God Looks Down From the Mountain Top ~ Rearrange the Sky (Original) @RickyRister

RickyRister This is the stage theme for Tres’s Yoneka script, made for S&Y’s 2019 script festival. Check out the script here: bulletforge.org/u/tressert/p/eastern-sacred-path-sudden-onset-of-masculinity
And here’s the boss theme for that script: youtu.be/c8mssRn3EYM
As well as the title theme:

In true stage 6 theme fashion, I referenced the boss theme. I was told to make the references subtle enough that listeners don’t pick up on the fact that the melodies are from “It’s Raining Men”, and I feel like I did a pretty good job with that. Just like in the boss theme, I counterpointed over the original melody.

I love how the song spends the entire intro building up atmosphere, only to immediately throw it all away in the next part. I don’t use heavy guitars often, so that was fun.

Now that I think about it, isn’t Tres tied with Sparen for the person I’ve composed the most number of songs for so far? …Oh huh, if you count Heart in the Machine, then yes.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

updated 5 years ago

God Looks Down From the Mountain Top ~ Rearrange the Sky (Original)

RickyRister 2019-08-10 | This is the stage theme for Tres’s Yoneka script, made for S&Y’s 2019 script festival. Check out the script here: bulletforge.org/u/tressert/p/eastern-sacred-path-sudden-onset-of-masculinity
And here’s the boss theme for that script: youtu.be/c8mssRn3EYM
As well as the title theme:

In true stage 6 theme fashion, I referenced the boss theme. I was told to make the references subtle enough that listeners don’t pick up on the fact that the melodies are from “It’s Raining Men”, and I feel like I did a pretty good job with that. Just like in the boss theme, I counterpointed over the original melody.

I love how the song spends the entire intro building up atmosphere, only to immediately throw it all away in the next part. I don’t use heavy guitars often, so that was fun.

Now that I think about it, isn’t Tres tied with Sparen for the person I’ve composed the most number of songs for so far? …Oh huh, if you count Heart in the Machine, then yes.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

How to make a passable Touhou-style final boss theme in 19 steps

RickyRister 2024-04-01 | 2024 apfbt fools playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz51uZoQqpi5QjC_2n6RFVH4lD8KGWTg

Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

After a brief detour to Len'en-style last year, we're back to Touhou-style. Turns out 19 steps is still doable.

(I know I said previously that I'm not a big fan of this song's song structure, but like, I'm kinda out of options at this point)

I have no idea what the hell I'm going to do for 21 steps.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 1/10 (I really should not have procrastinated until the last possible moment to work on this)
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 4/10

#apfbt_fools #東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouStyleOriginal

Announcing this year (2024)s Passable Touhou-Style-Themed April Fools Event!

RickyRister 2024-03-02 | Last year's announcement video: youtu.be/H5IPRjXUyI8

=== Event Details ===
1. Come up with a list of steps for a Touhou song category of your choosing
2. Compose a song following those steps.
3. Make a video of it in the style of pfbt
4. Upload it on April 1st! (Make sure to tag it with #apfbt_fools)

Playlist of previous pfbts: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz51uZoQqpgfL_J-tt_BWxEFudxb8VGR

=== Resources For Newcomers ===
Touhou-style Tutorial: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQdwGJz2dL79DpDGXmicjDkWRkQtojqXe
Electroll's channel has some good Touhou-style analysis/tutorial videos: youtube.com/@ElectroIl
SD90 soundfonts: mega.nz/file/rw5xgTIQ#BQIndb4hboaRvEzbg9ZaDALp4bOhOgJUxmcVXsI_P1w

=== Special Thanks ===

【Touhou-Style Original】The Exhausted Birds Return at Dusk ~ Meteor Dream（AJoR Staff Roll Theme）

RickyRister 2023-10-08 | I made the staff roll theme for 明京梦纪行～A Journey of Reminiscences

Check out the full album here: youtu.be/vGsUPv9LQw8

Music Room Comment:
You know, for a so-called Tenmu album, there's been a complete lack of references to Tenmu's theme. But if there was ever a place to stuff in a reference, the staff roll theme would be it.
After all, you're looking back on the journey, back to where it all began, not just in terms of this story, but in terms of the character herself. Ten years ago, when we were first introduced to Tenmu, along with her catchy theme.
(Actually, I got into Touhou fangames circa-2016, but the point still stands)
Then I proceded to do what I do best and counterpointed all over it. Because apparently that's how I compose these days.

“Fun had while composing" rating: 5/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

Art by Akinomiya (twitter.com/akarinomiya_a)

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouMusic #Touhou #明京梦纪行 #AJourneyofReminiscences #AJoR

【Touhou-Style Arrange】Yet Another Phantasm Paradise Arrange

RickyRister 2023-10-03 | Happy Champaign of Unfinished Dreams 2 year anniversary!
What can I say? I like running jokes.

This was made last-minute, so apologies if it's a bit rough around the edges.

Check out Orange's version: youtu.be/s0GloX3l3Fo?si=4xIz-tBQOE6AEKqW

“Fun had while arranging” rating: -5/10 (In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have procrastinated until the day before)
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouStyleOriginal

munomoto counterpoint.mp4

RickyRister 2023-05-30 | Came across one of my old project files, and thought some of you might be interested. I guess you could call it the very first draft of Phantasm Paradise.

"My first idea was to have each of the team members be represented by a leitmotif, and then have all 5 of those leitmotifs playing in counterpoint. And then once we go back and compose the other boss themes, they’ll feature the leitmotifs.
Eventually I sorta gave up on the idea. (especially after I brought up my idea to the other composers and they were like “we’re absolutely not doing another leitmotif hell after EPA”) I still scattered some of those melodies around the song though.
I remember when Tokiko was arranging my song, he was struggling with the intro because “why the hell are there so many random disjointed melodies?” and I just answered “they’re counterpoint remnants.”"
- rickyrister.wordpress.com/2022/10/07/random-thoughts-on-coud-one-year-later-part-2-the-songs-themselves

The finished song, in case you haven't heard it yet: youtu.be/MamNoeA5mqo

How to make a passable Lenen-style final boss theme in 17 steps

RickyRister 2023-04-01 | 2023 apfbt fools playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz51uZoQqpiUE9bn7IrdU8oga9gGdH1q

Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

I couldn't find any Touhou fangame final boss themes with a structure long enough to support 17 steps, so I had to resort to Len'en. I mean, Len'en-style still falls under the umbrella of Touhou-style, right?

(Yes, I know Blue Devil in the Belvedere's final boss theme exists. No, I didn't feel like doing it, because it's actually two songs mushed into a single OST slot.)

...You know, I wasn't even originally planning to compose anything this year. But then I saw the overwhelmingly warm reception to the announcement video and realized that it would be a really bad look if everyone else put in so much effort while I sat around doing nothing.

So yeah, I guess I kinda felt obligated to make this after all.

Definitely don't expect me to do one next year though. I know I said that last year too, but 17 to 19 is an even bigger jump than 15 to 17.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 1/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 5/10

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouStyleOriginal #apfbt_fools

Announcing this years Passable Touhou-Style-Themed April Fools Event!

RickyRister 2023-02-21 | === Event Details ===
1. Come up with a list of steps for a Touhou song category of your choosing
2. Compose a song following those steps.
3. Make a video of it in the style of pfbt
4. Upload it on April 1st! (Make sure to tag it with #apfbt_fools)

Playlist of previous pfbts: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmz51uZoQqpgfL_J-tt_BWxEFudxb8VGR

=== Resources For Newcomers ===
Touhou-style Tutorial: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQdwGJz2dL79DpDGXmicjDkWRkQtojqXe
Electroll's channel has some good Touhou-style analysis/tutorial videos: youtube.com/@ElectroIl
SD90 soundfonts: mega.nz/file/rw5xgTIQ#BQIndb4hboaRvEzbg9ZaDALp4bOhOgJUxmcVXsI_P1w

=== Special Thanks ===
Oborochi for helping me with the script
Orange for making the thumbnail

The Absolute State of Abyss Soul Lotuss Comment Section (And somehow a Vtuber is involved)

RickyRister 2023-01-06 | Just wanted to let people on the English side know what the Chinese side is going through right now lol.

Also, in case you don't know yet, Abyss Soul Lotus releases on February 3rd! Probably the most long-awaited Touhou fangame yet!

PV: bilibili.com/video/BV178411n73T
Steam page: store.steampowered.com/app/1000440

What are Touhou-Style Original Compositions?

RickyRister 2022-11-28 | I guess this video could also be titled "an introduction to Touhou-Style Music."

Garakuta article: en.touhougarakuta.com/news-en/about-touhou-style-original-compositions
11's article: docs.google.com/document/d/1Gfl-cpr_S6vIqYp5cWSWqOAD8cp8Zcfvbph41sJCcfw

Massive playlist of Touhou-style originals: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLywz9T2XWguUBeT4l458r3PPlGOmlxUzY

Anyways, first time making this sort of video, though I am planning to make more in the future. Please leave any feedback you have in the comments, because I'm still super unsure on a lot of the decisions I'm making.

Like I said, special thanks to Oborochi and Tokiko (aka Beet) for helping me with this video. I couldn't have done it without them.

00:00 Intro
01:53 A History Lesson
03:47 So, What is Touhou-Style?
04:54 Our Definition of Touhou-Style
06:23 Fangames
07:49 Fake Fangame Albums
10:12 Hifuu Albums
11:47 Normal Albums
12:09 Individual Uploads
14:26 Outro

【Touhou-Style Original】The Amanojaku Who Couldnt Reach Heaven【To47D Track #27】

RickyRister 2022-10-31 | A song I made for CnD’s newly released album, Travelogue of 47 Days.
Download the album for free on Bandcamp! It has 49 freaking tracks! What’s not to like?
consonancesdissonances.bandcamp.com/album/travelogue-of-47-days

This song started as me trying to replicate Ocha's style, then expanded from there. I think this is the most experimental song I've made so far, as least in terms of harmony.

...That's probably not saying much, since my harmony is usually boring as hell.

You know, over the past half year or so, I've started to relate to this song a lot, especially in terms of how I feel about composing. It's funny, being the one who wrote the song, but then regarding it with a new meaning over time.

I can't think of a more fitting sendoff song for me.

“Fun had while composing" rating: 6/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

Background: pixiv.net/en/artworks/52031033

#touhoustyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Original】An Uwabamis Moon Viewing Sake【To47D Track #37】

RickyRister 2022-10-29 | A song I made for CnD’s newly released album, Travelogue of 47 Days.
Download the album for free on Bandcamp! It has 49 freaking tracks! What’s not to like?
consonancesdissonances.bandcamp.com/album/travelogue-of-47-days

This is the least planned-out of the songs I made for the album. I didn't have anything in mind when composing this song, other than to chip away at the remaining song count. Yet somehow it's the album song that I'm least unsatisfied with. I wonder if there's some correlation there...

“Fun had while composing" rating: 5/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

Background: pixiv.net/en/artworks/89231758

#touhoustyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Arrange】Phantasm Paradise ~ Lost Dreams (Tokiko ver.) (Ricky arr.)【To47D Track #2】

RickyRister 2022-10-25 | A Phantasm Paradise arrange that I made for CnD’s newly released album, Travelogue of 47 Days.
Download the album for free on Bandcamp! It has 49 freaking tracks! What’s not to like?
consonancesdissonances.bandcamp.com/album/travelogue-of-47-days

This arrange is what would happen if I had it my way with Tokiko ver. I kept the things I liked from his version and changed the things I disagreed with. That means the climax counterpoint is back!

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 3/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

#touhoustyle #東方風自作曲

First Impressions of 鈴集無名の丘 ~ Little Doll Story

RickyRister 2022-10-11 | Game made by 畑枚蓂蘭.
Download: drive.google.com/drive/folders/12fKF9lUlnE5GIgyh7k_hnSFHLKJ3efDU

【Playable Piano Arrange】Phantasm Paradise ~ Lost Dreams (Touhou CoUD)

RickyRister 2022-10-03 | Happy one year anniversary of Champaign of Unfinished Dreams (the album)!

I did Tokiko ver because piano arranging my own version felt too close to midislapping. Also because Tokiko ver is ironically less complicated, since Tokiko removed a lot of the counterpoint.

midi: drive.google.com/file/d/19R931lF_9zx5ndBqdU5QPYavLdBRkofD/view?usp=sharing

Original song by RickyRister, Tokiko, Roka, and Luna: youtu.be/mtnUHCsYuk4?t=2089

Art: twitter.com/moku2333

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 3/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/1

【Touhou Piano】 Fangame/Album Final Boss Medley (2022 Edition)

RickyRister 2022-08-07 | #東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

A piano medley of the final boss themes of all the touhou fangames/albums that I can remember, in chronological release order. Kudos to anyone who can recognize all the songs. There’s some pretty obscure ones in there.

Special thanks:
A bunch of players for letting me use their gameplay footage.
Gizmo for acting as Zenith tech support.
Maceknight for once again fetching me EQ assets.
Anyone who showed interested in the project when I talked about it, for giving me the motivation to keep working on it.
All of the amazing composers, artists, programmers, and writers who have poured their heart and soul into these works.
The Touhou fangame community in general, for fostering an environment where people are encouraged to make all of these amazing works.

Maybe I'll do another one of these in 4 years, assuming I'm still alive by then.

Video was rendered with Zenith: arduano.github.io/Zenith-MIDI/start
The Synthesia X Resource Pack for Zenith was made by MBMS Productions and Arduano.

00:00 Strange Moon, Illusionary Shapeshifter
00:46 G Free ~ Final Dream
01:34 Seven Flowers of the Deep Sea ~ Forgotten Benefit
02:22 Jade
03:10 Mankind Salvation Plan ~ The Greatest Salvation
03:58 The Lamplight Emits to the Dark Heaven ~ Heaven Desires
04:46 Seize the Night
05:18 Panic Grave
05:50 Sky-Filling Departed Spirit ~ Lightning Word
06:33 Maiden Artist ~ Misantropic Artist
07:21 Encounter of the Heavenly Space Ceremony ~ Space Surveillance
07:58 Endless Fate
08:47 Ancient Children's Song ~ Firefly
09:44 Legend of Defeating the Oni from Fantasy
10:44 Fantasy Nation Daybreak ~ Prayer Player
11:32 Recollection of Gravel and Dust ~ Vanishing Memories
12:20 The Lost Emotion ~ Tree of Life
13:18 Under the Curtain of Night, the Ghosts Begin Dancing ~ Evening Fantasia
14:04 Ten-Colored Flowers of Hana-nishiki ~ Submarine Benefit
14:49 Illusionary Natural Calamity ~ Ultimate Phantom
15:33 The Lapislazuli Star's Wish ~ Dream Star's Wish
16:21 Great Magic of the Power of Words ~ Starry Wisdom
17:10 Power of the Shattering Sky
17:55 A Pure and Innocent Fleeting Flower ~ Absolute Lily
18:30 The Moon Rabbit and the Forbidden Fruit ~ Eden's Apple
19:14 Quintet that Resounds Atop the High Summit ~ Elemental Quintet
20:02 Deified Emergent Property ~ Ambivalent Soul
20:52 Perfect Human ~ Dream of Humanity
21:31 Unimaginable Power ~ Melancholy of the Lost Scientist
22:22 Golden Hymn ~ Ibis Trismegistus
22:55 Storm of Flower Petals Between Life and Death
23:50 Insane God of the Primordial Chaos ～ Ethereal Paradise
24:24 Battle at the Capital of Flowers
25:10 Dangerous Curiosity
25:46 Gleaming Flowers that Fill the Sky ～ Brilliant Bouquet
26:27 Impermanence of Spring-Coloured Ripples ~World of Blooming Sakura~
27:16 Arisen of an unknown being ~ God of God
28:05 Rising Sun Moon Viewing ~ Best Wishes
28:56 Gensokyou Genesis ~ Tragedy Princess
29:42 Rebel of the War God's Five Weapons ~ REBELLION God Force
30:28 Fantasic Kaleidoscape ~ Anthologia
31:16 Forgotten Radiance ~ Recrudescence of the Ardent Ravaging Light
32:00 Eastern Anthem ~ Only Edo, Gong J-ode!
32:49 Eternal Flame Towering Atop the Mountain Peak ~ the End of History
33:35 Victims deities ~ A god who dives into the path of darkness
34:21 Sapphire Mothership ~ Thalassic Izanami
35:12 Phantasm Paradise ~ Lost Dreams
35:55 Listen Well to the Concerto of Revival ~ Sound of Soul
36:37 Extolment of Shancai Tongzi ~ Bubbling Imaginary Treasures
37:22 Tamatebako of Mount Hourai ~ His Memento
38:10 Sunset of the End Times
38:58 Eastern Aspects of Love and Beauty ~ Existential Humankind
39:43 O, Thou Who Bears Knowledge of Samsara's Interstices ~ Traitor's Requiem
40:31 Divinely-Created Radiance of Imaginary Faith ~ Effulgent World of Consciousness
41:11 From Beginning to End ~ Drunken Prophet
42:03 Sleepless Eyes of the Creator Deity ~ Divine Catharsis

The Long-Belated Part 2 of my Wonderful Waking World First Impressions* Series

RickyRister 2022-07-15 | *Not actually a first impressions this time

Part 1: youtu.be/sdQ63niG7dk

Game made by Oligarchomp. Download it for free on Steam or itch.io:
store.steampowered.com/app/1901490/__Wonderful_Waking_World
oligarchomp.itch.io/wonderful-waking-world

00:00 Attempt #1
02:31 Attempt #2
06:56 Attempt #3-6
08:02 Attempt #7
08:35 Attempt #8
11:22 Spell Practice
23:35 Spell Practice Part 2
26:36 Music Room
28:37 Future content?

First Impressions of 東方眠世界 ~ Wonderful Waking World

RickyRister 2022-06-17 | First time doing one of these types of videos.

Game made by Oligarchomp. Download it for free on Steam or itch.io:
store.steampowered.com/app/1901490/__Wonderful_Waking_World
oligarchomp.itch.io/wonderful-waking-world

How to make a passable Touhou-style final boss theme in 15 steps

RickyRister 2022-04-01 | Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

I guess I’m kinda obligated to make this. Otherwise I would be throwing away a joke that’s been running for 4 years.

Don’t expect any more pfbts in the future though. It was already hard enough finding a song structure that I can stretch to 15 steps.
(Not to mention that I’ve already given up on composing in general, but that’s besides the point.)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 2/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 3/10

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouStyleOriginal

RickyRister Live Stream

RickyRister 2022-02-08 | ...

【Touhou-Style Original】Phantasm Paradise ~ Lost Dreams (Ricky ver.)

RickyRister 2021-10-03 | Check out the full album here: youtu.be/mtnUHCsYuk4

Here's what the final boss theme sounded like before I passed it off to Tokiko for arranging. It's quite different from the final version, isn't it?

Art by Akinomiya (twitter.com/akinomiya_asuka)

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Original】Promised Land Built on Fantasy ~ Catastrophe of All!!

RickyRister 2021-06-29 | Theme for the OC that AzuRemilia made for an OC contest hosted by the Fangames ’n Chill discord server. You can read the character bio here: docs.google.com/document/d/1-zHG5cskt3gPq6Mkj3WJiaifREV2rJJgON-TVEzwLEs/edit?usp=sharing

Special thanks to youKnowOwO for some of the melodies. (You can clearly tell that the piano spam wasn't made by me.)

When I looked over the bio, what stood out the most to me was the juxtaposition between being a force of destruction and a force of life, so I wanted to do something similar with the music.

The first two-thirds of the song represent danger and destruction and is supposed to sound foreboding. (Azu came up with the idea of using blaring romantic tps to imitate warning sirens.)
The climax represents life and evolution and is supposed to sound hopeful.

Art by AzuRemilia (twitter.com/AzureRemilia2)

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Original】Todomeki of the Claw

RickyRister 2021-06-28 | Theme for the OC that Meriki made for an OC contest hosted by the Fangames ’n Chill discord server. You can read the character bio here: docs.google.com/document/d/12u1ZIBbOynMGJAX9O8VqpZpjzJbDilIxMRljWlG_sug/edit?usp=sharing

Special thanks to ElianTempest and Meriki for some of the melodies.

After Elian passed me the intro, I decided to go for something that sounded both threatening and playful.
I also got Meriki to come up with a melody, which I used as the base for the climax (and by that, I meant that I counterpointed over it a bunch). I guess this song technically marks Meriki’s first time composing.

Art by Meriki (twitter.com/Merimekim)

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Original】Bai Ze ~ The Humanitys Adored Divine Beast!!

RickyRister 2021-05-09 | Bai Ze ~ The Humanity's Adored Divine Beast!!

Guys, I finally composed for Anna's Handmade!

Anyways, this theme is for Anna's OC, Hakutaku.
She's suppose to be the stage 4 boss of a hypothetical game set in China. She gets beaten up by the Wukong (the protagonist of the game) due to her arrogant attitude and refusal to divulge information about the culprit.

Anna wanted the song to have strong Chinese vibes, so I used the most stereotypical Chinese melodies I could think of.

Anna's twitter: twitter.com/Touhoufan1996

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8/10

Background image: pinterest.ca/pin/31173422408013926

【Touhou-Style Original】Iron of the Rusted Past (Ricky Mix)

RickyRister 2021-04-12 | This song was arranged by Ocha for our latest album, 東方嘘偽話～ Anthology of Forgotten Fables.
Check it out here: youtu.be/x_94W_QHWEg

An unused song from a fangame I composed for.
This song was originally made for a festival-themed stage, hence the koto and shamisen.
I used Touhou 12’s stage 3 theme as a reference when making the melody.
Also there's 4/4 on 3/4 counterpoint at the end because why not.

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Original】A Castle Once Called Home (Ricky Mix)

RickyRister 2021-04-12 | This song was arranged by Sodacat for our latest album, 東方嘘偽話～ Anthology of Forgotten Fables.
Check it out here: youtu.be/x_94W_QHWEg

Another one of my previously unused fangame songs.
Originally made for a rainy stage, which is what the harps were supposed to evoke.
It’s a laid-back stage theme, which I don’t often make.
Seems like I have a habit of inserting sad piano interludes into the middle of songs for some reason.

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

【Touhou-Style Collab】Timeless Escape ~ Being of Fear (Ricky Mix)

RickyRister 2021-04-12 | This song was arranged by Sodacat for our latest album, 東方嘘偽話～ Anthology of Forgotten Fables.
Check it out here: youtu.be/x_94W_QHWEg

ScarletKnives lost his motivation after writing the melody and chords, so I finished up the background elements and instrumentation.
As much as ScarletKnives undervalues his abilities, I think he made a pretty solid base for me to elaborate upon. Sure, he needed a lot of help making it, but isn’t helping out newcomers the main draw of having a community?

#東方Project #TouhouStyle #東方風自作曲

How to make a passable Touhou-style final boss theme in 13 steps

RickyRister 2021-04-01 | Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

This video is a lot more jokey than the last two. Can you figure out which final boss theme I ripped the song structure from? (Hint: It’s from a fangame)

(I honestly have no idea how I’m going to manage next year. It was already hard enough padding it to 13 steps.)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 7/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: 1/10

Special thanks to Dr.Koupop for lending me some of his melodies. (twitter.com/dr_koupop)

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle #TouhouStyleOriginal

【Collab】An Hour Before the End ~ Penultimate Moment (as seen by Mountain Jay)

RickyRister 2021-02-07 | Each composer had one hour to come up with their section. Then we put all of the sections together and everyone does their own arrangement.

For my version, I just did what I always do when arranging: add counterpoint to everything!

"Fun had while composing" rating: 8/10

Check out everyone else's arrangements!
Base version: youtu.be/QONmoMNRXIw
Zen: youtu.be/s-UpkqNzi3o
Ocha: youtu.be/2fh8gRZQm18
Eren: youtu.be/bkiSCAYbgt0
Broken Moon: youtu.be/_c9zKopSzQ0

#東方風自作曲 #TouhouStyle

【Touhou-Style Arrange】Santa Claus Is Comin to Town

RickyRister 2020-12-25 | Because why not.

Merry Christmas, guys.

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 8/10

#TouhouStyle
#東方風自作曲

Sequence Breaker’s Grand Reordering (Original)

RickyRister 2020-09-17 | Sairin’s boss theme for Conar’s 2020 S&Y Script Festival game. Check out the game here: bulletforge.org/u/conarnar/p/sy-script-festival-2020

Sairin has the ability to manipulate order. His powers over the timeline include speeding up / slowing down the flow of time and reordering events, so I decided to represent those powers quite literally, with the speeding up and slowing down and overlapping of melodies.

Turns out canons are hard to make. You can’t just slap some random melody on top of itself and hope that it works out.

Honestly, I’m not very satisfied with how this song turned out.
I valued sticking to the gimmick over making the song sound the best it could.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 7.5/10

#TouhouStyle
#東方風自作曲

Counterfeit Counter-Fight ~ Pretenders Image (Collab)

RickyRister 2020-09-12 | RickyToki collab! Yay!
…To be honest, I’m surprised I haven’t collabed with him until now.

Tokiko’s version: youtu.be/J4YtXDEevSg

The massive gap in quality really shows that I’m still just in his shadow… for now.
Just a “pretender’s image” of him, if you will.
Then again, he’s the one who dragged me into this community in the first place (even if it was by complete chance), and was a mentor to me when I first started composing, so you could say that I’ve always been his image.
He also finished his version before I was even half done with mine, so… actually, I don’t know what that says about me.

According to him, my style’s somewhere between Wanwan/Tokiko and 11. I agree with the Wanwan/Tokiko part, but do I really sound that 11?

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8/10

#TouhouStyle
#東方風自作曲

I tried to make an anime op

RickyRister 2020-09-04 | Something I made for Umbra’s OC as part of a trade.

Since I have no experience making this style of music, the original plan was for me to just compose the piano sketch and let Umbra plus some other people handle the arranging/vocals.
6 months later and it was clear the plan wasn’t coming together.
“Fine then, I’ll just try to arrange it myself, and Umbra can do the lyrics.”
6 months later and Umbra still hasn’t done the lyrics.
Why do I even try…

Still doesn’t sound as good as I hoped, but hey, I’m not used to arranging in this style.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 6.5/10

Special thanks to Umbra for giving me advice and feedback throughout all this.

【Touhou-Style Arrange】Rolling Girl

RickyRister 2020-06-18 | You know, I’ve always wanted to try arranging a Vocaloid song.
Hmm, Rolling Girl seems pretty popular, and I can’t find anyone else who has made a Touhou-style arrange of it yet.
Plus, the song itself seems quite Touhou arrangable.

…

…Oh, the arrange turned out surprisingly well.
Maybe I should try arranging some more vocaloid songs in the future.

Original song by wowaka : youtu.be/vnw8zURAxkU

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 9/10

Special thanks to Animadness and DOMusicOnline 熱朱力新地 for referencing their midis.

#TouhouStyle
#東方風アレンジ
#東方風自作曲リンク

【Touhou-Style Arrange】Black Night [White～blanche comme la lune～]

RickyRister 2020-06-14 | Something someone wanted me to make for them.
Apparently White ~blanche comme la lune~ is a visual novel or something. (I couldn’t find any info about the game in english)
Searching up the game on Youtube also caused my recommendations to be flooded by visual novel OSTs, which… I won’t complain about.

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 8/10

【Playable Piano Arrange】Rising Sun Moon Viewing ~ Best Wishes (Touhou SoHW)

RickyRister 2020-05-20 | Another fangame released, another piano arrange of the final boss theme completed. Is there a reason I’m doing all these piano arrangements?

I have a love-hate relationship with Abner’s music. His songs, on the whole, are great. However, his melodies just sound... how do I put this… well, they sound off. It’s like they’re just moseying around half the time (without much regard for the chord, no less!).
I told myself I’d understand Abner’s style better once I’ve sat down and transcribed one of his songs. Well, I did that, and I’m still just as perplexed (In fact, I discovered that his spam is also super off-chord). Good thing music doesn’t have to make sense to sound good.
I really like the song structure though. Using a previous melody as counterpoint at the end of the climax reminds me of Marine Benefit’s final boss theme, and you know how much I gush about that song.

You know, as much as I harp on Abner’s melodies, he sure is flexible when it comes to blending styles. I guess all that time spent making touhou-style arranges of meme songs served him well.

The song name really confused me at first because I read it as “Rising Sun Moon / Viewing” instead of “Rising Sun / Moon Viewing” . I bet they came up with the Japanese name first. I can see why the name sounds cool in Japanese/Chinese, but it sounds awkward as hell in English.

Sheet music download: drive.google.com/open?id=1svERHINqpAXbVR313-3PKef0jtJm7-D0
Midi download: drive.google.com/open?id=18CVAq88wevbqEWE6eTQUr2F9D0blnB7i

Original song by Abner : youtu.be/QuhAXMZvf_s

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 7/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -0.1/10

【Playable Piano Arrange】Impermanence of Spring-Colour Ripples ~World of Blooming Sakura~

RickyRister 2020-05-02 | Has it already been a year since I did my last piano arrange? Wow, time really flies when you hardly upload.

I sorta cheaped out on the left hand during the climax. In my defence, I had trouble picking out individual lines from the blob of music. Hopefully nobody minds.

As for my thoughts on the song itself… Well, it’s a fitting final boss theme. (I should totally steal its structure for next year’s April fool’s video) Funnily enough, the part that most caught my attention in is the call-and-response in the climax. Using romantic tp and reed romance together like that is genius, and I won’t let anyone tell me otherwise.

Also, what’s up with the super long song name? I had to shrink the font to get the title to fit in the score. And this is the second time in a row I've had to run up against Youtube's title character limit.

Sheet music download: drive.google.com/open?id=1inPnvstWvTiU7W0fWZnNDinIbuV-S8SV
Midi download: drive.google.com/open?id=1wwtLzuma4M295sE8ZjB2lIAk4TE311j6

Original song by 百灵猫neko and H2SO4 : youtu.be/3OTobp_badg

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 8/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -0.5/10

How to make a passable Touhou-style final boss theme in 11 steps, except it actually sounds like one

RickyRister 2020-04-01 | TIL video titles actually have a character limit, and it’s surprisingly low.

Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

A lot of people have told me that my last passable final boss theme didn’t really sound too much like a final boss theme, and I agree. So I’ve gone back and tried to figure out why it didn’t sound final boss-y enough, and now I’m taking another crack at it.

(Also, April fool’s was rolling around again and I couldn’t think of anything else to make)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8.5/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -6/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

Lamentations of a One Off Character ~ Koboreniki Joke (Original)

RickyRister 2019-12-01 | Well, that was a fun song to make. Obligatory “this is quite different from my usual style”, but according to Tres, the bridge sections sound pretty experiemental.

This song was made for Tres’s and Tricky’s OC, Matroyshka Sluprslip, a Vodka Bottle Tsukumogami. She appeared as the final boss of Strange and Wonderful Summer Days, an incident that was run on S&Y. (If you don’t know what any of that means, just assume that SaWSD is a fake fangame.) You can read more about its characters here: docs.google.com/document/d/1vp796GNTJ3PaH--hWkCfoSF9jm1esmCEsTW00dX8cdI/edit?usp=sharing

Matroyshka represents discarded one-off and joke characters. To mirror this, the bridge sections are a jumble of random discarded melodies.
Also, Tres wanted the chorus to sound Russian folk music-y, so I just ripped the chord progression from the Tetris theme and slapped a balalaika on top.
Also, this song loops a lot, because… umm… it represents how the summer festival is being repeated over and over! Yeah, let’s just go with that.

Fun fact: This song was originally made for the passable final bo- wait, the joke doesn’t work for this part.

For anyone wondering what “Koboreniki” means, apparently it’s a nonsense Russian-sounding word that tres came up with that also conveniently means “leftover diary” in Japanese.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 7/10

Special thanks to everyone who donated me the melody dumps that I sifted through to put together the bridge sections.

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

The Kannushi Takes to the Street (Original)

RickyRister 2019-08-10 | Oh what? The script festival deadline got pushed back by five days? I guess I might as well use that time to throw together a title theme for Tres’s script.

A short, simple, and laid-back title theme, made using material from the two other themes plus TOES. It’s short because I decided last minute to make this theme. And plus, nobody’s going to be spending that long in the menu anyways.

Check out the script here: bulletforge.org/u/tressert/p/eastern-sacred-path-sudden-onset-of-masculinity
Stage theme: youtu.be/o2_gB9O8SF8
Boss theme: youtu.be/c8mssRn3EYM

Now Tres tied with Sparen for the person I’ve composed the most number of songs for so far even if you don’t count Heart in the Machine. And ahead by one if you do!

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8.5/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

Checkmate in Four Dimensions (Original)

RickyRister 2019-08-10 | The boss theme for Conar’s 2019 S&Y Script Festival script. Check out the script here: bulletforge.org/u/conarnar/p/sy-script-festival-2019

I had quite some trouble with this theme. Conar wanted a theme for a “trickster who is going all out but at the same time enjoying the fun.” Unfortunately, I’m not very good at trickster themes, since my idea of “trickster” basically boiled down to dissonance and chromaticism. So I looked at Illness Illusioner for reference, and realized that it liked starting the melody on the offbeat. That was the piece of the puzzle that let me finish this song.

The song turned out less trickster-y than I wanted, and I’m not super happy with the climax. If nothing else, I guess the climax proves that I’ve become even more wanwan/tokiko since last time. (Ricky-Toki collab when?)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 6.5/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

A Fantasy Computer Dreams of Fantasy Sheep ~ Heart in the Machine (Original)

RickyRister 2019-05-07 | Well, that was a fun song to make. Obligatory “this is quite different from my usual style”, but according to Robin, the bridge sections sound pretty techno.

This song was made for Tres’s and Robin’s OC, Fuyukumo Raye, a vacuum-tube computer tsukumogami. She appeared as the final boss of Antiquated Pseudo Exodus, an incident that was run on S&Y. (If you don’t know what any of that means, just pretend that Antiquated Pseudo Exodus is a fake fangame.) You can read more about its characters here: docs.google.com/document/d/1nBHncoXhFP8GrtZ4B2FCj9mDiEsUkToh5VwltG62kH0/edit?usp=sharing

Raye’s ability is to copy-paste reality, so she downloaded past incidents to use their effects. To mirror this, this song references final boss themes from the incidents she uses during her boss fight.

Fun fact: This song was originally made for the passable final boss theme video. Halfway through, I realized that the verses were too memorable, and that I needed a minimum of 4 bridges to squeeze in all the references, so I shelved it and made a different song for the video. The original climax for this song got used for Passable Final Boss Theme instead, so I wrote a new climax, and to be honest, I like it a lot more than the old one. (I feel like my style is becoming more wanwan/tokiko by the day)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 9/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

【Playable Piano Arrange】Insane God of the Primordial Chaos ～ Ethereal Paradise (Touhou GoDS)

RickyRister 2019-04-11 | I didn’t expect myself to be making another piano arrange so soon, but here I am, I guess.

From what others have told me, this arrange is actually quite hard, but it’s still in the realm of playability, so I’m sure one of you super skilled piano guys can do it.

As for my thoughts on the song itself… Well, it’s a good final boss theme. I like it a lot, and I expect myself to be whistling its melodies for quite a while, but it’s ultimately just yet another good final boss theme.
I guess after spending long enough in the community, you just get jaded to the point where good final boss themes that aren’t breaking new ground just sound like “good final boss themes.” Or maybe I just don’t find Tokiko’s current style very interesting. Or both. (Elemental Quintet’s final boss theme was better. Fight me)
Also, who the hell came up with the song name? It somehow manages to max out both the edginess and cheesiness meters at the same time.

Mp3 download: drive.google.com/open?id=1Ohd6ueC6gj7-2pK6ST1oZIqrJU27qcZ7
Sheet music download: drive.google.com/open?id=1c9gDWu3O65hPQFjT8dFFnfLfhx7bvTUQ
Midi download: drive.google.com/open?id=1nOAza13AwCyNZzIFS0MAelTBNlEE_unI

Fun fact: The original song is detuned by half a semitone for some reason, which made starting the transcription really annoying. Funnily enough, Tokiko has tried to get me to detune my songs by half a semitone before, and gave me an enigmatic answer when I asked him why. I wonder what his master plan is…

Original song by Tokiko/Wanwan (I expect a decent chunk of people to think the song was solely composed by Wanwan, but guys, Wanwan doesn’t randomly detune his songs by half a semitone for no reason):
youtu.be/-45Vbj8UgAw

“Fun had while arranging” rating: 9/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -1/10

How to make a passable Touhou-style final boss theme in 9 steps

RickyRister 2019-04-01 | Q: Is this meant to be taken seriously?
A: Look at the upload date.

Okay, in all honesty, I originally wrote the script as a humorous yet accurate guide. But then the song didn’t turn out as good as I wanted, and I was out of time to start over, so I’m just going to handwave it and claim that the video isn’t meant to be taken seriously.
(Don’t you just love the power of irony?)

The song doesn’t really sound that final boss-y. But then again, I merely said that the song was passable. I never said that it was any good.

Fun fact: The first half the song was cobbled together from scrapped melodies from Vee’s Secret Santa theme (or as you probably know it, “The Dream where Regrets are Carried, Even in Afterlife”), which is why the verse might sound similar to something I’ve made before.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -5/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

Useless Moon (Collab)

RickyRister 2019-04-01 | This is a collab from quite a while ago.

This song is meant to represent the melancholy and frustration of feeling like you’re just useless at something.
I made this song back when I was going through a musical inferiority complex, so for me, it represents the pain of feeling like you’re so much worse at something than everyone else.
I think, for Galvy, the song represents the frustration of being unable to finish a composition.
(Also, I’m pretty sure you can tell who made which parts of the song.)
-Ricky

Suffer in eternal purgatory.
-Galvy

“Fun had while composing” rating: 9/10
“Fun had while video editing” rating: -3/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

[SttJ Stage 3 Boss Theme] Rhythmatic Capacitance ~ Verge of Discharge

RickyRister 2019-02-23 | SttJ got bashed hard when it came out for many reasons, not the least of which was because its music sucked.
Somehow, I’ve managed to find myself as the composer for SttJ, so now I’m slowly working to “fix Sparen’s mistakes” and replace its OST.
I managed to finish 5 songs in time for the first update.

“SeitenTouji 1 - Adamantine Memory Blade is a third person Touhou-style shoot-em-up game featuring an all-male cast in the world of Daiten Daichi. Play as Teiki Tetsurou and discover this unfamiliar world while also perhaps saving its fragile peace in the process.”
-Sparen

Download: http://www.bulletforge.org/u/sparen/p/seitentouji-1-adamantine-memory-blade

Music Room comment:
Taiga Yoryou’s theme.
I wanted to reference the the stage theme to relate the two characters.
Before I knew it, half the song ended up reusing stage theme material.
I’m honestly surprised at how much mileage I managed to get out of a single melody.
(Not complaining, since I was having trouble coming up with stuff)

“Fun had while composing” rating: 7/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

[SttJ Stage 2 Boss Theme] Thought Amalgam ~ Unknown Hypothesis

RickyRister 2019-02-23 | SttJ got bashed hard when it came out for many reasons, not the least of which was because its music sucked.
Somehow, I’ve managed to find myself as the composer for SttJ, so now I’m slowly working to “fix Sparen’s mistakes” and replace its OST.
I managed to finish 5 songs in time for the first update.

“SeitenTouji 1 - Adamantine Memory Blade is a third person Touhou-style shoot-em-up game featuring an all-male cast in the world of Daiten Daichi. Play as Teiki Tetsurou and discover this unfamiliar world while also perhaps saving its fragile peace in the process.”
-Sparen

Download: http://www.bulletforge.org/u/sparen/p/seitentouji-1-adamantine-memory-blade

Music Room comment:
Taro Oshisou’s theme.
My songs usually have a predictable structure.
But this one is almost unchanged from the improv.
I guess this is the sort of chaos you can only get
by sitting at a keyboard and just playing.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 8.5/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

[SttJ Last Word Theme] Just Another Challenge to Face

RickyRister 2019-02-23 | SttJ got bashed hard when it came out for many reasons, not the least of which was because its music sucked.
Somehow, I’ve managed to find myself as the composer for SttJ, so now I’m slowly working to “fix Sparen’s mistakes” and replace its OST.
I managed to finish 5 songs in time for the first update.

“SeitenTouji 1 - Adamantine Memory Blade is a third person Touhou-style shoot-em-up game featuring an all-male cast in the world of Daiten Daichi. Play as Teiki Tetsurou and discover this unfamiliar world while also perhaps saving its fragile peace in the process.”
-Sparen

Download: http://www.bulletforge.org/u/sparen/p/seitentouji-1-adamantine-memory-blade

Music Room comment:
I rewrote the melody so many freaking times because
I just couldn’t come up with something laid-back.
In the end, the song turned out upbeat instead.
And you know what? It actually fits Teiki better.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 6.5/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

[SttJ Stage 3 Theme] Path Carved by Steel and Lightning ~ Electric Raise

RickyRister 2019-02-23 | SttJ got bashed hard when it came out for many reasons, not the least of which was because its music sucked.
Somehow, I’ve managed to find myself as the composer for SttJ, so now I’m slowly working to “fix Sparen’s mistakes” and replace its OST.
I managed to finish 5 songs in time for the first update.

“SeitenTouji 1 - Adamantine Memory Blade is a third person Touhou-style shoot-em-up game featuring an all-male cast in the world of Daiten Daichi. Play as Teiki Tetsurou and discover this unfamiliar world while also perhaps saving its fragile peace in the process.”
-Sparen

Download: http://www.bulletforge.org/u/sparen/p/seitentouji-1-adamantine-memory-blade

Music Room comment:
This is a huge departure from my usual style, huh.
Partly because I was too lazy to change the intro from Sparen’s version.
But when it comes to factory break-ins, who doesn’t instantly think synth & guitar?
At least it’s still got my signature counterpoint at the end.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 9/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle

[SttJ Stage 6 Theme] Dance of Dawn and Dusk ~ Adamantine Will

RickyRister 2019-02-23 | SttJ got bashed hard when it came out for many reasons, not the least of which was because its music sucked.
Somehow, I’ve managed to find myself as the composer for SttJ, so now I’m slowly working to “fix Sparen’s mistakes” and replace its OST.
I managed to finish 5 songs in time for the first update.

“SeitenTouji 1 - Adamantine Memory Blade is a third person Touhou-style shoot-em-up game featuring an all-male cast in the world of Daiten Daichi. Play as Teiki Tetsurou and discover this unfamiliar world while also perhaps saving its fragile peace in the process.”
-Sparen

Download: http://www.bulletforge.org/u/sparen/p/seitentouji-1-adamantine-memory-blade

Music Room comment:
Upon being told to make a slow and solemn theme, my mind immediately went
to Len’en. Apparently that just means dropping the 3rd from all my chords and
spamming strings and low pianos. I don’t know why, but it gives the song an
“earthy” sound, perfect for solemn, fateful final stage themes.

“Fun had while composing” rating: 9/10

#東方風自作曲
#TouhouStyle