[News] Symphonic Fantasies Concert to Celebrate Music of Square Enix

Originally Posted by Hamu-Sumo

I'll start crying should Kikuta appear! You can beg I'll be there!

I'll cry if this appears (or any other compositions from this great game). Although the details on the program are pretty ambiguous and don't make me raise my hopes for it. The information on the Kölner Philharmonie site mention the four game series "and many others", while the SEMO interview seems to indicate the concert is limited to music from those four series. Care to elaborate more, Chris? Or are you under NDA?

But in any case, the concert will be a dream come true: The quality from Symphonic Shades and the other Symphonic Game Music Concerts, but exclusively dedicated to the music I grew up with, newly arranged by a highly talented musician. I couldn't imagine anything better.

Also...

Originally Posted by Mr. X

Are you planning to attend?

Rhetorical questions much? Booked my hotel room as soon as the concert date was announced.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by niki

I'd really like to see what will be played exactly. My wife's parents live quite near to Cologne and we could definitely make it ...

Originally Posted by Timberwolf8889

I would go if I could...are they doing another recording of it? Some of my most listened to Final Fantasy songs are the ones they performed at the live concerts, and I'm a sucker for orchestral arrangements in general...maybe I should try to go...

It will probably take months (late July, early August probably) till the complete concert program is released, keep in mind that we're dealing with original arrangements here, and they don't want to reveal everything from the get-go.

But let me tell you one thing: If somehow, one way or another, you can attend, then do it. It will be an experience you'll never ever forget. That, I can promise you.

Also, think fast. Tickets for the (most likely) superior performance and atmosphere in the Kölner Philharmonie will be sold-out soon which would mean you'd have to resort to the König-Pilsener-ARENA.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

The complete Symphonic Shades program was known by April 2008. For Symphonic Fantasies, we only know the newly-composed "Fanfare overture" by Jonne Valtonen. I'm not saying they should take away the surprise, but at least some title announcements would be nice by now. Being completely left in the dark is kind of disheartening, I want something to look forward to.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I guess we're lucky the concert takes place this year and not in 2011/2012 when the subway will support the orchestras in the Philharmonie.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Timberwolf8889

Don't know if anyone has answered this already but are they doing an official recording of this concert at some point?

CD is a no-brainer, but I guess there won't be a radio broadcast this time around.

Most amazing jew boots

No objections to some unannounced titles (à la Michiru Yamane on the pipe organ, that was so unexpected and [adjective for ineffable state of bliss]), but nothing at all wouldn't be a good idea, IMHO. In the past years they gave you the chance to tune yourself for the music, to replay the games and to grow attached to a composition before you heard a majestic arrangement at the concert. Not knowing the setlist in advance would take away quite a bit of "impact" for me.

But then again, I can see title announcements push tickets, so maybe they'll be made in case the arena concert doesn't sell as desired, as sort of a wild card.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

First star guest announced! It's...

Spoiler:

Yoko Shimomura!

FELIPE NO

Shhht, you!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by ZiggyGo

Additional Spam:
It seems that Symphonic Fantasies will be presented in concert suite form. I'm really excited to see which pieces make it into each suite.

Also just watched the movie. Arnie says the four series will be "showcased in one elaborate medley". A bit confusing, but I guess that means "one elaborate medley" per series and not each medley with four compositions from the respective series.

I'm fond of suites, as long as the transitions are natural. It is not exactly a new approach either, as the series had some two or three dozen of suites. Jonne Valtonen did some of the best of them, so I'm confident that the end result will be fantastic.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Can't wait for next Wednesday, the Secret of Mana arrangements are my most anticipated. Honestly, it's hard to guess just one single selection now because there are so many top-notch compositions in the game. But these would be my predictions:

The Boy Heads for the Wilderness
The Eight Strokes of the Bell
Where the Wind Ends
The Dark Star
Meridian Festival

Then again, it's hard to imagine they'll drop the game's main theme, Angel's Fear.

...see what I mean? I'm trying to narrow it down and I'm already posting half a dozen tracks.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Hamu-Sumo

Five words: Into the Thick of It!

And yeah, some official English track names will be great. :ugly: (omg! GFF have no Ugly-Smilie!)

I prefer the Japanese titles over the English ones, but I guess the latter will be used (the 5th SGMC also called the SoM strings arrangement "Fear of the Heavens" rather than "Angel's Fear").

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by ZiggyGo

...and a number of pieces will be featured, including "Fear of the Heavens," "Into the Thick of It," and "The Oracle," as the pieces revealed. According to the producer, it will be the most experimental and modernist of all the suites.

Don't know, but somehow I expected that experimental approach – Secret of Mana just seems like the most playful, so it fits best. But I would've never guessed "The Oracle", I'm curious how they'll pull that one off.

So looking forward to this evening...

Here's my prediction for next week, including the announcement of our most favorite of percussion gods participating. :3

Grasslands of Time: Home World
The Secret of the Sea of Trees
Boss Battle 2
Silbird ~The Wings that Cross Time~
On the Shore of Dreams: Another World
The Girl Who Steals the Stars

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Official site updated with the new design.



I was speaking idiomatically.

Okay, I shall refrain from predections now... -.-

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I always found that one to be overrated...but I really don't care either way since there's lots of trust in Jonne. One can only hope for this concert to evoke a permanent business connection between SQUARE ENIX, Merregnon Studios and the WDR. I would love for this high-class orchestra to be used in games.

FELIPE NO

Rip-offs already flourishing.

"Wir können aus terminlichen Gründen nicht teilnehmen, darum hoffen wir wenigsten zwei anderen für 10 Euro mehr die Möglichkeit zu bieten das Konzert zu besuchen."

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by LiquidAcid

A small question concerning the date of the Köln concert. The tickets indicate a (starting?) time of 20:00.

Well, they don't state if the concert starts then (in the sense that the orchestar begins playing) or if it's a date for the concert entrance. What do you guys think?

I don't remember the exact entrance time for GC in Concert. But for Symphonic Fantasies, you'd better be in the Philharmonie by 8 p.m., as the Samstagskonzert begins only five minutes later...and because I won't tolerate another of those famous "Wood Carving Partita" door slams. I still think we should have stoned the guy in front of the Gewandhaus, for lack of bladder control.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by ZiggyGo

While I will be making a news update at SEMO later (there's a server outage at our host at the moment), I can confirm that one of these songs is in the Final Fantasy suite.

Wasn't that one supposed to be released tomorrow?

Originally Posted by ZiggyGo

Chaos' Temple - Final Fantasy
Ancient Castle - Final Fantasy II
The Boundless Ocean - Final Fantasy III
Battle with the Four Fiends - Final Fantasy IV
The Dragon Spreads Its Wings - Final Fantasy V
The Phantom Forest - Final Fantasy VI
Cid's Theme - Final Fantasy VII
Ride On - Final Fantasy VIII
Eiko's Theme - Final Fantasy IX
Song of Prayer - Final Fantasy X
Airship - Final Fantasy XI

My guess.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Turns out I'm not even that bad at predictions. Great to have "Phantom Forest" updated, I found the GRAND FINALE version to be not innovative and "daring" enough.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Hamu-Sumo

My guess about the "huge announcement" is a press release for a DVD.

I still consider a CD release more predictable and less "huge" (no offense!), but that's probably it, along with a formal announcement of the radio broadcast.

Well, some two hours and we'll know.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Dear community, I hate announcements of announcements.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by ZiggyGo

It's still Thursday in Germany so this update was just in time!

Well, the September 1st announcement that was put up at 12 a.m. CET on SEMO coupled with your earlier comment led some people to believe it would be the same time for that one...

Anyway, that's some great news for people not being able to attend the concert. The only concern I have is how much bandwidth pressure the stream will resist. Can we widely share this link? Will it break if I post it over at GAF for people to tune in?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Okay, I'll go nuts and spread it widely one day prior.

Also, thanks Thomas for another innovation!

FELIPE NO

Hans Ernst "Bildschirmspiele" Hanten won't appear, so someone has to fill the role of the gluttonous crétin.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Hamu-Sumo

Btw. Prime Blue, what about you regarding the meeting?

No offense, but these concert trips are very personal experiences to me. It's just the music and me, in a strange city. Sort of a joyful feeling of solitude. I wouldn't want to deviate from it by "dedicating" myself to anyone.

Spoiler:

Yes, I know, it's strange. But this is my way to thoroughly enjoy it.

Originally Posted by monferd

Blargh! I'm going to be mountain climbing on the 12th! Is someone going to record the webcast for those of us who won't have internet access on sept 12?

I'm once again recording the concert from the digital WDR4 channel, but won't release it if there's a CD release. I'm positive that other people will upload it, though.

Jam it back in, in the dark.