Posted 2014-12-11, evaluated by the judges panel


In 2012 we published our MEGA Mega Man X series album Maverick Rising, got a little more obscure with Unsung Heroes, and completed the DKC trilogy with Donkey Kong Country 3: Double the Trouble! We also launched our FF6 kickstarter for Balance and Ruin, handled its subsequent removal with what grace we could, then RELAUNCHED it to even greater success!!

...and posted 209 ReMixes, while we were at it.

Outside of the very early drama in the site's history back in 2001/2002, this was by far the most stressful year for me, personally. Coordinating the kickstarter was stressful to begin with, but mitigating its removal & facilitating its resurrection probably shaved a couple years off my lifespan. It was worth it, though - fans showed us an incredible amount of support & patience, and the end result was something truly spectacular.

Our next 15th anniversary mixpost is a calming, subdued new age Zelda medley from Chimpazilla, mainly focused on Twilight Princess for the Wii:

"The song title "Wistful" really says it all about how I was feeling when I wrote this. Writing this piece was therapeutic for a sad mood. I'm always amazed how easily the Zelda themes go together without having to alter them too much. There are six sources here, all quite easily identifiable. "Midna's Lament" remains the dominant source throughout.

I don't play piano yet (although I am taking lessons!), so this track is all hand-sequenced. I tried my best to make it flow naturally, and I got lots of good critiques and advice. I feel like it still sounds a bit mechanical (and the track is somewhat sparse, which doesn't allow "mechanical" to hide), so if it does sound mechanical, I'm hopeful that the arrangement makes up for it.

Themes remixed: "Midna's Lament" (with "Saria's Song," "Zelda's Lullaby," "Song of Storms," SS "Ballad of the Goddess," TP "Hyrule Field Main Theme")

0:00-0:43 - Midna (piano)
0:43-1:08 - Midna (harp), Saria (piano, harp flourishes)
1:08-1:33 - Midna (piano/pizz cello sharing the backing arp), ZL (piano), SoS (harp)
1:33-1:58 - Midna (pizz cello playing backing arp), second half of Saria (piano), ZL (pizz viola plus glock)
1:58-2:08 - original transition
2:08-2:14 - Midna (piano playing backing arp)
2:14-2:39 - Midna (piano arp, interpreted), Goddess (harp, with viola/cello cameos)
2:39-3:04 - same as above, but with piano lead playing Midna and SoS melodies combined into one melody
3:04-3:23 - same as above, but piano is playing TP Hyrule Field (0:27-0:40 in TPHF source)
3:23-end - Midna (piano and harp)"

There are certain types of arrangements & genres where overtly quantized part-writing might be more problematic, but it really didn't bother me here. In fact, I might not have even noticed if Kris herself hadn't drawn attention to it, since the arrangement's interleaving of themes is really the focus, and is quite hypnotic. Brent writes:

"Very nice. Rearrangement is deep... the source tunes are easily identifiable but newly realized. Production is clean. You've paid careful attention to the full spectrum (all I notice is a subtle middy resonance in the intro piano, though the warmth is nice). So many details interspersed. Smooth vocal swells, interplay between lines, slick production tricks. Transition @ :45 is ace. Vibe is cool but moody... Ending is super chill"

Jivemaster adds:

"Twinkly and chimey all round. Your transitions between the strong source tune representation here are quite subtle and do the job well. It seems this is primarily a piano piece with some accompanying instruments that vary over time. Because the piano plays such a central role, I would have liked to see it less rigid as far as the playing goes (most noticeable in the intro), but the great variation in velocity and tone largely compensates for that."

Really transcending, relaxing stuff... meditation, contemplation, introspection, reflection - if you've got any of these on your agenda, here's your perfect mood music.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 9 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Chernabogue
on 2015-12-20 16:14:25

The intro didn't do much for me, but once you get to the next part, it becomes really interesting and more interpretative. Loved the arrangement, the choice of instruments, and the soundscape. Something really lovely -- mcu recommended! :D

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csharporbflat
on 2015-06-10 11:53:58

wow, this song is awsome. You don't have to play piano to make a good song.

At first I didn't notice sarias theme mixed in with MIndas theme. I actually had to listen to it a few times before I heard it, it is very subtile but it is there.

If anyone is interested there is actually a musical term for this, it is called "Counterpoint".

A perfect example of this technique can be heard, if you pop in your Skyward Sword DVD, start a new file, and go outside to SkyLoft, the skyloft theme is a perfect example of "Counterpoint".

Anyway nice job with the song, I really enjoyed it.

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Crulex
on 2015-01-03 13:17:45

I actually find it interesting how well Saria's theme can weave in and out of the other Zelda sources like that, especially Midna. Very beautiful together and the sources blended into one ReMix in a fantastic way. Mood fits the description and title very well. Chimpazilla knocks another one out of the park. Nice work.

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Chimpazilla
on 2015-01-01 16:54:05
Chimpazilla: almost single-handedly keeping the memory of Twilight Princess alive!

Haha yes! Guilty as charged. TP and OoT are my two favorite games for so many reasons. There's just nothing like Zelda.

I also liked what you did with Saria's song, changing up the rhythm and completely changing the chords and everything that happens around it.

I was amazed too at how much different it sounded in 3/4 and with the Midna backing, while still playing the exact notes from the Saria source. The sources I used really do interweave very easily.

Thanks you guys for your kind words on this! I'm glad it resonates with people. :)

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OverClocked PodCast
on 2015-01-01 14:04:33

Chimpazilla: almost single-handedly keeping the memory of Twilight Princess alive! This is a really lovely piece of music that I can definitely see helping in times of sadness. I didn't notice the sequenced nature and still don't think it detracts from the overall mood. I've already listened to the song several times and can safely say it's great. :D

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Diodes
on 2014-12-18 13:18:46

Really beautiful and peaceful piece. BTW, upon hearing the piano part, I didn't wish that it had been played live rather than sequenced. Actually, the word that came to mind was "hypnotic," in a good way -- before I even read the writeup and saw that DJP had described it the same way. I also liked what you did with Saria's song, changing up the rhythm and completely changing the chords and everything that happens around it.

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Chimpazilla
on 2014-12-12 09:15:26

This melted my face.

Wow, thanks so much, that may be the best compliment I've ever received on a piece of music I've made! (although doesn't "face melting" usually result from some kind of "shredding?") :wink:

I wrote this in one day. It just flowed out. I then spent the next two weeks trying to get the sequencing flowing right. I did get some great advice. I worked with the velocities a lot. I didn't change any start times, that failed VERY hard haha. I am actually taking piano lessons but I'm just one step above N00B so the only thing that sounded less natural than this sequencing was my nooby playing. But I'll get there. As for distortion, Larry heard it, I actually don't... I wonder if it is resonance from the piano? (I used The Giant)

My focus here was the arrangement. These themes go together like puzzle pieces. I'm glad you liked it, thanks for your words! :)

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BONKERS
on 2014-12-12 06:49:01

holy-shit.jpg

This melted my face.

So good! Starts off with possibly my favorite Zelda song ever, and then mixes in other stuff so well that I had to turn my head and go "Dafuq? Is that x' theme?"

On the technical side, it did sound like there was almost some distortion on some parts early on and near 1:50 or so going into 2 minutes.

As far as sequencing, yeah, especially the original backing for the piano in the source Midna parts is very unrealistic, and like the MP mentions, very quantized sounding in some respects.

Some tips for sequencing by hand, turn off snap by grid, draw by hand if your sequencer allows, then stop to think about the instrument you are trying to mimmick and think about how the hands would be moving and how you would be playing it with your own hands and the limitations and where one finger might let go vs another based on how that hand moves and etc. It can be very in depth and sounds daunting, but ease into it and take it one step at a time.

But it doesn't hinder my enjoyment of the song at all!

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Liontamer
on 2014-12-11 00:50:48

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (6 Songs, 3 Games)


Primary Game:
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Nintendo , 2006, WII)
Music by Asuka Hayazaki,Koji Kondo,Toru Minegishi
Songs:
"Hyrule Field Main Theme"
"Midna's Lament"
Additional Game:
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo , 1998, N64)
Music by Koji Kondo
Songs:
"Lost Woods"
"Windmill Hut"
"Zelda's Theme"
Additional Game:
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo , 2011, WII)
Music by Hajime Wakai,Koji Kondo,Mahito Yokota,Shiho Fujii,Takeshi Hama
Songs:
"Ballad of the Goddess"

Tags (9)


Genre:
New Age
Mood:
Solemn
Instrumentation:
Choir,Chromatic Percussion,Harp,Piano,Strings,Viola,Vocals: Female
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Legend_of_Zelda_Twilight_Princess_Wistful_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
5,908,645 bytes
MD5:
e830b4a082d0f3adcad4782152252064
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
4:02

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