Uploaded December 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ mymusicsheet.com/TandA/340620
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ bit.ly/TandABandcamp
Featuring 35+ musicians and in collaboration with the Virtual Video Game Orchestra (VVGO) for their "Oh, the Places You'll VVGO!" Mixtape, please enjoy our virtual performance of Golden Sun's "Vale".
Check out our previous live projects!
➤ Wintery Imil: youtu.be/EFO9rAg5KvI
➤ Garoh: youtu.be/p6huYT3SYdc
----------
★ A massive thanks to ★
My brilliant co-host, Neshirys, for helping to organize the whole thing, in addition to creating the fabulous artwork and graphics used in the video as well as providing moral support. Do please check out their other work and support them on Ko-fi!
➤ https://linktr.ee/Neshirys
➤ ko-fi.com/neshirys
The legendary video wizard, Jordy de Lat, for continually being an absolute legend, creating phenomenal videos and graphic design. Do please check out their incredible work!
➤ youtube.com/c/Sector8
➤ artstation.com/cloudjor
VVGO and their executive directors for creating such a wonderfully collaborative environment of fellow musicians that share a love of video game music!
➤ vvgo.org
----------
"Vale" from Golden Sun
Composed by Motoi Sakuraba
Arranged by Jonathan Shaw
Project Hosts
➤ Jonathan Shaw
➤ Neshirys
Audio Editor ➤ Jonathan Shaw
Video Editor ➤ Jordy de Lat
Illustrator ➤ Neshirys
Graphic Designer ➤ Nella Siedlińska
#GoldenSun
#VVGO
#Vale
----------
A huge thank you to all patrons that ever supported this channel over the years:
Дарья Основа
Илья Башкатов
シコウ
わりお
마박스
수환 장
冠辰 卢
尜尜
张睿
信廷 蒙
新宇劉
泽正 孙
Ablelopolos
AceMonkey
Adem
AdmiralGhost.T
adrian cross
Adrián Gómez
Alaska
Alex B
Alex Moreno
Anders Viktor Kvile
Andrew
andrew azucena
Andrew Wilson
Anthony Palmer
ATTA
Aurore Louviaux
Bahadır Güven
Baptiste Bfx
Bart
Bd Blake
Beanibus
Ben Huang
BlackSymphony
BlueBlur 1207
Brandon
Bryan Hernandez
Caleb Bauer
Carrie Wood
Chris Deaton
Chris Doughty
Chris W
Christopher Peterson
Chroma 9
Chronoman
Chungus Amongus
Citrus Blitz
Cream Cheese
Cristián D'Agustini
Cristian León
Critsium
Dan
Daniel Swearengin
Daroomikeru
Debuffv
DEIsaac
Dennis J.
Derek Zimmerman
Diannetea
Disposed Hero
DolphinBanana
DoorkeeperForLethal
Dotgif
Dustin Bleichert
Dylan Chmura-Moore
Eason John
Edotion
Elie Hess
Elliot McAuley
Emanuel Olivieri
Ernest
Ero-Mate
Fantasiay
Faustenberger
FilmScoringTips
Francesco Marcheselli
Francisci Adolfo Garcia Zapata
Frank
Frédéric Durrmann
Frida Danmo
Frogland -o
Gabe Nunag
Geebs
Ghost Phoenix
Ghoulgash
Giovanni Smith
Gob
Grantz
Groli
Haakon Davidsen
Haiiro - Musique
Hardacre Marshall Short
Haru
Hoskey
Hydros
Hyperactive Birb
Iceberg Rabbit
InsertOregano
It is me but Jolteon
Ivan Salcedo
J. Michael Duclair
JackitK
Jacob Barbour
Jacob Bennett
Jaerohaero
Jahudiel Helí
James Alegria
Jared Le Doux
Jeese
Jeff L
Jeft
Jeremy Diaz
Jeremy Goh
Jihyun Ru
Jm
John Korik
John March
Joker
Josemaria
Joshua Abrams
Joshua Gouzy
Joshua L Benjamin
Jsperkinsmusic
Juan pablo
Kain Jericho
Kanto Emblem
Karkat ras
Ke
Kelvin Chan
Kemiro
Kevin Xiong
Kim Mathiot
Kim Systad
kochan
Kurihara Hiroki
Landrogar
Leonhard
LonerofGaming
Lsl312
Lucifer
Mae Nova
Magic Panda
Marc Ian
Marc Townson
margo bailey
Mariano Frumento
Marie Staton
Martin Geyer
Matthew Buscemi
Matthew Chung
Matthew Dowling
Matthew Erwin
Matthew Tande
Medimorpho
Merusedesu fon Marutorittsu
Mesmerist
Michael Holmes
Michael Lim
Miguel Lino Mata
Mj Fabian
Mo Zhao
Music Scores
myarmy
Napkins X
Nathan
Nathan Phung
Neko
Ngc427
Nils P.
Nils Potdevin
nobu DTM
Octave Roulleau
Omar Parada
Oskar Reyntjens
Oy
Panda In Plain Sight
Parviz M.
Pascal Görsdorf
Per Gustavsson
Philip Underwood
Pixel Silzavon
Platix Zhan
POPTART
Qing Luo
Qiu Jiabin
R L
Rashan
Raúl Sangonzalo
Relaxmoods.com
Rémy Goux
Richard
Robert Pon
Rodrigo Borges González
Ronan.G
Rosie
Ry
Ryan
Saderb
SageNine Music
Saisana299
Sam Bennighof
Sam Bevans-Kerr
Sambor Nesterowicz
Samto
Sark97
Sayuri
Schreckengast
Schreiber
Sclax
Scofield John
Scott Stout
SDanckaert
Sean Endress
Sean Tinio
Sera Mae
ShædëPláz
Sharmander
Shawn Digeronimo-Template
Shindonghyuk
Shuqi Miao
SkyguyLP
SkyHunter 432
Solomon Krygier-Paine
Sondre Kile Andersen
SONG
splemb
SSGCN
Stanley Muzylowski
Stelanie Tsirlis
Stevenson Park
Stolen Ramen
Sun Jia-Wei
Superfreq
SuperGenesis64
Sushi
Symphogeek
Tamaira Gless
Terry w
That Dinosaur Guy
The Carlos V
The WillTendo
Timon Kalis
Tom Bui
Trent
Triodust
Troy Edwards
Valentin Hadrich
vasily
venibuu
Vin Lynn
Vincent V
ViolinGamer
Voidmoney
William Fadel
WiLLiSGaming
Wong krmi
Woodwind
Xavier Castro
Yargami
Ye Olde Foren
Ymh Hrk
YONA
Yummi Trainer
Yun Koo
Zach Ernst
Zach Nicely
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ mymusicsheet.com/TandA/340620
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ bit.ly/TandABandcamp
Featuring 35+ musicians and in collaboration with the Virtual Video Game Orchestra (VVGO) for their "Oh, the Places You'll VVGO!" Mixtape, please enjoy our virtual performance of Golden Sun's "Vale".
Check out our previous live projects!
➤ Wintery Imil: youtu.be/EFO9rAg5KvI
➤ Garoh: youtu.be/p6huYT3SYdc
----------
★ A massive thanks to ★
My brilliant co-host, Neshirys, for helping to organize the whole thing, in addition to creating the fabulous artwork and graphics used in the video as well as providing moral support. Do please check out their other work and support them on Ko-fi!
➤ https://linktr.ee/Neshirys
➤ ko-fi.com/neshirys
The legendary video wizard, Jordy de Lat, for continually being an absolute legend, creating phenomenal videos and graphic design. Do please check out their incredible work!
➤ youtube.com/c/Sector8
➤ artstation.com/cloudjor
VVGO and their executive directors for creating such a wonderfully collaborative environment of fellow musicians that share a love of video game music!
➤ vvgo.org
----------
"Vale" from Golden Sun
Composed by Motoi Sakuraba
Arranged by Jonathan Shaw
Project Hosts
➤ Jonathan Shaw
➤ Neshirys
Audio Editor ➤ Jonathan Shaw
Video Editor ➤ Jordy de Lat
Illustrator ➤ Neshirys
Graphic Designer ➤ Nella Siedlińska
#GoldenSun
#VVGO
#Vale
----------
A huge thank you to all patrons that ever supported this channel over the years:
Дарья Основа
Илья Башкатов
シコウ
わりお
마박스
수환 장
冠辰 卢
尜尜
张睿
信廷 蒙
新宇劉
泽正 孙
Ablelopolos
AceMonkey
Adem
AdmiralGhost.T
adrian cross
Adrián Gómez
Alaska
Alex B
Alex Moreno
Anders Viktor Kvile
Andrew
andrew azucena
Andrew Wilson
Anthony Palmer
ATTA
Aurore Louviaux
Bahadır Güven
Baptiste Bfx
Bart
Bd Blake
Beanibus
Ben Huang
BlackSymphony
BlueBlur 1207
Brandon
Bryan Hernandez
Caleb Bauer
Carrie Wood
Chris Deaton
Chris Doughty
Chris W
Christopher Peterson
Chroma 9
Chronoman
Chungus Amongus
Citrus Blitz
Cream Cheese
Cristián D'Agustini
Cristian León
Critsium
Dan
Daniel Swearengin
Daroomikeru
Debuffv
DEIsaac
Dennis J.
Derek Zimmerman
Diannetea
Disposed Hero
DolphinBanana
DoorkeeperForLethal
Dotgif
Dustin Bleichert
Dylan Chmura-Moore
Eason John
Edotion
Elie Hess
Elliot McAuley
Emanuel Olivieri
Ernest
Ero-Mate
Fantasiay
Faustenberger
FilmScoringTips
Francesco Marcheselli
Francisci Adolfo Garcia Zapata
Frank
Frédéric Durrmann
Frida Danmo
Frogland -o
Gabe Nunag
Geebs
Ghost Phoenix
Ghoulgash
Giovanni Smith
Gob
Grantz
Groli
Haakon Davidsen
Haiiro - Musique
Hardacre Marshall Short
Haru
Hoskey
Hydros
Hyperactive Birb
Iceberg Rabbit
InsertOregano
It is me but Jolteon
Ivan Salcedo
J. Michael Duclair
JackitK
Jacob Barbour
Jacob Bennett
Jaerohaero
Jahudiel Helí
James Alegria
Jared Le Doux
Jeese
Jeff L
Jeft
Jeremy Diaz
Jeremy Goh
Jihyun Ru
Jm
John Korik
John March
Joker
Josemaria
Joshua Abrams
Joshua Gouzy
Joshua L Benjamin
Jsperkinsmusic
Juan pablo
Kain Jericho
Kanto Emblem
Karkat ras
Ke
Kelvin Chan
Kemiro
Kevin Xiong
Kim Mathiot
Kim Systad
kochan
Kurihara Hiroki
Landrogar
Leonhard
LonerofGaming
Lsl312
Lucifer
Mae Nova
Magic Panda
Marc Ian
Marc Townson
margo bailey
Mariano Frumento
Marie Staton
Martin Geyer
Matthew Buscemi
Matthew Chung
Matthew Dowling
Matthew Erwin
Matthew Tande
Medimorpho
Merusedesu fon Marutorittsu
Mesmerist
Michael Holmes
Michael Lim
Miguel Lino Mata
Mj Fabian
Mo Zhao
Music Scores
myarmy
Napkins X
Nathan
Nathan Phung
Neko
Ngc427
Nils P.
Nils Potdevin
nobu DTM
Octave Roulleau
Omar Parada
Oskar Reyntjens
Oy
Panda In Plain Sight
Parviz M.
Pascal Görsdorf
Per Gustavsson
Philip Underwood
Pixel Silzavon
Platix Zhan
POPTART
Qing Luo
Qiu Jiabin
R L
Rashan
Raúl Sangonzalo
Relaxmoods.com
Rémy Goux
Richard
Robert Pon
Rodrigo Borges González
Ronan.G
Rosie
Ry
Ryan
Saderb
SageNine Music
Saisana299
Sam Bennighof
Sam Bevans-Kerr
Sambor Nesterowicz
Samto
Sark97
Sayuri
Schreckengast
Schreiber
Sclax
Scofield John
Scott Stout
SDanckaert
Sean Endress
Sean Tinio
Sera Mae
ShædëPláz
Sharmander
Shawn Digeronimo-Template
Shindonghyuk
Shuqi Miao
SkyguyLP
SkyHunter 432
Solomon Krygier-Paine
Sondre Kile Andersen
SONG
splemb
SSGCN
Stanley Muzylowski
Stelanie Tsirlis
Stevenson Park
Stolen Ramen
Sun Jia-Wei
Superfreq
SuperGenesis64
Sushi
Symphogeek
Tamaira Gless
Terry w
That Dinosaur Guy
The Carlos V
The WillTendo
Timon Kalis
Tom Bui
Trent
Triodust
Troy Edwards
Valentin Hadrich
vasily
venibuu
Vin Lynn
Vincent V
ViolinGamer
Voidmoney
William Fadel
WiLLiSGaming
Wong krmi
Woodwind
Xavier Castro
Yargami
Ye Olde Foren
Ymh Hrk
YONA
Yummi Trainer
Yun Koo
Zach Ernst
Zach Nicely
![2022 Trailer Theme (Extended) | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ [Removed by Nintendo JP]
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ https://bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
🎵 Spotify ➤ https://bit.ly/TandASpotify
🎵 Deezer ➤ https://bit.ly/TandADeezer
🎵 YouTube Music ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAYouTube
🎵 Apple Music / iTunes ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAApple
An 30-minute extended version of TandAs full transcription and arrangement of the 2022 trailer music for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest, Vienna Symphonic and Massive.
★Game: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
★Developer: Nintendo
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Yasuaki Iwata, Manaka Kataoka, Hajime Wakai
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Cubase 10, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library, Massive
★Tags: The Legend of Zelda, Tears of the Kingdom, Nintendo Direct Trailer Theme 2022, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover
#TearsOfTheKingdom
#zelda
#breathofthewild 2022 Trailer Theme (Extended) | The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OCufZxtxYMU/mqdefault.jpg)


![Agatio and Karst | Orchestral Cover
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ [Removed by Nintendo JP]
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ https://bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
🎵 Spotify ➤ https://bit.ly/TandASpotify
🎵 Deezer ➤ https://bit.ly/TandADeezer
🎵 YouTube Music ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAYouTube
🎵 Apple Music / iTunes ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAApple
An orchestral arrangement Ive made of this very sinister theme from Golden Sun: The Lost Age.
➤ Analysis:
This was a tough one! Not only from transcribing the chromaticism, but also trying to recreate the characteristic glissando fall that is in the original.
This is certainly one of Sakurabas more chromatic and dissonant themes, emphasized by the use of the tritone (augmented 4th) and heavy instrumentation. I avoided brighter timbres such as upper winds and percussion to respect the original darker instrumentation.
I might have gone a little too far with the choral and violin effects, but I think the original was sinister enough to merit their use here to create even more chaos.
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using the brilliant EastWest sample libraries.
★Game: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
★Developer: Camelot Software Planning
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Motoi Sakuraba
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries
★Tags: Golden Sun, Golden, Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun The Lost Age, TLA, GS, Golden Sun Orchestra, Golden Sun Cover, Golden Sun Remix, Golden Sun Arrangement, Agatio and Karst, Agatio, Karst, Agatio & Karst, Golden Sun Agatio and Karst
#GoldenSun
#Orchestra
#TheLostAge Agatio and Karst | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/P3Yy-Lpdt6g/mqdefault.jpg)


![Doom Dragon | Orchestral Cover
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ [Removed by Nintendo JP]
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ https://bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
🎵 Spotify ➤ https://bit.ly/TandASpotify
🎵 Deezer ➤ https://bit.ly/TandADeezer
🎵 YouTube Music ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAYouTube
🎵 Apple Music / iTunes ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAApple
*Doom Dragon uses Cruel Ruin!*
Here we go: the most complex of all Golden Suns boss themes, Doom Dragon, now fully orchestrated with sheet music.
🥂 Drinking Game: Take a shot for every time signature change.
➤ Analysis:
The most eccentric of Sakurabas battle themes from Golden Sun, what does he employ to achieve this?
Like all of his battle themes, we are instantly thrust into the action with a massive unresolved suspended 4th chord (D-G-A), with the 5th (A) moving chromatically upward (A-B♭-B-C) alongside the tonic (D-E♭-E-E♭). This creates fierce instability in the harmony, and leads to several semitonal clashes (D vs. E♭ and A vs. B♭)
Metrically, we are in an uncommon 5/8 time signature, displacing the familiar 4 beats in a bar structure with an additional beat, further contributing to the chaotic drive of the opening.
When the first section begins (0:07), we step up a tone into E. The precise tonality of this E is debatable, but the oboe & violin melody would suggest a rather extreme E locrian modality (E-F-G-A-B♭-C-D-E). The locrian mode is the most unstable of all Western modes due to its diminished 5th interval (E-B♭; the tritone, or devil in music as it was once aptly named). A very appropriate use!
From here, the meter changes nearly every bar: 3/4 to 7/16 to 5/8 - it is impossible to follow the beat without repeated listening, creating an immense chaotic structure that jumps from one idea to the next in an instant. Other time signatures used include 12/16, 3/8 and (gasp!) the rare 4/4.
Harmonically, we also receive numerous diminished 7th chords throughout (e.g. 0:09). These chords have a similar instability as the locrian mode due to their diminished 5th interval - here, stacked twice (F & B, and G♯ & D) - conveying continuous harmonic unrest.
At 0:10, we get a brief respite of stability into F Lydian mode (F-G-A-B-C-D-E), which stays with us for 4 bars. The meter of 5/8 has returned to remind us of our hostile scene, whilst we swirl in various arpeggios from the strings and winds. A brief interlude of 3/8 (0:14) leads us to another diminished 7th chord (0:16), climaxing with an immense upward motion before we repeat the opening material once more (0:18).
For this repeat, I developed the material so that it is not an exact repetition, including additional wind runs, juggling the material in different instruments for a new colour, and additional countermelodies in the brass.
At the end (0:29), we rest in 4/4 for a moment with a stable Esus4 chord (E-A-B to E-G♯-B) before progressing into F♯ minor via an interrupted cadence (chord V to VI; E to F♯m; 0:31). This next section is rather stable in 5/8, with some descending chromatic harmonies before an abrupt shift into 12/16 with more diminished 7th chords (0:38).
This leads us to 0:41 - now in 3/4 with a sustained period of safety - in A minor (A-C-E). Here, there is a glimpse of the Dorian mode (A-B-C-D-E-F♯-G) through the progression of A minor (A-C-E) into D major (D-F♯-A).
But then we remember this is a boss theme, and quickly revert to our immense dissonance and 5/8 meter (0:52). In this passage, all hell breaks loose and every instrument seemingly wanders on its own with little cohesion (which is wonderfully appropriate here). The only anchor is that there is some sort of tonal centre on E - perhaps E locrian, our devilishly delightful mode from earlier.
A brief unison interlude in 12/16 (1:00), followed by consecutive tritones (1:04), leads us to our final sections (1:05) in F♯ Dorian (F♯-G♯-A-B-C♯-D♯-E) due to the basses descent to D♯. Here, the time signature remains its most stable - remaining in 5/8 for over 20s - before we repeat.
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest, Vienna Symphonic, Addictive Drummer & 8Dio.
★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, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library, Addictive Drummer, 8Dio
★Tags: Golden, Sun, Golden Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover, Doom Dragon Boss Battle
#GoldenSun
#Orchestra
#DoomDragon Doom Dragon | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PMjqv0zdHZU/mqdefault.jpg)
![Gaia Rock | Orchestral Cover
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ [Removed by Nintendo JP]
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ https://bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
🎵 Spotify ➤ https://bit.ly/TandASpotify
🎵 Deezer ➤ https://bit.ly/TandADeezer
🎵 YouTube Music ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAYouTube
🎵 Apple Music / iTunes ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAApple
And the final Rock Theme - Gaia Rock - from Golden Sun: The Lost Age, with a new orchestral arrangement.
➤ Analysis:
As Magma Rock was dark and muddy with brass, and Aqua Rock was bright and twinkling, and Airs Rock was breathy with woodwinds, I decided Gaia Rock should be ancient and oriental, as if a relic from some old civilization since Gaia (Earth) encompasses our entire planet with all of its history.
As such, there is a large use of exotic instruments outside of the Western orchestra, such as the Javanese Gong Ageng (0:02), the Japanese Koto Zither/Guzheng (0:35), the Chinese Sho mouth organ (1:03), the Chinese Suona (1:20), the Australian Didgeridoo (0:34), and so on. Of course, there is the option of substituting these for more common Western instruments.
As for the work itself, Sakuraba uses another Phrygian Mode (on E), similar to Lemuria, characterized by the E - F - E progression, occurring throughout the entire work. This clash of Phrygian chords (E minor + F major) creates quite a wonderful dissonance that suggest an oriental otherness (another reason I made use of exotic instruments), which is fitting since the nearby village (Izumo) is celebrating a sacrificial ritual to appease an ancient serpent. Sounds very much like an ancient practice to me! ;)
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using the brilliant EastWest sample libraries.
★Game: Golden Sun: The Lost Age
★Developer: Camelot Software Planning
★Publisher: Nintendo
★Composer(s): Motoi Sakuraba
★Software: Sibelius 7.5, Cubase Elements 7, Adobe Premiere Elements 15, EastWest Sample Libraries
★Tags: Golden Sun, Golden, Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun The Lost Age, TLA, GS, Golden Sun Orchestra, Golden Sun Cover, Golden Sun Remix, Golden Sun Arrangement, Gaia Rock, Gaia, Golden Sun Gaia Rock
#GoldenSun
#Orchestra
#TheLostAge Gaia Rock | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q0W9OiN8e0U/mqdefault.jpg)
![Saturos & Menardi | Orchestral Cover
🎵 Sheet Music & Parts ➤ [Removed by Nintendo JP]
💗 MIDI / XML / Sibelius ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABundle
🎹 Commissions ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/commissions
🎮 More Arrangements ➤ https://www.jshaw.co.uk/TandA
👍 Facebook ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAFacebook
🐦 Twitter ➤ https://bit.ly/TandATwitter
🎵 Bandcamp ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
🎵 Spotify ➤ https://bit.ly/TandASpotify
🎵 Deezer ➤ https://bit.ly/TandADeezer
🎵 YouTube Music ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAYouTube
🎵 Apple Music / iTunes ➤ https://bit.ly/TandAApple
Hmm, I wonder if these guys are the baddies... what couldve possibly given it away ... 🤔
Enjoy the villains theme from the first Golden Sun, Saturos and Menardi, now for orchestra!
➤ Analysis:
The first of Sakurabas villainous themes from Golden Sun, what techniques does he employ to convey this atmosphere?
The first of these is chromaticism. From the first 2 bars alone, if we look at the melody (the parallel 4ths found in the choir), they move consecutively up and down in semitonal intervals. This creates an intense chromatic clash, particularly when coupled with the bass notes which move in contrary motion chromatically against the melody (0:07; the bass moves up while the melody moves down).
At 0:12, we have some scalic movement, outlining F♯-G-A-B. This could suggest certain tonalities, the most likely being F♯ Phrygian (F♯-G-A-B-C♯-D-E) due to the C♯ in the countermelody. But it could also suggest the more dissonant F♯ Locrian (F♯-G-A-B-C-D-E) which is what it harmonically feels it is moving towards (and would be vastly more appropriate for a villain theme!)
By 0:15, the opening material is repeated. Here, I have added embellishments so that it is not a direct repeat, such as additional chromatic trillings and wind fluttertonguing (a rather unsettling-sounding technique).
We reach a new section at 0:26, with a surprising choice of panpipes taking the melodic role (an instrument highly favoured in this OST). The panpipe melody here outlines the devilish tritone interval (F♯-B♯) - another excellent interval to exploit for a villainous theme. Underneath this, a new syncopated ostinato (an off-beat rhythmic phrase) is repeated by the bass instruments, further destabilizing the material.
The end of this section (0:40) is littered with another technique: false relations. This is where you have multiple accidentals of a note playing at the same time (similar to chromaticism). To identify this, look at the panpipes and violins playing an E♯, while the bass ostinato revolves around an E♮. This creates quite the semitonal clash!
This section is largely repeated at 0:42, but with additional development (octave violins, larger brass ensemble, and choir support). The false relation clash (now at 0:48) is exacerbated in all its evil glory.
And to finish, I wrote a brief outro based off of the opening material.
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest, Vienna Symphonic, Addictive Drummer 2, Orchestral Tools, 8Dio & 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, Addictive Drummer 2, Orchestral Tools, 8Dio, Sampleism
★Tags: Golden, Sun, Golden Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover
#GoldenSun
#Saturos
#Menardi Saturos & Menardi | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q8naaqup65Y/mqdefault.jpg)
![Alone (Shebas Theme) | Orchestral Cover
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Prepare your tissues and bring on the tears; were all about to cry along with this orchestral cover of Alone (also known as Shebas Theme) from Golden Sun.
Bonus music box arrangement on Bandcamp! ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
➤ Analysis:
One of the saddest themes of the franchise, alongside Sorrow and Regret (https://youtu.be/jb5Ygf50Lwk - both in the same key!), how does Sakuraba create a tragic atmosphere through music?
To begin, we open in a minor key (Em; E-G-B). Minor keys are your cheat sheet to creating tragic emotional music, although it is very possible to do so in a major key as well.
This minor tonality is combined with an extremely delicate instrumentation; Sakurabas original was scored merely for strings and a celesta-like instrument. I complemented this by utilizing various bright mallet instruments (singing bowls, hand bells, vibraphone, glockenspiel, celesta, etc.) and expanding the accompanying forces to include soft (yet assertive) brass.
Beginning in E minor (0:03), we quickly drop down to D major with a touch of contrary motion (the parts moving away from each other; note the E dropping to a D, and the G climbing to a D). Symbolically, outward contrary motion denotes things moving away from one another, akin to Sheba being perpetually separated from her people. This harmony moves to B major in 1st inversion (D♯-F♯-B) which can safely return us to our home tonic of Em via a perfect cadence (V-i; B major to E minor).
We swirl for a bit around these two chords, before falling to our good friend the submediant (chord VI; here, C major; C-E-G; 0:15), which jumps surprisingly up an augmented 2nd interval (enharmonically a minor 3rd spelt differently) from C to D♯ - an extremely stark jump, as we return to the tonic.
From here (0:19), the material is repeated with arpeggiated development in the bassline. To complement this, I expanded the instrumentation, and reinstated the classic Sakuraba echoing technique prominent throughout the entire OST (and early 8/16-bit music in general).
As this section closes, we get another repeat of this material with some further development (0:36). Here, strings and choir are added with doleful countermelodies. I added various semitonal dissonances to further invoke this tragic aesthetic (e.g. F♯ + G at 0:42 in the violins). Towards the end, the new strings treat us to a gorgeous major 7th chord (C-E-G-B; 0:48) as we transition into the climax (0:52).
Here, the opening material disappears and we are thrust into an orchestral passage of brass, strings and choir. Although it commences in E minor, we quickly adventure to various distant keys; D minor (1:05) to F♯ minor via a tertiary modulation (1:09) and back to D minor (1:13). These rather distant keys again signify Shebas inherent distancing from her people. In this climax, I also expanded the chordal harmonies to include various missing notes (e.g. E♯ at 1:10) to bolster these utterly melancholic harmonies.
As the section closes (1:17), I decided to add a brief moment of silence rather than looping instantly - an effort to emphasize the final swelling chord and enhance its trailing impact.
And to close us off (2:35), I wrote a brief closing phrase referencing some earlier material, now with additional soli instruments (Schindlers List maaay have popped into my mind here) before culminating on a final E minor chord that slowly swells and tails off into the distant nothingness.
And for fun, I made a little music box version of this arrangement as well ➤ https://bit.ly/TandABandcamp
The score was created in Sibelius 7.5, and the audio was created in Cubase using sample libraries from EastWest, Vienna Symphonic and Cinesamples.
★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, EastWest Sample Libraries, Vienna Symphonic Library, Taylor Davis Solo Violin
★Tags: Golden, Sun, Golden Sun, The Lost Age, Golden Sun: The Lost Age, Orchestra, Orchestral, Orchestration, Arrangement, Remix, Cover, Alone, Shebas Theme
#GoldenSun
#Sheba
#Alone Alone (Shebas Theme) | Orchestral Cover](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QGmzy2ldGCE/mqdefault.jpg)
