The Music of Final Fantasy - Orchestral Album (2012)

Written by Joshua Iyer
Published: September 6, 2014 at 8:53 PM [UTC]

"The Music of Final Fantasy has been, since the release of the initial game in the series, an integral part of the gaming experience. Most of the games' original soundtracks have garnered much critical praise from various sources, ranging from video game magazines to professional music reviewers. Alongside the original soundtracks, many compilations and arranged albums have been produced over the years, to similar acclaim by fans and critics. Until the release of Final Fantasy XII, the chief music composer of the main series was Nobuo Uematsu, who was the sole creative force from the original Final Fantasy up to Final Fantasy IX."

-Final Fantasy Wiki

I have never touched a Final Fantasy game; I've just had friends who have enjoyed it, and recently, I have discovered its amazing music again, which is about all I know about it. Uematsu has created wonderful, orchestral music that could pass off as stand-alone Romantic music of its own. One of the reasons for this is the fact that he uses a natural orchestra, similar to what Kondo did for the Zelda music.

I have listened to two medleys from the first three games of the series, one made in 2002, one in 2004, both from the Final Fantasy Orchestra Album for the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary. In the interest of getting information about these pieces, they were both performed by the FiLMharmonic Orchestra, at Rudolfinum, Dvorak Hall. (It is one of the most sought after orchestras, I assume for video game scores, in Europe, and one listen to their music and it is easy to see why.) I really love that the music has a specific feel to it, as if it can only be heard for an RPG game, like with town themes and whatnot. The score calls for both the harp and the piano, both instruments that sound very nicely with the rest of the orchestra and two instruments I will always use in my music. (A lot of scores I listen to just have harp.) In any case, click the link below to look at the video I found that got me into this mess. Overall, out of every (orchestral) video game score I've listened to, even surpassing the Zelda 25th Anniversary CD Collection, I believe this music to be some of the most "classical" (more Romantic but you get the idea) I've heard from a contemporary (video game) composer. It's a beautiful score, and in the video, there's even an opera with Japanese text and such... Apparently, the opera was actually included in the game. Either way, I think this music will be something I'll begin to look into on the side of everything else, as a means of relaxation when I go for walks and need some orchestral music to listen to. Hopefully you will enjoy this music as much as me, especially if you HAVE played the games. :)

Tracklist from the Medleys mentioned before

- "Medley 2002" (????2002, {{{2}}}?) -
"Prelude (Final Fantasy)" (?????? [FINAL FANTASY], {{{2}}}?)
"Main Theme (Final Fantasy)" (???·??? [FINAL FANTASY], {{{2}}}?)
"Matoya's Cave (Final Fantasy)" (??????? [FINAL FANTASY], {{{2}}}?)
"Elia, the Maiden of Water (Final Fantasy III)" (??????? [FINAL FANTASY III], {{{2}}}?)
"Chocobos! (Final Fantasy III)" (???????? [FINAL FANTASY III], {{{2}}}?)
"Rebel Army Theme (Final Fantasy II)" (??????? [FINAL FANTASY IV], {{{2}}}?)

- "Medley 2004" (????2004, {{{2}}}?) -
"Town (Final Fantasy)" (? [FINAL FANTASY], {{{2}}}?)
"Main Theme (Final Fantasy II)" (?????? [FINAL FANTASY II], {{{2}}}?)
"Eternal Wind (Final Fantasy III)" (???? [FINAL FANTASY III, {{{2}}}?)
"Battle Scene 2 (Final Fantasy II)" (????? II [FINAL FANTASY II], {{{2}}}?)
"Tozas (Final Fantasy III)" (???? [FINAL FANTASY III], {{{2}}}?)

Final Fantasy Orchestral Album

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And a quick side note, as I am finishing up "Birds of Prey", that tone poem I may have mentioned before! It's about half an hour long right now, and I'm just beginning the finale section. I hope to have a recording of this piece, specifically for my college composition auditions, but we shall see what happens.

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