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Game Music

Preview Square Enix’s Upcoming Games: Square Enix Music Sampler CD Vol. 4 From TGS09

September 28, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Photo ©2005 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

We took a look at the Square Enix Music Sampler CD Vol. 3 last year after TGS, and this year’s volume looks like it’s breaking even more ground with music from Four Warriors of Light -Final Fantasy Gaiden-, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers, the Piano Collections Kingdom Hearts 2nd Album CD (all extremely long titles), and Final Fantasy XIII. There are also some bonuses here that don’t really show off what’s coming from Square Enix, but are rather a nice little treat for fans including a TGS 2007 trailer track from Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess and music from The World Ends With You.

As usual, however, if you weren’t in Japan for TGS, you’re likely going to have a difficult time finding this one. The Sampler discs are typically given away with every purchase at the Square Enix Music Store, and seemingly disappear after the show. It’s a shame, too, because this one looks like it’s a pretty awesome collection of tunes.

Watch for our review of the disc in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, hit the jump to see the full track listing. (more…)
Game Music

Feels Like A Dream: Symphonic Fantasies Report

September 17, 2009 | Audun Sorlie | 9 Comments Share this

Cologne is quickly turning into the western Mecca of game music events. Over the last few years, events such as Leipzig Symphonic Game Music Concert, Symphonic Shades and now Symphonic Fantasies have centered game music fans’ attention on the old German city.

Symphonic Fantasies is the second event in Thomas Böcker’s Symphonic series, with the first being last year’s amazing Symphonic Shades. Similar to Shades, which was a tribute to the work of Chris Hülsbeck, Fantasies is a tribute to the music of some of Square Enix’s most well known franchises. While the Leipzig events were under the Symphonic banner, starting with Shades it started to have a more themed setting. With Shades being one of the best live events I have experienced, expectations for Fantasies was sky high, and the global attention to the event was unlike any concert before it.

So, did it live up to the expectations? Keep on reading to find out! (more…)
Game Music

Preview the Symphonic Fantasies Concert: “Fanfare Overture” by Jonne Valtonen

March 10, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Hopefully the wonderfully-produced Symphonic Shades concert is still fresh in your minds, as Thomas Boecker’s next project is quickly approaching. Symphonic Fantasies, which we briefly told you about a couple months ago, is set to hit Clogne, Germany in September of this year, and will feature music from Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Kingdom Hearts, Secret of Mana, and other classics from Square Enix (I’m jealous!).

Boecker and his team have pulled out all the stops to promote this concert, going as far as to post the above pre-recording of the concert’s “Fanfare Overture,” which is an original composition by talented arranger and demoscene legend Jonne “Purple Motion” Valtonen. Check out the video above. The fact that this was pre-recorded also hints that there will be a full album release, but I don’t think anyone was doubting this would be the case. Be sure to watch for more information on this concert, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted as well.

What do you think of Valtonen’s opening fanfare? Better than other concert themes you’ve heard? Are you as jealous as I am that this show won’t be coming to the States?
Game Music

Symphonic Fantasies: A Concert With A Familiar Name Featuring The Best Of Square Enix

January 20, 2009 | Jayson Napolitano | 10 Comments Share this

Can you guess who’s putting this one on? If you think Symphonic Fantasies sounds similar to Symphonic Shades, you’re on the right track. Producer Thomas Boecker is at it again, but rather than featuring the works of a single composer as was the case with Symphonic Shades, Fantasies will spotlight the music of Square Enix, including music from Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and the Mana and Chrono series. Sounds like win to me!

Unfortunate for those of us in the States, the concert will be held at the Philharmonic Hall in Cologne, Germany. At least it’s set for September 12, 2009, giving you plenty of time to book your trip! So far, we know that the WDR Radio Orchestra and Choir will be performing alongside percussionist Rony Barrack and conductor Arnie Roth. If Thomas’s past productions are any indication, this should be a great show. Stay tuned for more information.

Are you Europeans happy to have somebody like Thomas Boecker around? Are you others with me in wondering when Thomas is going to bring a concert like this to the States?

Read the official press release for more details after the jump. (more…)