T HE L EGEND B EHIND T HE F ANTASY A Journey With Nobuo Uematsu.

THE LEGEND BEHIND THE FANTASYA Journey With Nobuo Uematsu

ONCE UPON A TIME…Nobuo Uematsu’s Early Years

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Born March 21st, 1959 in Kochi, Kochi Prefecture, Japan.

Started to play the Piano at age 11.

Self-taught and inspired/influenced by Elton John.

Graduated from Kanagawa University.

CAREER START

Played the keyboard for some amateur bands.

Composed TV commercials here and there.

Worked at a Music Rental Shop in Tokyo.

In 1985 he was offered to write some music for a video game company called “Square.”

He considered it a side job and planned it to stay that way until 1987 with the release of Final Fantasy.

First Jobs His “Big Break”

Considered to be the last game made by Square after 15 previous unsuccessful video game attempts. Became the flagship for the Final Fantasy series and saved the company.

He continued to write music for more than 30 titles but most notably the Final Fantasy series which made his work famous world wide. His music would continue to define and innovate video game music scores.

PRIMARY CAREER, WORK AND DEMAND

Was the primary composer for most Final Fantasy titles.

Helped with several other major successes such as Chrono Trigger, some of the SaGa series, and others.

Went on to compose music for anime, films, and anything else that came his way.

Uematsu was the first video game music composer to win “Song of the Year (Western Music)” in 1999, also the first time a video game song had won such an honor.

In 2010 he was also the first composer to be included in a major classical label commemorating video game music by Benyamin Nuss.

Increasing Opportunities

Some “Firsts”

THE MUSIC STILL PLAYS ON In 2002 Uematsu joined

some friends and started the band “The Black Mages.”

Nobuo Uematsu left Square in 2004 to form the company “Smile Please” and a music production company called “Dog Ear Records.”

Works freelance writing music for anyone who can afford him.

DANCING MADListening Guide

(note: Distant Worlds version)

HISTORY

Last boss song for Final Fantasy VI against the insane clown, Kefka Palazzo.

Uematsu just kept going with the song instead of timing it to the usual 4 to 5 minute limit.

Dante Aligheri's “Divine Comedy” was the main inspiration for art and music.

MOVEMENTS (PART I)

Cantata for Dancing I: Mors ego sum mortis

Dramatic tension builds from the get-go.

Organ, strings, choir and percussion brilliantly set the mood for the song.

Establishes themes.

Cantata for Dancing II: Fuga Kefka

Organ solo mixed with choir on a syncopated rhythms.

Theme is repeated but building crescendo to fortissimo.

1st Movement 2nd Movement

MOVEMENTS (PART II)

Cantata for Dancing III: Sprach Kefka

Top and bottom counterpoint melodies.

Organ cadenza. Tempo slows and

later resumes allegro pace.

Organ fugal rhythm.

Dancing Madly (First Form)

Change to steady rock melody.

More synthesized instrument quality.

Faster pace representing the chaos and madness of Kefka.

3rd Movement 4th Movement

MOVEMENTS (PART III)

Dancing Madly (Second Form)

Organ woeful sounding melody starts and is quickly joined by the rest of the orchestra.

Guitar solo in the background that sounds Bach-inspired.

5th Movement

Hear the Distant Worlds version

Hear the Original version

Hear The Black Mages version

ONE-WINGED ANGELListening Guide

(note: Distant Worlds version)

HISTORY Last boss song of Final

Fantasy VII, famous for being the first video game music to come as close as possible to orchestra and choir sounds despite being on limited sound technology.

Fan-favorite hands down; always the encore piece in concerts.

Inspired by Isaiah 6:2. (However, the name and title isn’t in reference to these six wings, but the seventh black wing on Sephiroth’s arm)

LYRICS

CHORUS Estuans interius Ira vehementi Sephiroth

REPEAT CHORUS Sors immanis Et inanis REPEAT CHORUS Veni, veni, venias, Ne me

mori facias. Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa Ne me mori facias Generosa Sephiroth

CHORUS Burning inside with violent

anger Sephiroth REPEAT CHORUS Fate - monstrous And

empty REPEAT CHORUS Come, come, O come, Do

not let me die. Glorious Do not let me die Noble Come, come, O come, Glorious Do not let me die Noble Sephiroth

Latin Translation

1ST PART

Strong beginning that is instantly recognizable.

Changes from staccato to conjunct textures.

Small repeating sets that build in instruments and crescendo.

The choir sings the recurring motif that will be heard throughout the rest of the song.

Orchestra fully supports the word painting by the choir.

Chorus repeats.

0:00 to 1:00 1:00 to 2:00

2ND PART

Trumpet descant above repeating chorus.

Strings bring out the Psycho-inspired theme.

Calling and responding from various instruments echoing each other.

A sudden ritardando and all instruments and choir reunite.

New instruments take over main melody and a xylophone plays in tandem with flutes.

Begin final set of lyrics starting with men repeating an underlying theme.

2:00 to 3:00 3:00 to 4:00

3RD PART

The women have joined the men but they are singing elongated single words while men continue their quick steady rhythm.

Chorus returns full strength.

Instruments fade out and then all come back together for final “Sephiroth!”

4:00 to End

Listen to the Original version

Listen to the Distant Worlds version

Listen to the Advent Children (Black Mages) version

WORKS CITED / BIBLIOGRAPHY "Dancing Mad - The Final Fantasy Wiki." Final Fantasy Wiki -

Welcome to the Final Fantasy Wiki! Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Dancing_Mad>.

"One-Winged Angel - The Final Fantasy Wiki." Final Fantasy Wiki - Welcome to the Final Fantasy Wiki! Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/One_Winged_Angel>.

"A Day in the Life of Nobuo Uematsu." Www.nobuouematsu.com. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobegm2.html>.

Interview by EGM.com, or EGMnow.com, Electronic Game Magazine

"Destructoid Interview: Final Fantasy Composer Nobuo Uematsu -Destructoid." Destructoid: For Gamers. By Gamers. *. Web. 10 Oct. 2011. <http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-interview-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu-128986.phtml>.