ReMix: Chrono Trigger 'The Trial in Concert'

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Game: Chrono Trigger (Square, 1995, SNES)
ReMixer(s): Steffan Andrews
Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda
Song(s): 'The Trial'
Posted: 2002-10-05, evaluated by the judges

For OCR00800 we have a special treat - Spekkosaurus, previous submitter (a considerable while back) of two Earthbound ReMixes, amazingly enough recorded this highly interpretive and technically impressive piano instrumental from Chrono Trigger in one take. The whole thing. Skillz. While I'll often record a solo in a single take, an entire piece is something else, esp. to stay consistently musical and in relative time. I consider myself a synthesist before a pianist, and this is something I simply could not do (well . . . and have it sound like something you'd *want* to listen to, at least^^). So kudos off the bat to Spekko for sheer "wow" factor on getting anything submitted that's solo piano and one take. Apparently there wasn't much preparation, either - Spekko worked most of it out in his head, ahead of time, so when he finally sat down in front of the ivories, he was in the zone. This is not your typical solo piano arrangement, which usually try to be lyrical and (perhaps overly) "intimate". This is more like something you'd hear at a saloon, and has the tempo-changing properties of a Russian folksong. It's ballsy, and even gets raucous at times, something that you'd not expect. And the piano playing is, in the traditional, classical sense at least, the most technical on the site. Truly using the full dynamic range of the instrument, this is a piano arrangement that displays intimate familiarity with its context, capitalizing on the strength of the instrument with every stroke. It's significantly above the level of Spekkosaurus' previous Earthbound ReMixes, and brings something very new to the crowded world of Chrono Trigger arrangements. It's not easy listening, however, and it's also not groove-based. Instead, I envision this as something you'd listen to occassionally but with your full attention, to appreciate what Spekko's done with the original as well as the sheer musicianship. If you simply don't like solo piano work, you may not appreciate it, but for everyone else this piece comes highly recommended. Bravo.

― djpretzel

Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.

This is... substantial? I'm not sure how, but it's a lovely 8 minutes for me. Before coming here, the only piano solo I enjoyed was Moonlight Sonata - and everything else unaccompanied-piano just grated on me. But this is a pleasure to listen to. I only wish it were longer! :)

- Fun on February 11, 2013

Really nice and varied piano work, and the long play time gives Steffan plenty of time to add in his own touches. I love these sort of extended piano solos, where you can really get a good look inside the mind of a musician. I agree with Brian, the soundscape can get a little samey, but I think it's tempered by the purity of ideas.
Overall really strong. Check this one out.

- OA on September 1, 2010

First off, this is worlds better than the first mix that Steffan sub'd. The piano sound quality is very crisp and full bodied. The performance is spot on. The arrangement is fantastic. I can hardly believe that this is one take, but I don't doubt it. There are some wrong notes in the piece, but the style of playing not only allows for them, but it almost encourages them and it gives the track a great feel. The dynamics in the piece are phenomenal. The changes in tempo are excellently performed. I suppose my one "complaint" comes from the length of the track itself. Being just shy of 8 mins, the solo piano, while very well played, becomes a little repetitive in nature. Not the arrangement, just the soundscape. The source is great, but 8 mins just feels a little too long for me. However, if 8 mins is what you needed to express yourself, far be it from me to say that's wrong!

- tweex on November 5, 2009

Oh wow...to think that this was recorded live, in one take...
I love when pianists just go crazy like this. It's like they have a creativity spasm and explode all over the keys and the result is sheer magnificence.
Now I just can't imagine it sounding any different, even in the game.
I love when that happens.

- Lucentas on December 6, 2008

Also - stay tuned for yet another OCR site project with yours truly. :razz:

- Steffan Andrews on September 18, 2008

Superrpgman;255923 wrote: Another wonderful remix by another artist who just dissapeared less than a year after sumbitting remixes.

Stay tuned for the FF7 project.

- Steffan Andrews on April 7, 2007

Another wonderful remix by another artist who just dissapeared less than a year after sumbitting remixes.

- Superrpgman on April 7, 2007

hello, I am new around here, let me introduce myself...My name is Jefferson and I am from brazil, I've just signed up just to ask the sheet of this song, can I have a copy please please?
This is the best song I have ever heard in my life, I just wanted the sheet to play it on piano (I am new playing piano too and I don't think I will get to play this song one day, lol)

- the_same_x on June 17, 2006

Yeah this mix was a really good one, i was very glad to find a panio mix on this song. I always thought it was just begging to be mixed ever since i heard it. Great work and keep the awesome tunes comming!

- MajLink on June 16, 2006

I believe this to be the best piano remix on the site, and it's honestly some of the best piano I have ever heard in my life. Really it's just brilliant; and I wish Spekkosaurus would have done a few more like this before he quit remixing. Oh well.. I'll still be listening to this for a long time to come.

- GregCaldwell on June 12, 2006

Okay, I just registered to OCReMix, after having listened to remixes old and new on this site for a year and a half or so.
I'm a pianist, a video game pianist at that, and this remix still blows me away every time I listen, which is pretty damn often for a song. It has inspired me just to learn the note patterns of this remix (by ear) and just improvise and go crazy like Spekkosaurus does here. every second of this piece is just so fucking cool, well-played and almost hair-raising 8)
This OCReMix is godly as far as solo piano goes on this site, and it must be listened by everyone, like djpretzel says [i]highly recommended[/i].

- M4x0rz on April 21, 2006

Did you play this for real? Nah, can´t be,
hehe...yeah...or? Because this was the most
skilled pianoplay I´ve heard.
I´m speechless, nice work with the ivory, Spekkdude.

- Bummerdude on September 14, 2005

I Love this song, and it sticks out among the rest of the CT remixes.....there are way too many Zeal techno remixes, although I like a lot of them, there's still way too many. But this song, I love the trial song in the game, and you did a very good remix of it. I actually made a game and had this song going in the background for the beta...and it fit awesomely! (it was an FPS called Heyjohnny)
Thanks for this one spekkosaurus(sp probably wrong)

- Heyjohnny on July 18, 2005

I would rate it one of the best arranged piano mixes on the site. Not the best but one of them.

- HershDawg on July 15, 2005

I can imagine this song be played alongside a silent film on an old projector. The villian ties Marle to the railroad tracks while twirling his incredibly long mustache.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COUNT: (Nefarious laughter)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MARLE: Help me, Crono!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

- LinearX on July 14, 2005