ReMix: Sonic & Knuckles 'Tomorrow's Wake'
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- Game: Sonic & Knuckles (Sega, 1994, GEN)
- ReMixer(s): Rexy
- Composer(s): Howard Drossin, Jun Senoue, Tomonori Sawada
- Song(s): 'Sky Sanctuary Zone'
- Posted: 2005-03-06, evaluated by the judges
Rexy gives us a melancholy yet hopeful piano arrangement from Sonic and Knuckles - not the type of source material you'd think would yield particularly sober, dramatic piano stylings, but Bev makes it work with a strong arrangement and a warmer, clearer piano sample and cleaner recording than her initial version of the track offered. Dynamics were also improved, or rather the soft notes were made a bit softer. The judges were in rare unanimity, however, and I agree, in observing that the piece's one salient flaw is the excess velocity applied to many notes throughout the piece. Particularly when it's part of an already separated melodic passage, fortissimo coupled with staccato is a dangerous weapon, to be used with a bit more reservation than the ReMixer applies. It's not a devastating issue and it fortunately doesn't kill the mix, but at least to our ears, it's a noticeable detractant. Now that THAT'S out of the way, the good news is that the arrangement is lovely, with an intro that begins with Debussy-like simplicity and pacing but gets more elaborate, with dramatic lower voicings forming a foundation for upper-register permutations of the main melody. Some of the progressions are well-implemented, specifically the diminishing ending that concludes the piece, and in general the degree of arrangement compared to the source material is substantive and creative. Binnie writes:
"New sample is better, recording is cleaner, tone is warmer. But the problem of plunkiness still remains, courtesy of the stiff and occasionally spiked velocities on key notes. Thanks to the improved mixing, it's a little easier to ignore. My main problem with this work was and still is the original phrasings and voicings, which aren't too interesting; the arrangement is best when interpreting and improvising on the theme. But as a whole, the rearrangement is fine."
I feel like part of my duty with these write-ups is "selling" each track, i.e. explaining the better aspects, and why you should check it out, but I'd be remiss if I didn't focus on some of the negatives as well. In this instance, it's a testament to Rexy's legitimate interpretation of the original and otherwise eloquent, elegant interpretation that it remains solid (to every last judge) in spite of some performance and voicing concerns.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the The keywords are in djp's description - melancoly, yet hopeful. So if there is a middleground between chill and energy, that's where the intension lies.
Work on the mix itself begun in November of 2004, where after spending 2 enjoyable months of University, I started to feel reflective regarding my return home for Christmas. The general feeling that I ended up having at the time were that I would have some highs and several lows, and whenever I end up experiencing lows, I would disregard it and think of doing my family proud.
It would also apply for similar situations that you might face. You may face several mishaps in life, but you gotta realise that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. (corny wording, I know, but it works!)
I hope this helps answer your question :)
- Rexy on March 28, 2009
The arrangement held my interest for the entirety, however the purpose of the mix was really unclear for me. The playing is in a middleground between powerful and relaxing. Not that all solo piano pieces should be one of those two categories, but in this mix especially, I started to think about the actual playing rather than what was being played. Maybe that's my problem and not that of the mixer's.
Anyway, for what this is, it does well. Obviously piano mixes don't aspire to be heralded among the mighty, but I'll always have time for them. Glad to hear another one, and a finely arranged one at that.
- Marmiduke on March 28, 2009
Nobbynob Littlun;518998 wrote: Hmm although I considered Rexy's Lament the pinnacle of your work, this is enjoyable too... *wink*
Hahaha, Rexy's Lament was awesome.
- KyleJCrb on March 17, 2009
Excellen musicianship! Awesome job!
- LuketheXjesse on March 16, 2009
- Nobbynob Littlun on March 16, 2009
But I'm also a sucker for ReMixes that take a source soundtrack and completely turn it on its ear in terms of genre and composition. It's so nice to see a solo piano arrangement in the sea of electronica and the ilk that seems to flood the Sonic titles.
And this one certainly does it justice! It's relaxing, yet powerful, simply lovely to listen to.
- Lucentas on January 6, 2009
I think the original can be a bit too hyper and bouncy/happy from the very beginning. It's nice to hear a rendition that really slows it down enough to appreciate the chord progression. LOVE the flat chords from the tonic.
Just my own thought, though, the chords, esp. the beginning sounded like it could have easily been mixed with the Triforce Chamber theme from Zelda: A Link to the Past. Would have been interesting to hear the two melodies interwoven w/ each other.
GREAT work, though.
- KogeJoe on January 29, 2007
sa2master wrote: This piece is simply amazing! The way you changed back and forth from piano to fortissimo at just the right times, slowed it down just enough to not really feel as if it too slow--but still keeping you wanting more.....Brings back many memories.
PS-Just so you know, the links to your music sheets seem to be down.
Ah, that's because about a year ago, Herograw's .com server "a splode" in the words of Strongbadzone. I'll edit them later. It's just the same as the usual except they've moved towards his .org server instead.
Thanks again everyone :)
- Rexy on July 17, 2006
PS-Just so you know, the links to your music sheets seem to be down.
- sa2master on July 17, 2006
But overall, I liked this. Instead of playing many keys at once, it had its own pace and own rhytm and didn't have too much balls in the air at the same time. Wonderful arrangement, and well done.
- Bummerdude on July 11, 2006
This is the kind of stuff that ruins my entire day if even the smallest noise is overheard during its playing, and reminds me that anything outside the song exists. And that's a very high compliment.
- Ventrex on March 26, 2006
- Azzec on January 13, 2006
Ed the Penguin wrote: [b]I could listen to this all night!![/b]
Agreed. This is one of my favorite Sonic remixes, simply because its so catchy. I've woken up many a morn' with it running through my head (Not a bad thing, of course). I remember playing it when one of my friends was over at my house; afterwhich he had trouble pulling his jaw off the carpet :wink:
All in all, a beautiful remix with some real emotion packed behind the simple notes.
loved that stage, by the way 8)
- InertiaCreep on December 22, 2005
I think you should most definitely pianoify more Sonic music, Rexy. And yes, pianoify is a word.
- Vyse of Arcadia on July 28, 2005
Rexy wrote:Fusilliban wrote: This is a really fantastically written/arranged piece - but I have a couple issues with some of the more powerfully-played notes, possibly due to my own personal tastes. Please take this as a compliment - I don't think I'd be nearly as jarred by it if not for the sublime near-perfection of the rest of the piece.
Given the above post, are you okay with me getting some piano-playing friends to cover this?
Well, Bladiator doesn't seem to mind when he shares his sheet music, so naturally I shouldn't mind either ;)
Glad to know that I'm a benchmark in remix sheet music. :)
- bladiator on July 12, 2005
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