[Ronin]

So, I'm sure we've all watched the FFXIII trailer and the music was quite prominent. What're your thoughts so far?

I think it's pretty obvious that it's a Hamauzu piece in the trailer as it doesn't sound like the Main Theme (which Uematsu is composing), and it definitely sounds interesting with the mix of styles. The most prominent part is probably the violin melody and while not stunning, it's certainly more appealing than Sakimoto's style.

[Cessebabe]

Ronin, your the one who arranged Somnus Nemoris right? Just wanted to say that is was beautiful! Are you planning to post some sheet music soon?

[Ronin]

Hi Cessebabe, I did indeed do the arrangement, but because I arranged it in Cubase SX, I don't have any sheet music for it as of yet. There is a thread for my arrangement already setup here if you wish to discuss it further.

[NotQuiteNecessary]

I like it until the solo, actually, which is REALLY unusual. I generally love the violin (I do, after all, play it) but the whole thing sounds like something from out of Yuki Kajiura's scrape pile, or something she'd have arranged better and assigned to a more talented violinist; it's not a bad melody, per se, I'm just not at all thrilled with the delivery. Kajiura's the reigning queen of superfluous violin solos (look at any of her OSTS, I gaurantee there will be at least three songs with one in them) and I've been a huge fan of hers ever since I watched 'Noir'. I follow her work and I suppose it's spoiled me, because absolutely nothing else will do, now. Especially not on the violin, of all instruments, and especially when it was Kajiura's work that helped inspire me to start playing (along with Emilie Autumn, but that's quite another topic). It just doesn't thrill me the way a good violin solo does, and rightfully should.

It's better than Sakimoto though, I agree. I don't know what Square was playing at with FF XII, I really didn't like the music at all, and I expect good music from a square game.

[Finalfantasykid]

I wouldn't be surprised if the violin-ish song was the main battle theme, or A battle theme.

[Josh_1]

I found the trailer music to be awesome! Hamauzu seems quite up to the task as I thoroughly enjoyed all of his work for FF. Dirge was pretty good aside from a small handful of filler, and I find myself appreciating FFX more and more than I used to.

NotQuiteNecessary,

The violin solo sounds very Hamauzu-ish. I can't hear anything in it that would resemble Kajiura. Most of her music sounds the same to me...vocals, strings, some kind of electronic usage, and similar melodies that include predictable chord progressions and harmonies. Hamauzu used a full orchestra here (which is another thing Kajiura never usually writes for). So to compare this to Kajiura is like comparing Beethoven to Metallica.

[NotQuiteNecessary]

Originally Posted by Josh_1

NotQuiteNecessary,

The violin solo sounds very Hamauzu-ish. I can't hear anything in it that would resemble Kajiura. Most of her music sounds the same to me...vocals, strings, some kind of electronic usage, and similar melodies that include predictable chord progressions and harmonies. Hamauzu used a full orchestra here (which is another thing Kajiura never usually writes for). So to compare this to Kajiura is like comparing Beethoven to Metallica.

Comparing Hamauzu to Beethoven is a travesty. Allow me to open with that.

I adore Kajiura; some of her earlier work was quite instrumental (ha-ha, I made a funny) in inspiring me to play the violin. I will admit that she is not the technical best around and her more recent work hasn't measured up with her old at all (with the notable exception of the Xenosaga II OST, that was good), she is still a favorite of mine, as I love the sound of strings and electronica mixing together. When she gets it right, she is wonderful. She doesn't get it right much, but when she does, the effect is simply stunning. To me, at least.

That being said, I wasn't slamming Hamauzu. At all. I even said I LIKED the piece up until the solo, where it didn't sound like Hamauzu: it sounded like Hamauzu attempting to write something similar than one of those gartuitous, ornamental violin solos Kajiura adores so much, and not doing it as well to boot. Compare the solo in that piece to the solo in 'Canta per Me'. Kajiura is the reigning queen of violin solos, at least in the anime and video game composition arena; that is all I was saying. Orchestration? Hell, even ensembles? Kano, Uematsu, or yes, even Hamauzu could outdo her in a heartbeat. But when it comes to solo playing on the violin, nobody does it better than Yuki. And I was simply stating that in that way, she has spoiled me, and that she could have done it better. But she couldn't have done the orchestra how he did; I won't claim that.

[Josh_1]

I respect your opinion and I understand what you mean. I didn't mean to sound standoff-ish. I was just trying to point out that he does do some amazing string work, too. Where Kajiura specializes in violin solos, Hamauzu mastered cello solos. His composition Aeolic Guardian is proof of that (a work of genius, imo). I also loved his new theme for Yuffie in Dirge of Cerberus. The violin and cello were well written and represented the asian sound well. He has written plenty of noteworthy violin solos in his career. There are a few solos Kajiura dominated on and I am talking mainly about the solo in one of the Jr. themes from Xenosaga II. It was the one that sounded more acoustic with the killer violin solo in the middle of the track. THAT was pure genius I must admit, and I find Xenosaga II a fine score with few tracks that I skip heh. I think the last thing I had listened from Yuki was the Tsubasa series of scores. The first album was, imo, the best. Anyways, I shouldn't stray too far from the subject :P. His music for Musashiden II and Dirge of Cerberus had some great violin work, and if you haven't check those out I would recommend it... especially Musashiden II as it also has some of the best music I've heard from Junya Nakano, too. The game blew, but it's music was well done.

[NotQuiteNecessary]

I'll certainly look into it now; I didn't get Dirge of Cerberus because it got such terrible reviews but I'll look into it now that I've heard such accolades given to the music. Wouldn't be the first time I've ignored bad gameplay for the graphics, plot, and music (Rule of Rose, anyone?).

That being said, I still think Square dropped the ball when it came to the music in Final Fantasy XII. It bored me, for the most part. Though I did like this one's obligatory arrangement of the Final Fantasy March.

[Ronin]

I wasn't that fond of the Dirge of Cerberus music myself. I found it quite forgettable as nothing really stood out. I much preferred Hamauzu's work on Unlimited: SaGa.