ReMix: Seiken Densetsu 3 'Starlight Festival'

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Game: Seiken Densetsu 3 (Square, 1995, SNES)
ReMixer(s): Kiamet
Composer(s): Hiroki Kikuta
Song(s): 'Powell'
Posted: 2011-06-30, evaluated by the judges

In a feel-good story of fandom leading to composer-arranger collaboration, newcomer Kiamet (Casey Ormond) was actually contacted by Hitoshi Sakimoto to do a whole album of piano arrangements:

"I was told about OC ReMix from a few comments on my YT channel, so I decided to submit one of my recent arrangements. I was inspired by the Latin piano arrangement of "Vamo' alla flamenco" on the FFIX PC, as well as the piano duets of Astor Piazzolla. I also really wanted to arrange something by Hiroki Kikuta, one of my favourite game composers.

Since "Starlight Festival," I've collaborated with Hitoshi Sakimoto and Basiscape to create the Valkyria Chronicles Piano Pieces. I was able to get that job purely through my fan arrangements on piano, and I thought the project might be something the OCR community would be interested in. So far, it's only going to be released in Japan, and is mainly being promoted over there.

Hitoshi Sakimoto discovered me through Don Kotowski of SEMO, and liked my pieces on my YouTube channel. A few months after recording "Starlight Festival," I sent a piano arrangement of "Valkyria Chronicles 2 Main Theme" to Sakimoto. Not long afterwards, we started exchanging ideas about a piano album we could do together. Basiscape eventually decided on a Valkyria Chronicles piano CD and, from Feb.-Mar., I wrote and recorded 10 new pieces for the project.

There is also a Valkyria Chronicles Piano Pieces promotional video where I talk about the project itself: http://youtu.be/UY0K3OwNu3Q. This covers some of my thoughts on the tracks, how I met Sakimoto and also all the information about the CD itself. The CD has its own page, which is in Japanese, but has some previews of the tracks. It's also out on iTunes.

Thanks! I'm looking forward to the community's response!"

Very, very cool! You can easily hear what caught Sakimoto's ear; Casey's got a technician's chops coupled with artful, specific arangement that nails the Latin jazz solo piano thing. This theme reminds me a lot of part of 'Decisive Battle' from FF6 - so much so that I mentally miscategorized as a mix of that tune, before realizing it was SD3 instead. Deia hits all the major talking points:

"I am loving the style and the overall arrangement you have here. The melodies aren't greatly changed, but there is a lot of personalization, and lot of energy added to this. The playing is natural and the solos fit nicely into the overall song. The latin vibe adds a sense of urgency to this that is really cool to listen to. The piano itself sounds great as well, and the recording is well balanced."

Stylish, spicy debut from Kiamet, who's lucky enough to have gotten an opportunity to work with Sakimoto, talented enough to have deserved it, and who's given us our first Seiken Densetsu ReMix of 2011!

― djpretzel

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

Beautiful piano piece right here. I've started to notice how good the Seiken Densetsu music is, but the ReMixes that have come from it have been even more enjoyable, and this is a great arrangement for sure. The piano playing shows some emotion and personality, which is something I love more than just good playing. Need more fast pieces like this.

- Crulex on November 3, 2012

This is a relaxing & rolling piano song. There's a nice touch on the playing, which seems to bounce along as the song goes through the fun source of Powell. It's a bit short, but sweet in what it does, and doesn't really make itself out to be anything else, which is always a plus.
I hope to hear more in the future :) .

- Bahamut on December 16, 2011

Kuolema;792364 wrote: Love it! I like how fast it is compared to some piano arrangements.

This. Very, very enjoyable remix. No criticism at all. Make more. 'nuff said.

- Martin Penwald on August 16, 2011

I listened to Starlight Festival recently and thought it was fantastic. I've been looking for something to play on the piano but haven't been interested in anything until I heard this. While I was searching to see if there was any sheet music for your rendition, I came across that you said (last December) that sheet music was on its way. Is that still the case? :)

- Jason3.14 on July 18, 2011

Of the little I have played of Seiken 3, this is one of the songs that I always can remember off the top of my head and this arrangement captures the essence of the track beautifully. I definitely hear your interpretation and it is masterful. Hiroki Kikuta is probably at the top of my list for favorite composers, and Hitoshi following. Definite congrats on the big opportunity, must have been a blessing to work with Hitoshi personally :)

- bLiNd on July 5, 2011

I remember this from the WIP forums -- terrific arrangement with lots of energy. Congrats on your well-deserved post and the fantastic collab opportunity with Hitoshi Sakamoto.

- docnano on July 4, 2011

I love piano ReMixes, and Powell is a great source (SD3 OST is pretty awesome). You did a fantastic job with it, and I'm looking forward to your next arrangements. :grin:

- Vitor Machado on July 3, 2011

Nice! Given that this is often the first track that will stick in a player's mind (even moreso for the powergamers - an extra two or three levels that stage make a real difference) I think the remixer's done a fantastic job - but then, I'm a sucker for piano mixes.
Source is very clear, but the flourishes make it the remixer's own work. The softening at the end works well.
Ah, and the remixer is a fellow Aussie. Excellent, needs more of us on here.

- BlueMage on July 3, 2011

Juhuuu more of Seiken Densetsu 3 probably my all time favorite RPG, not to say game. I'm always excited when I see some new SD3 coverage pop up and this one did not disappoint. I'm very into piano stuff recently and this remix was just plain awesome, so thanks for this amazing track

- Videl on July 2, 2011

I haven't touched Mana 3 game for some time but the Powell theme remix really brought a tear to my eye hearing this on a piano. It was my long life dream, and dare I say, been expecting a remix of this.
The piano pace is perfect and a little different how it's played. However, the originality is kept in respecting the the tune from the game. The ending was especially lovely.

- ChaosPlayer on July 2, 2011

This is wonderful. I love the source (love the only other ReMix of this song on the site, too), but this is really skillful and beautiful. I want more, more, more (haha, just getting greedy...)!

- ProjectSpam on July 1, 2011

Totally fantastic. So often piano music sounds overly simple--in OSTs, when rock musicians think "anyone can play piano," etc. But this is complex, bright, and skillful. Well done!

- Basementwall on July 1, 2011

Thanks for the lovely introduction and feedback, all! More Seiken Densetsu is in the works, I shall also be brushing up on my meager production skills. :)

- Kiamet on July 1, 2011

Fantastic performance! :-D You don't see these kind of piano arrangements come around here often.
Just as a side note, though it doesn't affect my enjoyment of the mix overall, I hear the same hi-frequency noise as OA did. Not crazy, bro :-P

- Emunator on July 1, 2011

Love it! I like how fast it is compared to some piano arrangements.

- Kuolema on July 1, 2011