Discography of Final Fantasy IX

The music of the video game "Final Fantasy IX" was composed by regular series composer Nobuo Uematsu. It was his last exclusive "Final Fantasy" score. The "Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack", a compilation of all music in the game, was originally released on four Compact Discs by DigiCube in 2000, and was re-released by Square Enix in 2004. A Best Of and arranged soundtrack album of musical tracks from the game entitled "Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection" was released in 2000 by Tokyopop Soundtrax. "Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS", an album of music from the game's full motion videos and extra tracks, was released by DigiCube in 2000 and re-released in 2004, and a collection of piano arrangements of songs from the original soundtrack composed by Shiro Hamaguchi and performed by Louis Leerink was released as "Piano Collections Final Fantasy IX" in 2001.

The game's soundtrack is best known for the song "Melodies of Life", the theme song of the game, performed by Emiko Shiratori in Japanese and English. The song was released as a single by King Records in 2000. The soundtrack was based around a theme of medieval music, and was heavily inspired by previous "Final Fantasy" games, incorporating themes and motifs from earlier soundtracks. The music was overall well received; reviewers found the soundtrack to be both well done and enjoyable, though opinions were mixed as to the reliance on music of previous games. Several songs, especially "Melodies of Life" and "Vamo' Alla Flamenco", remain popular today, and have been performed numerous times in orchestral concert series, as well as been published in arranged and compilation albums by Square as well as outside groups.

Creation and influence

In discussions with director Hiroyuki Itō, Uematsu was told "It'd be fine if you compose tracks for the eight characters, an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten tracks or so." However, Uematsu spent an estimated year composing and producing "around 160" pieces for "Final Fantasy IX", with 140 appearing in the game.cite web | title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu | url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html | work=Famitsu | accessdate=2007-06-17] cite web | title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by PSX IGN | url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/round.html | publisher=IGN | accessdate=2007-06-17]

Uematsu composed with a piano, and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the event designer will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written." Uematsu felt previous games "Final Fantasy VII" and "Final Fantasy VIII" had a mood of realism, but that "Final Fantasy IX" was more of a fantasy, so "a serious piece as well as silly, fun pieces could fit in." He felt the theme was medieval music, and was given a break to travel in Europe for inspiration - "looking at old castles in Germany and so on." However, the music was not entirely composed in the medieval mode, as Uematsu claims that "it would be unbalanced" and "a little boring". He aimed for a "simple, warm" style and included uncommon instruments such as a kazoo and dulcimer. Uematsu also included motifs from older "Final Fantasy" games "because "Final Fantasy IX" was returning to the roots, so to speak" and incorporated ideas such as "the old intro for battle music" and arranged the Volcano theme from "Final Fantasy" and the Pandemonium theme from "Final Fantasy II", as well as others from the series. Uematsu has claimed several times that "Final Fantasy IX" is his favorite work, as well as the one he is most proud of. [cite web | title=“SMILE, PLEASE!”: NEO INTERVIEWS FINAL FANTASY COMPOSER, NOBUO UEMATSU | url=http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 | work=Neo Magazine | accessdate=2007-06-17] [cite web | title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=7033 | publisher=GamesIndustry.biz | accessdate=2007-06-18] He also stated in the liner notes for the "Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack" album that he was "glad that [he] was able to join this project." [cite web | author=Uematsu, Nobuo | title=Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack Liner Notes | staff=Matt Easby | date=2000-06-14 | url=http://www.chudahs-corner.com/liners/index.php?catalog=SSCX-10043%7E6 | publisher=Chudah's Corner | accessdate=2008-03-01]

Albums

"Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack"

Infobox Album
Name = Final Fantasy IX
Original Soundtrack
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu


Cover size = 150
Released = August 30, 2000
May 10, 2004 (re-release)
Recorded = Sound City, Tokyo
Genre =
Length = Disc 1: 72:05
Disc 2: 71:10
Disc 3: 71:30
Disc 4: 71:54
Label = DigiCube
Square Enix (re-release)
Producer =
Reviews = "Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack" is a soundtrack album containing musical tracks from the game, composed and produced by Nobuo Uematsu. It spans four discs and 110 tracks, covering a duration of 4:46:31. It was first released on August 30, 2000, in Japan, by DigiCube, and subsequently re-released on May 10, 2004, by Square Enix. The original release bears the catalog numbers "SSCX-10043-46" and the re-release bears the catalog numbers "SQEX-10009-12".cite web | author=Gann, Patrick; Schweitzer, Ben| title=Final Fantasy IX OST | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff9ost/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-01]

Track listing

"Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection"

Infobox Album
Name = Final Fantasy IX:
Uematsu's Best Selection
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu
Released = August 21, 2000
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 74:16
Label = Tokyopop Soundtrax
Producer =
Reviews = "Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection" is a soundtrack album composed of popular musical tracks from the "Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack" album. It was arranged by Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi, Kunihiko Kurosawa, and Haruo Kondo. Vocals were again performed by Emiko Shiratori for "Melodies of Life". It spans 33 tracks and covers a duration of 74:16. The first 32 tracks correspond to tracks on the "Final Fantasy IX: Original Soundtrack" album, while the last track, an arranged version of "A Place to Call Home", can only be found on this album. It was first released on August 21, 2000 worldwide by Tokyopop Soundtrax, with English track names. The release bears the catalog number "TPCD 0201-2".cite web | author=Wilson, Mike | title=Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff9uematsu/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-01]

"Piano Collections Final Fantasy IX"

Infobox Album
Name = Piano Collections Final Fantasy IX
Type = Soundtrack
Artist = Nobuo Uematsu, Shiro Hamaguchi
Released = January 24, 2001
July 22, 2004 (re-release)
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 53:44
Label = DigiCube
Square Enix (re-release)
Producer =
Reviews = "Piano Collections Final Fantasy IX" is a collection of "Final Fantasy IX" music composed by Nobuo Uematsu, arranged for the piano by Shiro Hamaguchi, and performed by Louis Leerink. It spans 14 tracks and covers a duration of 53:44. It was first released on January 24, 2001, in Japan by DigiCube, and subsequently re-released on July 22, 2004, by Square Enix. The original release bears the catalog number "SSCX-10048" and the re-release bears the catalog number "SQEX-10027".cite web | author=Gann, Patrick | title=Final Fantasy IX Piano Collections | publisher=RPGFan | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/ff9piano/index.html | accessdate=2008-03-01]

Melodies of Life

Infobox Single
Name = Melodies of Life
Type =
Artist = Emiko Shiratori
alt Artist =
Album =
Published =
Released = August 2, 2000
Recorded =
Genre =
Length = 23:17
Writer =
Composer =
Label = King Records
Producer = "Melodies of Life" is the theme song of "Final Fantasy IX", and consists primarily of two themes that were frequently used in the game itself, the Overworld theme ("Crossing Those Hills"), and a lullaby that is sung by Dagger.cite web | author=Smith, David | year=2007 | title=Final Fantasy IX "Melodies of Life" Single | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/083/083491p1.html | publisher=IGN | accessdate=2007-04-28] It was performed by Emiko Shiratori in both the Japanese and English versions, arranged by Shiro Hamaguchi, and composed, like the rest of the game, by Nobuo Uematsu. The lyrics were written by game director Hiroyuki Ito (credited as Shiomi) in the Japanese version and Alexander O. Smith in the English version. The song was released as a single by King Records on August 2, 2000, and contains both the English and Japanese versions, an instrumental version, and a bonus track named "Galway Sky". The single covers a duration of 23:17 and has a catalog number of "KICS-811". [cite web | title=Final Fantasy IX: Melodies of Life - Emiko Shiratori | url=http://www.squaresound.com/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-emiko-shiratori-p30.html | publisher=SquareSound | accessdate=2008-03-01]

Reception and legacy

"Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack" was well received; many reviewers found that it was a "good" soundtrack, though not without faults. Josh Bizeau and Roko Zaper of Soundtrack Central especially liked it, finding it to be "a blessing for Final Fantasy music",cite web | author=Engelhorn, Isaac; Bizeau, Josh; Zaper, Roko; Tilton, Chris | title=Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack | url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/stc/reviews/ff9ost.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central| accessdate=2008-03-02] and both Patrick Gann of RPGFan and Isaac Engelhorn of Soundtrack Central felt it was Uematsu's second-best work to date, behind only the soundtrack of "Final Fantasy VI". Ben Schweitzer of RPGFan, however, found that the heavy reliance of the soundtrack on music and themes from previous "Final Fantasy" soundtracks resulted in a sense of "stretched creativity" and "a bit of blandness", though he still felt it was not "a bad soundtrack... [but] not really a great soundtrack." Other reviewers, however, such as Engelhorn and Tyler Schulley of Final Fantasy Symphony, enjoyed the fact that it pulled from previous soundtracks, feeling that it gave the album "the classic feel of the older Final Fantasies" while still being "original and beautiful". [cite web | author=Schulley, Tyler | title=Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack | url=http://www.ffsymphony.net/staff_reviews.php?review_id=18&soundtrack_id=8 | publisher=Final Fantasy Symphony| accessdate=2008-03-02] Reviewers were much less pleased with "Final Fantasy IX: Uematsu's Best Selection", finding it to have a "great track listing" but that it felt as if " [they] tried to get as many tracks on the disc as they could", with the result that many tracks were cut too short. "Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS", on the other hand, was very well received, with reviewers finding the songs to have "great dynamics" and "incredibly well made", and that the "orchestrations work wonders with Uematsu's incidental music." [cite web | author= Svendsen, Raymond | title=Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack Plus | url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/stc/reviews/ff9ostp.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central| accessdate=2008-03-02] "Piano Collections Final Fantasy IX" was also well received, with reviewers finding the album "enjoyable" and "a pleasant surprise", although they did find some of the arrangements to be "a bit on the simple side". [cite web | author= Corn, Adam | title=Final Fantasy IX Piano Collections | url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/stc/reviews/ff9pc.htm | publisher=Soundtrack Central| accessdate=2008-03-02]

The Black Mages have arranged four pieces from "Final Fantasy IX". These are "Hunter's Chance" and "Vamo' Alla Flamenco" from the album ', published in 2004 [(December 22, 2004). "The Black Mages II: The Skies Above". Universal Music. UPCH-1377] , and "Assault of the Silver Dragons" and "Grand Cross" from the album ' , published in 2008. [(March 19, 2008). "The Black Mages III: Darkness and Starlight". Sony Music Distribution. DERP-10002] Additionally, Uematsu continues to perform certain pieces in his "Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy" concert series. [cite web | author=Schnieder, Peer | title=Dear Friends: Music from Final Fantasy | publisher=IGN | date=2005-05-11 | url=http://music.ign.com/articles/513/513292p1.html | accessdate=2008-03-01] The music of "Final Fantasy IX" has also appeared in various official concerts and live albums, such as "20020220 music from FINAL FANTASY", a live recording of an orchestra performing music from the series including "Vamo' Alla Flamenco". [cite web| url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/20020220/index.html|title=20020220 - Music from FINAL FANTASY| publisher=RPGFan| accessdate=2008-03-01] Additionally, "Vamo' Alla Flamenco" was performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra for the concert tour, [cite web|url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/f/ffdistantworlds.shtml|title=Distant Worlds - Music from Final Fantasy - Album Information |publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-03-01] while "Not Alone" was performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in the "" concert series. [cite web| url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/albums/dvds/tourdejapon.shtml|title=Album Information - Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy DVD|publisher=Square Enix Music Online|accessdate=2008-03-01] Independent but officially licensed releases of "Final Fantasy IX" music have been composed by such groups as Project Majestic Mix, which focuses on arranging video game music. [cite web | author=Rzeminski, Lucy | title=Project Majestic Mix: A Tribute to Nobuo Uematsu - Gold Edition | publisher=RPGFan | date=2002-07-02 | url=http://www.rpgfan.com/soundtracks/pmm-gold/index.html | accessdate=2008-08-13] Selections also appear on Japanese remix albums, called "dojin music", and on English remixing websites. [cite web | title=Game: Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation) | url=http://www.ocremix.org/game/final-fantasy-ix-ps1/ | publisher= OverClocked ReMix | accessdate=2008-03-01]

References

External links

* [http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/ Nobuo Uematsu's official website]
* [http://na.square-enix.com/music/tunes/ff/ Square Enix's official music store]