sung by the basses is as good as impossible. I sing in a choir myself as bass and can tell that the lowest pitches in this remix can be sung, but it would sound very, very soft. It's just not possible at the volume you present it. Or you should have a lot of low bass singers, but those are quite rare really.
- Uboichi2 on April 17, 2008
[URL="http://www.soundclick.com/util/downloadsong.cfm?id=5849073"]Fuga Kefka HQ[/URL]
- derako on February 16, 2008
nodweeb;358293 wrote: So when is the next movement of this lovely Cantata coming out?? I feel like I want to hear more :)
Hello again Laura. Honestly I really can't say. Jeremy and I are currently working on a Final Fantasy 8 piece that we're going to submit to OCR in the next couple of months. We will continue the Cantata but whether or not the remaining movements will be posted here is still under debate. Thanks for your support and Happy New Year!!!
-Derek-
- derako on December 31, 2007
- nodweeb on December 21, 2007
nodweeb;350948 wrote: One question I do have is what organ did you guys use to produce the solo in Fuga Kefka? It's VERY awesome, full, very realistic and I would want to use it myself in my compositions. Thank you
Laura
Hello Laura,
We used a combo of two organs. The first was the Garritan Organ and the other was a free organ called G-town pipe organ. Together they brought out the best in each other in a big and full sound which is why we liked it so much :razz: Thanks for the support!
-Derek-
- derako on December 6, 2007
Laura
- nodweeb on December 4, 2007
Furthermore, the organ solo was pretty rad.
Waitin' for the next part, guys.
- Martin Penwald on December 3, 2007
"Nothing can beat the music of hundreds of voices screaming in unison"
:wink:
- Harmony on November 24, 2007
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