Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
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A full-blown sheet music transcription and audio recreation from the Lord of the Castle (Data Marluxia) boss battle from Kingdom Hearts III: Re Mind.
This transcription was commissioned by ViolinGamer:
➤ youtube.com/c/ViolinGamer
--------------------
➤ Analysis:
With the return of Marluxia, Lord of Castle Oblivion, we have ourselves a grand boss fight with a re-orchestrated version of a familiar theme from past games.
We begin firmly in Bb minor (0:02). Harmonically, we traverse quickly to the subdominant (Eb minor) by the 3rd measure (0:05) - still retaining a Bb pedal in the bass - and then back to the tonic (now as a minor 7th chord) in the 5th measure (0:08), and again to the subdominant in the 7th measure. This rising and falling material recurs in numerous iterations throughout the track.
Rhythmically, we have a strong string ostinato, doubled in the bassoon. To conflict against this, the harp plays a syncopated triplet passage. The main section begins at 0:14 as the piano takes off with rapid semiquavers, the string ostinato is expanded with aggressively staccato violins, and we get some juicy semitonal dissonances (such as A diminished against the Bb pedal; 0:18).
Immediately following is a quasi-Dorian harmony as we shift to a chord of Eb dominant 7th (0:20), thereby interrupting the pedal as it descends to strengthen this new chord with a 1st inversion chord (the 3rd in the bass; here, G). This transitions into F minor which gives us a quick cadence back to the tonic of Bb as the phrase is completed (0:25).
Next, we get an iteration of the opening rising and falling harmony (now with James Bond influences /s ). This is, again, expanded at 0:32 with the 1st violin soaring outward little by little.
Another growth occurs at 0:38 with a new horn countermelody combined with a syncopated violin melody; another rhythmic clashing. But at 0:44, the instruments back down from their conflict as the woodwinds take a more prominent role and restate the earlier rising and falling motif. The harp syncopated triplets have also returned, adding more to the rhythmic conflict.
All this time, the Bb pedal has been largely retained - it is preparing us for something. At 0:54, we finally get it - a climax.
We step down to the submediant (Gb major) with a massive major 9th chord (Gb-Bb-Db-F-Ab) and harp flourishes. This chord intriguingly modulates via a perfect cadence into Cb major (0:58; en-harmonically B natural - very far from the tonic!) with a 6-5 suspension (Ab resolving to the Gb in the violins / flutes). This progression allows a quick semitonal drop back down to Bb minor, which follows as expected at 1:01.
Here, the instruments attack one another for a brief interlude with aggressive syncopation in nearly every part. And by 1:08, we drop down again to Gb as we repeat the previous climax but with some small melodic developments in the strings and additional counter-melodic material in the trumpets.
This 4-measure climax concludes with a fascinating bi-tonal use of parallel 4ths; we have Cb underneath, but these parallel chords are from another key (perhaps Bb or F minor). As a result, we have a harsh semitonal dissonance as we conflict Cb against C natural - truly aggressive stuff.
At 1:19, we have new descending material with a furious syncopation. This chromaticism is complemented by the winds entering with chromatic scales (1:30) as we step down to Ab minor temporarily.
By 1:42, we have another climax. It follows a rather simple harmony (Bb-Ab-Gb-Eb-F) and on top, we have many added-note chords swimming around (e.g. 11ths at 1:46, and 7ths at 1:58). At 2:07, we have an expansion to the previous chromatic descending material, now with even more syncopation.
To end, we have a final section at 2:30 which mirrors the previous section at 1:42, harmonically, but with some new melodies. Finally, we conclude with an interlude in Bb minor, preparing us for the loop (2:53).
--------------------
★Game: Kingdom Hearts III: Re Mind
★Developer: Square Enix Business, Division 3
★Publisher: Square Enix
★Composer(s): Yoko Shimomura, Takeharu Ishimoto, Tsuyoshi Sekito
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library
★Tags: Kingdom Hearts 3, Remind, Re Mind, KH3, kh3, lord of the castle, data marluxia, marluxia data, boss
#KingdomHearts3
#LordOfTheCastle
#DataMarluxia
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ musicnotes.com/l/Pv2bb
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A full-blown sheet music transcription and audio recreation from the Lord of the Castle (Data Marluxia) boss battle from Kingdom Hearts III: Re Mind.
This transcription was commissioned by ViolinGamer:
➤ youtube.com/c/ViolinGamer
--------------------
➤ Analysis:
With the return of Marluxia, Lord of Castle Oblivion, we have ourselves a grand boss fight with a re-orchestrated version of a familiar theme from past games.
We begin firmly in Bb minor (0:02). Harmonically, we traverse quickly to the subdominant (Eb minor) by the 3rd measure (0:05) - still retaining a Bb pedal in the bass - and then back to the tonic (now as a minor 7th chord) in the 5th measure (0:08), and again to the subdominant in the 7th measure. This rising and falling material recurs in numerous iterations throughout the track.
Rhythmically, we have a strong string ostinato, doubled in the bassoon. To conflict against this, the harp plays a syncopated triplet passage. The main section begins at 0:14 as the piano takes off with rapid semiquavers, the string ostinato is expanded with aggressively staccato violins, and we get some juicy semitonal dissonances (such as A diminished against the Bb pedal; 0:18).
Immediately following is a quasi-Dorian harmony as we shift to a chord of Eb dominant 7th (0:20), thereby interrupting the pedal as it descends to strengthen this new chord with a 1st inversion chord (the 3rd in the bass; here, G). This transitions into F minor which gives us a quick cadence back to the tonic of Bb as the phrase is completed (0:25).
Next, we get an iteration of the opening rising and falling harmony (now with James Bond influences /s ). This is, again, expanded at 0:32 with the 1st violin soaring outward little by little.
Another growth occurs at 0:38 with a new horn countermelody combined with a syncopated violin melody; another rhythmic clashing. But at 0:44, the instruments back down from their conflict as the woodwinds take a more prominent role and restate the earlier rising and falling motif. The harp syncopated triplets have also returned, adding more to the rhythmic conflict.
All this time, the Bb pedal has been largely retained - it is preparing us for something. At 0:54, we finally get it - a climax.
We step down to the submediant (Gb major) with a massive major 9th chord (Gb-Bb-Db-F-Ab) and harp flourishes. This chord intriguingly modulates via a perfect cadence into Cb major (0:58; en-harmonically B natural - very far from the tonic!) with a 6-5 suspension (Ab resolving to the Gb in the violins / flutes). This progression allows a quick semitonal drop back down to Bb minor, which follows as expected at 1:01.
Here, the instruments attack one another for a brief interlude with aggressive syncopation in nearly every part. And by 1:08, we drop down again to Gb as we repeat the previous climax but with some small melodic developments in the strings and additional counter-melodic material in the trumpets.
This 4-measure climax concludes with a fascinating bi-tonal use of parallel 4ths; we have Cb underneath, but these parallel chords are from another key (perhaps Bb or F minor). As a result, we have a harsh semitonal dissonance as we conflict Cb against C natural - truly aggressive stuff.
At 1:19, we have new descending material with a furious syncopation. This chromaticism is complemented by the winds entering with chromatic scales (1:30) as we step down to Ab minor temporarily.
By 1:42, we have another climax. It follows a rather simple harmony (Bb-Ab-Gb-Eb-F) and on top, we have many added-note chords swimming around (e.g. 11ths at 1:46, and 7ths at 1:58). At 2:07, we have an expansion to the previous chromatic descending material, now with even more syncopation.
To end, we have a final section at 2:30 which mirrors the previous section at 1:42, harmonically, but with some new melodies. Finally, we conclude with an interlude in Bb minor, preparing us for the loop (2:53).
--------------------
★Game: Kingdom Hearts III: Re Mind
★Developer: Square Enix Business, Division 3
★Publisher: Square Enix
★Composer(s): Yoko Shimomura, Takeharu Ishimoto, Tsuyoshi Sekito
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library
★Tags: Kingdom Hearts 3, Remind, Re Mind, KH3, kh3, lord of the castle, data marluxia, marluxia data, boss
#KingdomHearts3
#LordOfTheCastle
#DataMarluxia

![Crossbone Isle (Extended) | Golden Sun Orchestral Cover
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A 30-minute extended orchestral cover of Crossbone Isle from Golden Sun!
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest, Vienna Symphonic and Sampleism.
★Game: Golden Sun
★Developer: Camelot Software Planning
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Motoi Sakuraba
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library, Sampleism
★Tags: Golden, Sun, Golden Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover, Crossbone Isle
#GoldenSun
#Orchestra
#CrossboneIsle Crossbone Isle (Extended) | Golden Sun Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Xc5rEFfeuk/mqdefault.jpg)

![Main Theme (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) | Full Cover
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Its time to sit back, relax, and forget about your mortgage payments - here is a full sheet music transcription and recreation of the upcoming main title theme from Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
➤ Analysis:
For a soundtrack that accompanies a relaxing and casual simulation game, it is no surprise that it is similarly calming and laid-back.
The main theme here opens with a thin texture of instruments rarely found in orchestras - a ukulele and flugelhorn, later joined with bongos, shakers and upright bass - suggesting a departure from the more serious concert aesthetic. This mirrors the games departure from being a strict simulation genre, and instead following a casual care-free focus.
Harmonically, there is quite a bit going on: we begin by descending from F major (F-A-C) into Bb major (Bb-D-F; 0:03), followed quickly by a major-minor shift into Bb minor (Bb-Db-F) with an added 6th (G) to allow smooth voice leading back down to the tonic of F, now in 2nd inversion (with the C at the root of the chord; 0:07). Then we jump from the tonic of F into G (G-B-D; 0:08), functioning as a secondary dominant progression into C major (here as a suspended 4th dominant chord; C-F-G-Bb), allowing for a perfect cadence back into the tonic once more.
The melody here has what at first appears to be a surprising amount of rhythmic syncopation for such a casual game. Though this rhythmic feature is a commonplace staple of previous Animal Crossing soundtracks, and so it becomes no surprise that it makes an appearance here.
This opening 4-bar phrase repeats with additional instruments (0:12), but is cut short by an interrupted cadence into the flattened-6th degree of Db (Db-F-Ab; 0:19) - a tritone away from the previous chord of G7 (G-B-D-F). But Db is not the true new key. Instead, it functions as a subdominant pivot into Eb (Eb-G-Bb) - the dominant chord of the new key which is instead, Ab major (Ab-C-Eb).
How do we get from the new key of Ab and back to the tonic of F? Simple: a tertiary modulation. Here (0:27), we pivot from Ab major up a 3rd (the tertiary modulation) to C major (C-E-G) - the dominant chord of our tonic, F. But this is not a straight forward dominant chord; we have several added notes of the 7th (Bb) and 9th (D). This forms what can be colloquially known as a Gospel Chord (C-G-Bb-D; 0:28), often found in... well... Gospel music.
It is possible that Totakas use of a Gospel Chord here is to elicit a sense of community as Gospel choirs have a remarkably strong communal aspect. And since a primary goal of the Animal Crossing series is to build your own communities, this would be a sensible connection.
Similarly, the reason for there being so many modulations and key changes in the opening 30s could be an allusion to the theme of travelling in the Animal Crossing series as we travel across multiple locations.
Continuing through the track, we have now returned to the tonic of F (0:34) as we follow a simple common progression of I - IV - V (F-Bb-C) which repeats twice. Afterwards (0:45), we abruptly travel once more to a new key of A major (A-C#-E) - another tertiary shift - and repeat the same I - IV - V progression (A-D-E). However, this time it is extended to progress from E to F# minor (F#-A-C#) via a C# major tertiary pivot (C#-E#-G#).
But we are not done yet. We ascend upwards once again from F# minor to the more familiar G major (G-B-D; 0:50) as we begin to prepare for our flight back home to F major... Or maybe not! As we move upwards once again to A major (A-C#-E; 0:52) and an interrupted cadence into Bb, allowing one final ascension to our old friend, C major - the dominant chord of our original tonic - once again appearing as a Gospel Chord.
The smooth voice leading in the bassline allows such dramatic modulations to appear natural, as it slips effortlessly up throughout this passage (0:45 - 0:58) - a great technique for seamless modulations.
★Game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
★Developer: Nintendo
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Kazumi Totaka (et al.)
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library, 8Dio, Massive, AmpleBass
★Tags: Animal Crossing, New Horizons, Main Theme, Sheet Music, Transcription, Score, Title Music, Title Theme, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Cover, Trumpet
#AnimalCrossing
#NewHorizons
#MainTheme Main Theme (Animal Crossing: New Horizons) | Full Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7hpKrvZCcpw/mqdefault.jpg)

![Izumo in Despair | Orchestral Cover
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Enjoy this ethnic-orchestral arrangement of Izumos first theme from Golden Sun!
➤ Analysis:
In Golden Sun, various real-world locations served as the inspiration for various in-game locations. For Izumo, the real-world equivalent would be Japan as it resides on the eastern edge of the world map and with similarly shaped islands.
When we initially arrive, Izumo is in despair after the nearby Serpent-Dragon (residing in Gaia Rock) awoke, likely as a result of Mt. Aleph erupting at the beginning of the series. The Serpent demands a female sacrifice each year, and this years sacrifice falls to Kushinada (the character in the thumbnail). Susa, the fiancé of Kushinada, will not stand for this, and ventures to Gaia Rock to slay the serpent himself.
The name Kushinada itself stems from the Japanese legend of the same name, where a woman is similarly rescued from the clutches of a Serpent by the God Susano-o who then marries her.
So with such an obvious connection to Japan, how does Sakuraba treat the music to accompany this story?
We open with an ambiguous chord; a minor 7th chord with a suspended 4th (E-A-B-D). This chord serves as the tonal anchor of the track, appearing for the vast majority of it. The lack of the 3rd (here, the G), suggests a pentatonic foundation (using only 5 notes; here, E-F-A-B-D) - a particularly Eastern musical trait. And indeed, those are the only 5 notes that are used in the entire track.
To complement the Eastern aesthetic, I replaced the hi-hat with Japanese taiko stick hits, as well as suzu bells (similar to sleigh bells), which are often used for good luck and to ward off spirits. The melody falls to the Shakuhachi - a Japanese flute.
The harmony remains relatively static until 0:20, where the bass shifts upwards a semitone to F, forming a quasi-Lydian / Phrygian chord of F-A-B-D (Lydian due to the sharpened 4th (B); or Phrygian due to the flattened 2nd (F)). Oscillating between these two chords (E-A-B-D & F-A-B-D) remains the sole harmonic interest for this track... but thats all it needs to convey such a despairing emotion!
By 0:38, we progress to a new section. Here, a koto zither instrument is added to enhance the Eastern focus (originally this was some sort of low vibraphone / celesta). Additionally, a shō (mouth organ) is added, oscillating between these two chords once more with a gentle fade. And finally, I also added some mystical gong and singing bowl strikes to add a touch of meditative spirituality.
The Shakuhachis return for the final section (0:53), as we oscillate once more between the two chords before looping. Relatively simple material.
To finish, I wrote a brief concluding statement to give a definite end to the track (2:10).
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest and Vienna Symphonic.
★Game: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
★Developer: Camelot Software Planning
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Motoi Sakuraba
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, Vienna Symphonic Library, Ethno World 5
★Tags: Golden, Sun, Golden Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover, Izumo, Izumo in Despair
#GoldenSun
#Orchestra
#Izumo Izumo in Despair | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8-5wl1DBLEk/mqdefault.jpg)




