FFXIV ~ Piano Fan Arrangement

[Rokku]

This thread is pretty awesome (probably the best thing in this section that isn't a news post!). Great work on the pieces, keep it up.

[justamemory]

This thread is pretty awesome (probably the best thing in this section that isn't a news post!). Great work on the pieces, keep it up.

why ty sir

having no info is killing me!

/cryo.until.XIV.launch

[DAKPluto]

Nobuo definitely has a unique fire in his works.

What I always found so great about Nobuo's work is how well he used what was available to him. With the first FF games, all he had was the shitty Nintendo 3 track synth. A pathetic synth even by the standards of the day. And the software they used for it was pathetic too. (I had the Commodore adaptation of the synthware...wish I could remember the name....) Yet with it, he made great music. The famous arpeggio harp line that opens every FF game alone sounded beyond the means of that synth.

Moved up to the SNES synth, which was, once again, a pathetic synth. (Nintendo really has a horrible history with midi) But he still seemed to create beyond the limits of the synth.

He didn't even get a decent synth to utilize till FFVII. The original Playstation had by far the most advanced synth for a console at the time of its release than any system in history. An obvious product of Sony's influence. And I really think this is why 7 produced the most stacked soundtrack of all FF games. My guess is he had tons of ideas that had been written over the years that just were not feasible with the Nintendo synths, and finally he was given the means to give them proper voicing. (And then of course, after Playstation was done, they were able to go with studio recordings and no longer needed midi.)

But the thing all of that history helps him, it reminds him to keep it simple. Just because he has the means now to utilize full orchestras and choirs doesn't mean he needs too. He knows that just a simple melody is far more important than all the "fluff" around it. And then 7+ taught him how powerful it can be to contrast the simple for powerful moments. To utilize the near chaos of One-Winged Angel to create the tension you need for the moment. Or the fast paced, almost out of control 5/4 (10/8 feel) of Don't be Afraid of FFVIII (By far my 2nd favorite piece of his after One-Winged Angel.)

Probably my favorite example of how great he does it: look at 2 fight scenes in Advent Children. Tifa's fight in the Church, and Cloud's fight against Sephiroth. The music is perfect in both, and create the same feelings, but the music couldn't be more different in style. Piano solo vs. Full Symphonic Power Metal. It really is like his own personal evolution in the FF series. And the reason why these songs translate so well from piano solos to full orchestral arrangements for Distant Worlds.

[Kilhart]

Slightly related, but this brings me back to when I bought the official piano book for the FFVIII OST when I was like 15. lol

[justamemory]

Slightly related, but this brings me back to when I bought the official piano book for the FFVIII OST when I was like 15. lol

hah the memories!

[justamemory]

finally some alpha info!

[Alvein]

Nice to see a fellow pianist on the forums.

[justamemory]

Nice to see a fellow pianist on the forums.

definitely!

how long have you been playing? what do you like to play? do you have any recordings?

[Alvein]

I play classical, studied for ten years. Although I'm currently on hiatus in the Peace Corps without access to a decent instrument. No recordings online but it's one of my priorites when I get back to the states in a couple months.

What's your musical background?

[wop]

I play the piano too!

I was at the Royal Festival Hall last week, watching Imogen Cooper perform Schumann's piano concerto. She's a class act!

Can't wait for Evgeny Kissin later this year, he will be playing Chopin Piano Concerto No. (although he's not great at Chopin) Will be interesting to see!

[justamemory]

I play classical, studied for ten years. Although I'm currently on hiatus in the Peace Corps without access to a decent instrument. No recordings online but it's one of my priorites when I get back to the states in a couple months.

What's your musical background?

right on. I took a years worth of lessons/community college theory 2004-2005. and I've been pretty much just playing by ear and sight memorization since 2005. still wish I had more training though , but still waiting for livelihood to settle.

I play mostly a mix of classical/jazz/new age/film/video game genres. Haven't played an explicitly classical piece for a while now ;(

I play the piano too!

I was at the Royal Festival Hall last week, watching Imogen Cooper perform Schumann's piano concerto. She's a class act!

Can't wait for Evgeny Kissin later this year, he will be playing Chopin Piano Concerto No. (although he's not great at Chopin) Will be interesting to see!

very nice!

[Yeargdribble]

Having had so many years of formal music ed in college I was always jealous of people who could sit down and just play stuff and work more with their ears. I always felt like it was something that was out of reach for me.

But for people who feel that way (I'm mostly looking at your DAKPluto) it's really not that hard to end up with a happy medium. Once I got a job playing piano and was often on the spot to harmonize stuff, improv stuff and make melodies that fit stuff all of that formal training kicked in to automate a lot of it.

Taking the stick out is hard when you've got the deeply implanted theory brain (like me... super analytical). Somehow I just started to think of music a little differently and much more loosely. My wife, also formally trained, notes how differently my brain works now and when I try to tell her how to think of it or do it she just doesn't quite get it.

Not saying it's an easy thing, but don't feel like it's hopeless to play like those ear-only types. I used to think it would be easier to start like them and then learn theory, but now that I've gone the other way I actually think my formal training is very helpful as long as I"m not letting it shackle me.

[justamemory]

added another XIV arrangement to OP!

"Extended Special Track" that used to play on the official website.

[wop]

Do you have the sheet music for Vanadiel March played by the Star Onions?

Thanks.

[justamemory]

Do you have the sheet music for Vanadiel March played by the Star Onions?

Thanks.

Closest I could find was: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckwhmcOoqHU

[wop]

Yea I've seen that one, but do you have a printable copy?

Edit: are you using a korg sp250?

[justamemory]

Yea I've seen that one, but do you have a printable copy?

Edit: are you using a korg sp250?

I don't have a copy of it, unfortunately. couldn't find it in google either

I use a KORG SP-300 ^^

[wop]

Nice, SP300 is a discontinued model, but it has one of the best touch in it's price range if I'm not mistaken. Good on you ^^

[justamemory]

I suppose I could watch that video closer and re-input the notes into Sibelius and re-copy the arrangement for print (for Vana'diel March - Star Onions)

Nice, SP300 is a discontinued model, but it has one of the best touch in it's price range if I'm not mistaken. Good on you ^^

I bought a long time ago for like $1000 USD and it's lasted quite nicely

almost time for a new one though

the "virtual hammers" are a little...hammered

[Melion]

@OP~ Thank you for this ^_^