Masashi Hamauzu Solo Album
 

I'm surprised this wasn't posted here. I'll be ordering this for sure.

http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=SQEX-10098

I must say, I'm looking forward to this. I'm a fan of the three works from Hamauzu listed in the product description. However, I'm most looking forward to the new material, to be honest, I hold high expectations.

Ideally, my favourite pieces from him would be arranged, but I can't say my favourites are widely viewed as the best. And example being his "To the End of the Abyss" from FFX. The crowd favourite "Decisive Battle" should get some attention, I would assume. (I just got a thought: an orchestral arrangement of "Traveling Company" would be pretty awesome. ^_^)

I don't think I can choose any specific tracks from SaGa Frontier II; they're all just pretty flawless. o.0"

I'd like to see tracks such as "Perpetual Movements" and "UNLIMITED: SaGa Overture" (<3) get arranged. All of the battle themes from the game would be spectacular, too.

I hope there's no Dirge of Cerberus stuff...I know the music has it's fans, but I'm definitely not one of them. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon is great, of couse. Overall, I'm highly anticipating this release; if only more composers did their own works like this with arrangements.

Perhaps some FF XIII music might make its way to the album?

I can agree with Muzza's post word for word. Although to be honest, I'm not exactly crazy about Hamauzu's orchestrated tracks.

Just thank god there's nothing from DoC on there.

There's probably going to be more Unlimited SaGa tracks on this album than you think. In an interview a while back, Hamauzu and Yamazaki talked about a lot of the songs and how they would like to re-arrange them ("DG Comfort" was one of them). It was a great interview.

Dirge of Cerberus didn't rock my world or anything but it was decent. I own the soundtracks for FFX, SaGa Frontier II and UNLIMITED SaGa, so I'm more intrigued by the new arrangements that will be featured on this album. I wouldn't mind seeing some arrangements of his work in Musashiden II BLADEMASTER, or Gun Hazard, even. I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

That says of 24 themes 12 are new compositions. Plus, while there are a few strings quartet-based tracks, the arrangement basically centers on piano. FYI, this album is the first installment of SE composer best series. What is going to be published next? Uematsu? Mitsuda? Or Nakano?

Hmm...You can bet Yoko Shimomura will be a part of the series in some shape or form. I'd like to see Nakano featured as well.

But for the love of god, no Kenji Ito. I love the guy, I really do, but once you've heard one Saga soundtrack, you've heard them all. His arrangements aren't much better.

A Mitsuda arrangement CD would be interesting, but would he do it? Maybe it would be the mythical Chrono Cross arrange album he's been talking about for the last 200,000 years.

And Uematsu's involvement in the series is a given, although it's anybody's guess how good the arrangements will be.

Hamaauzu only has certain sleeper tracks that appeal to me, I don't generally look forward to his stuff since it seems too modern or aimless at times. I will definitely check this out if the likes of Enigmatic Scheme, Decisive Battle, Ruckerinnerung or Todosengel are present. That said, I think I'll do a bit more research to find out if he has any more songs that are particularly like Enigmatic Scheme, hoping that's not the exception.

You'll be disappointed. For Hamauzu, abstract creativity comes first. His melodic works are ''exceptions''. Though he does write some wonderful tunes.

Anyway, I'm really looking forward to this. I hope we get some concert works. Perhaps a sonata for piano and violin? :rolleyes:

If the rumors are true, a piano arrangement of soaring wings will be included. Yeah..

Nice! I only heard about this news today. Really looking forward to it too. Although, it seems difficult to do DoC on a piano and strings. Maybe Calm before the storm would have been possible?

Actually I'm hoping for some DoC in it, this quote could keep that dream alive:

"Visiblement, les compositeurs de Square Enix se préparent à nous offrir des albums plus ou moins solo. Masashi Hamauzu ouvre la marche avec un disque au titre encore non annoncé mais qui a de quoi faire baver : une sorte de compilation arrangée de ses compositions pour les jeux Square (de SaGa Frontier 2 à Dirge of Cerberus, semble-t-il) plus quelques musiques inédites. Et vous savez quoi ? Hamauzu s'est rendu dans sa ville natale, Munich (Allemagne), pour enregistrer les musiques !

Sortie prévue pour le 30 mai prochain, référence SQEX-10098, prix 2800 yens. Le tout arrangé et produit par Hamauzu lui-même, évidemment !"

Boy, this sounds like something I wrote. :tpg:

If we refer to the Japanese description of this album, then SaGa Frontier 2, FFX, Unlimited SaGa, Musashiden 2 and Dirge of Cerberus are mentioned. I would definitely welcome some music from Dirge of Cerberus.

If you refer to Hamauzu, how do you do that?

My style is: Hamuzuian, Hamauzuidal, Hamauzuic?

I prefer Hamuzuian, but I think Hamauzuic is the right way.

I... don't know. What about Hamauzuesque?

Good news today:

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/s...051/index.html

A list of his arranged game music has been added.

SaGa Frontier 2: Feltschlacht5 (5? huh?), Interludium, Zufall and Botshaft
Unlimited SaGa: Nalgae (Korean version of Soaring Wings)
Dirge of Cerberus: Forgotten Tears and Splinter of Sadness
FFX: To the End of Abyss (CD4 track 11)
Musashiden 2: Symphony of Fire1, Symphony of Fire2, Silent Dialogue, Eternal Sorrow and Aqua Memory

Nice!

That doesn't sound too pianistic? And does he live in Germany (the title...)?

He recorded the album in Munich, his birthplace.

*performs victory dance*
I don't like the Musashiden selection, but then again, the tracklist for FFXPC didn't sound too good at first, but he made some great arragements.

Yes, the only one I really like is Aqua Memory, I hope for a longer version with a variation or two.

Is it a typo? Or there existed the unreleased version of Feltschlacht? And no "Soaring Wings"? (Hamauzu said this album would have that...). Anyway, since I was disappointed when the SF2 arrange album didn't have any battle themes, it's good news.

One matter for concern is, though many online shops say it's the first release of SQUARE ENIX Composers' Best series, but the title of this album doesn't indicate it at all, and it's quite strange that more than half tracks of a composer's best album are additional compositions. So, it could be a bum steer.

Awesome. :D I can't wait to hear this tracks arrangment. <3 Thankyou Hamauzu-san.

I'm full expected for other 13 orignal tracks.No doubt,Ill buy this CD:)

Go!Go! Hamauzu san

It is not a typo. You could check the link I posted, it is written "Feldschlacht5". And did you read my post correctly? :erm: I said Nalgae is the Korean version of Soaring Wings. :p

I don't see why the title should reflect the fact that it is the first album in a series. On the contrary, it is far better when they make it sound unique.


Also, since we are talking about Hamauzu, Ryo Yamazaki (his fellow synthesizer operator) published some exclusive samples from Dirge of Cerberus. Bad quality, but interesting nevertheless.

PV1: the very first music written for the game.
PV2: the first music, but with piano and chorus added to the mix.
PV3: a 12-second sample ordered by the director of the game.
TGS: the music used in the first trailer of the game, during the Tokyo Game Show in 2004.
E3: and finally, the music used in the E3 2005 trailer (also on the Japanese website).

I thought it might be the typo by someone who updated that page, not yours of course.
Sorry.:eagletear:
I didn't say this album should have been named as 'SQUARE-ENIX composers' Best series Vol.1 XXXX XXXX'. Nor is this title bad. The thing is, SE is actually going to pubilsh thier composers' best albums and this one is the first release unless the online store's descriptions tell a lie, but this album's title and tracklisting seemed less indicative of that. So, I concerned the online shop's explanation was wrong. However, if SE is going to publish more than albums that pretty much consist of things already released, that's bliss.

Well, anyway, this may be off-topic. I'm sorry if you were somehow offended.

Holy freaking crap. Those are awesome. Is there any way to get these in higher quality?

It is to be titled "VIELEN DANK -Masashi Hamauzu-"
according to GMRonline

I wasn't, don't worry. In any case, we just have to wait for the announcement of another "solo" album.

I'm afraid no. :(

For those who are not familiar with German, the title "vielen dank" means "thank you very much".

I am rabid in anticipation of this. Hamauzu is my favorite, and when I listen to SaGa Frontier 2, my hero.

I think this album is something in the style of Chocobo dungeon the arrangement version (which I just discovered some weeks ago :(). There is this nice violin/piano piece in there that's just marvellous.

http://www.amazon.co.jp/Vielen-Dank-.../dp/B000P28RKI

There seems to be a review on Amazon Japan. All I can understand is that the arrangements are either flute+piano or piano+string quartet. I wish they had used a small orchestra like in "Rhapsody".

Good enough for me!

Tracklist is there:

http://www.gmronline.com/info.asp?CatNumber=SQEX-10098

All names are in German. :tpg: Anyway, two samples and some pictures are present on the official website:

http://www.square-enix.co.jp/music/sem/page/vielendank/

Hamauzu, I love you. :jam:

That first sample song is subtle:

He uses 5/8 - 4/8 and right after that 6/8 - 4/8.

You don't hear the rhythm change but it just is there.

So very sweet, and so very Hamauzu.
Yes...this album MUST be mine when the time comes. :)

Yeah, I'm definitely getting my hands on this sucker. The samples sound terrific.

You know, I never was a huge fan of Soaring Wings, but this version is just beautiful. I need to preorder this album.

Currently listening to the samples . . . I shivered. It's that good. I need to get this album . . .

I'm extremely impressed with the samples as well. This is shaping up to be a very nice album. I'm definitely feelin' the track selections too. I can't wait for this one.

I'm also concerned about the length of the pieces, all under 3 minutes - 45 minutes total? Or 70 minutes with 3-4 minutes each? Not very long to be good enough and soaring wings already is so long, making the others even shorter.

"Feldschlacht V" is 2-minute long. This is pretty short, like the SaGa Frontier 2 piano pieces, but nevertheless enough to enjoy these...pieces.

Oh, maybe you want to listen to Feldschlacht V. Here you go. I'm in love.

Where did you get that!!!!

It's a sampler CD and it's track 5. In the CD itself it is track 20. I'm confused.

That sample provided by Zanasea was very impressive. Again with the shivers. May 30th is soon approaching us . . .

Does Zanasea know Hamauzu personally? I know Zanasea has done interviews with Hamauzu, maybe the composer provided some samples?

I have interviewed Uematsu, but not Hamauzu (I would so like to, only to say how much I love him :erm: ). This sample comes from the Square Enix Music Sampler CD given at the SQEX Party last weekend. There are no other samples from Vielen Dank.

Well if the date is based on Japan it's supposed to be out already :X

Transcribing time begins now!

Did anyone notice there is one new sample at that site?

And it's a piano piece! Perfect for me to perform for an audience. I'm going to layer the second melody in the left hand with the actual melody in the right hand.

No comments on this now that it's been out for a bit now? I like all the songs but personally, they are all way too short for me. I think each track had more room to develop, and it comes off as more of background music to listen on a passing fancy now. Hopefully some official sheet music eventually gets released but that might be too optimistic.

Agreed. There isn't room for arrangement to shine when there's just enough time to fit in the base melody. Furthermore, I was slightly disappointed to hear that most of this was just piano --- I like piano, but I was hoping for a little more variety. The new tracks are decent; I haven't had time for them to grow on me at all though... Overall, I think this album serves best as a stroll down memory lane; a recap of some of Masashi's best melodies. I'll have to hold out for FFXIII to get my main Hamauzu fix.

I'm really not disappointed just because it's solo piano music!

So does anyone know if there are going to be sheets for piano solo? If not, is there someone who wants to transcribe it?

I find this album to be very nice, perfect to study to. It's so calming and peaceful, though not particularly memorable for me.

And it came right in time for my exams. Woot!

No one can say that "Calm Before the Storm" was anything less than gorgeous. I would have died to hear that arranged on the piano in this album. Overall, quite a good listen. The new stuff harkens to his old style while the arrangements bring a new layer to already stellar pieces.

While I was a bit disappointed by the lack of variety on this album, I am pleased overall with the presentation. It's not on the same level as some of the top-tier piano albums out there (Like Arc the Lad, or even Saga Frontier II Piano Pieces) but it does hold it's own pretty well. The shortness of most of the tracks was also a little disconcerting, but I'll deal.

I give it a B+.

Little question: are there any partitions out there now? I've waited one month already, so if it stays like this and nobody is against it, I'm going to transcribe them.

Either way I'll get my piano hands on those pieces...

Be careful, nobody will understand you if you write "partitions": the correct term is score.

To answer your question, the only score you may find is the one given by Hamauzu during the Square Enix Party, but it had I think only 1 or 2 tracks and is most likely very hard to find.

So yes, you can transcribe.

Oh right, partitions is a bit too French. But sheet music is understandable right?

By the way, you have those scores of the Square Enix Party somewhere?

Transcribing is a bit against the author's rights in terms of the right to publish the score, and also the right to adapt his music. It could have economical consequences like Hamauzu being unable to get the optimal profit out of publishing his score in the future. But oh well....

Afaik Hamauzu is still an employee of SE, not a freelancer, and as such has a stable income most likely not depending on the actual amount of work he does or the amount of sales his work does.

Now how didn't I come up with that reasoning! That means the employer SE has all the author's rights, unless the contract says differently. And SE has enough money already, so no problem then.

All pianists keep your eyes peeled on my transcription thread, I've already transcribed Kaki and Soaring Wings. More to come.

This is the sheet music from the Square Enix Party.

http://www.squarehaven.com/media/070...y/SQEP_145.jpg

My god, I transcribed that piece just a second ago, now I don't have the intention to change it to that score...

Mmm, on second thought, maybe I'll change it to that.