![]() ![]() The strings and brass take the several climaxes this piece has. The piece is basically a piano solo with ambient sounds backing it up. We heard it in the opening, so it has to surface somewhere throughout the album as well right? "Whisper of the Crystal" is another dungeon theme, with yet another unorthodox presentation. So far you are probably wondering where all the emotion is. In game, this is where the piece loops, but Shiina decides to be sneaky and fit the orchestral and choir game over theme to close the track. After that, the choir returns, with an electric guitar solo playing over top the piece. The strings take the march here for a small interlude. Shiina then decided to show off his skill with drums as a small drum solo opens the next section. After the choir is finished, we get to hear the first signs of electric guitar use mixed with an ethnic flute melody and a marching percussion. This track again pulls out all the stops with a chanting intro and epic choir in the A section. Another example of this would be "March". "The Meeting Place Is the Fountain Plaza" plays in the main city of the game, but it's very hard to tell that it is a town theme with its prominent violin and powerful orchestral harmony. One thing I thought was a little strange at first was just how "in your face" most of the compositions on here are. This is one of many absolute must listen tracks on this soundtrack. It carries such a sense of urgency that you might actually find yourself getting stressed listening to it. This track is only played in a cut scene, but could have easily passed as the normal battle theme. This high pitched piano takes the majority of the melody, while the strings, orchestra, and lower piano all take turns in backing it up. A deep rolling piano progression opens the piece with a sharp high pitched piano driving through the intro. ![]() The track is almost entirely piano driven, with the strings playing only harmony. "Enemy Attack" has a lot going on in it, so I'll try to do the best I can in explaining it. It's time to take a little break from the live orchestra and move on to something that is highly regarded as the best track on the album. ![]() The influence from the rest of the album is obviously here, but no one melody is actually reused. Now I say bits and pieces, because nothing here is technically arranged from anything else. This track does an amazing job closing the story of Senel and company by incorporating bits and pieces of themes from throughout the album. The last live orchestra piece I'll discuss for now is the game's final ending theme "Tales". This isn't my favorite of the orchestrations but its effectiveness for stressing the player out is unparalleled. Shiina demonstrates his skill as a composer by constantly offering unexpected twists and turns in the melody, which makes this piece have a very sinister feel to it. This is the first track that I could tell we were working with a live orchestra for several of the pieces. Moving on to some of the darker orchestral pieces, we have another dungeon theme "To Deliver the Feelings". It really is hard to believe this is played in a dungeon. Here we get to hear just how good he is at incorporating a powerful violin section without pulling from the somewhat darker tone this piece has over the last. Shiina keeps up this powerful orchestration in "Forest of No Return". I can't seem to listen to this section without getting a little teary eyed. After a dramatic crescendo, the full symphony pulls out all the stops for one of the most beautiful sections of any orchestral piece I've ever heard. This goes on for a bit, and then the piece suddenly stops. The woodwinds lead us into this piece tossing the melody back and forth with the orchestra. Shiina introduces us to the title screen with a lush orchestration full of hope and determination, "Melfes ~ Shining Blue". How so you may ask? Keep reading to find out! Body Nobody had anything to worry about though, as Shiina set the bar about a thousand times higher than any past Tales soundtrack to date. Shiina never had much experience prior to this, so his announcement came as a shock to most fans of the series. Driller" composer Go Shiina to the score. With this new idea, they also decided to assign "Mr. Dubbed "Project Melfes", Tales of Legendia was the beginning of a sub-division of the Tales Studio that would produce games that focused more on the battle system and less on the development of the world as a whole. While Sakuraba and Tamura were busy with the next "main" Tales entry, Namco decided they were going to take a somewhat different approach and release a new Tales game developed by a different team. Those familiar with the Tales series will immediately think of Motoi Sakuraba and Shinji Tamura as the sole leaders of the series' music until this point in time. ![]()
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