The music of Nobuo Uematsu in the Final fantasy series / edited by Richard Anatone.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Anatone, Richard, editor.

Series:

ISSO (Series)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Composition (Music).

Computer game music.

Final fantasy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (347 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Bristol, England : Intellect Ltd, [2022]

Summary:

This is the first book-length study of the music of Nobuo Uematsu, and focuses on his Final Fantasy soundtracks, exploring the dynamic relationship between the music and the stories behind the beloved video game series. Contributors are music and game scholars, based in the USA and UK. Foreword by William Gibbons. 95 b/w illus.

Contents:

Intro

Half Title

Series Information

Title Page

Copyright Page

About the Companion Website

Contents

List of Illustrations

Introduction

Notes

References

Part 1 Coneria Castle

1 Dancing Mad: Music and the Apotheosis of Villainy in Final Fantasy

Defining allusion

Final Fantasy VI: Kefka Palazzo

Final Fantasy VIII: Ultimecia

Other influences: Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX

Conclusions

2 The Devil in the Detail: Analyzing Nobuo Uematsu's "One-Winged Angel" from Final Fantasy VII

Plot

Context

Analysis

Section A: mm. 1-35

Section B: mm. 36-67

Section C: mm. 68-105

Section D: mm. 106-25

The legacy of "One-Winged Angel"

Conclusion and further thoughts

3 Changing Times: The Diatonic Rhythms of Nobuo Uematsu's Final Fantasy Battle Music

Traditionally diatonic/propulsive rhythms in early battle themes

Transitory propulsive rhythm in FFI

Cyclical propulsive rhythm in FFI

FFIII and a growing focus on diatonic/propulsive rhythm

1990s standardization of diatonic/propulsive rhythm technique

Transitory propulsive rhythms

Cyclical propulsive rhythms

Challenges to diatonic rhythm

Heightened ludic tension and the 3+3+2+2+2 rhythm

A focus on the upbeat

Conclusion

Part 2 Nibelheim

4 Thus Spake Uematsu: Satirical Parody in the Opening Sequence to Final Fantasy VI

Nietzsche and Strauss's Zarathustra

Gestahl and Kefka's Übermensch

Ominous beginnings

"Omen" as parody

Satirical distortion in "Omen"

Structural symbolism: Foreshadowing Emperor Gestahl and Kefka

Doubly satirical: Satirizing Emperor Gestahl

Doubly satirical: Uematsu satirizes Uematsu

The ultimate irony: The rise and fall of the Gestahlian Empire.

Conclusion

5 That Tune Really Holds the Game Together: Thematic Families in Final Fantasy IX

Musical topics and tropes

Thematic families

"Vivi's Theme" thematic family

In-game uses of "Vivi's Theme" thematic family

The "Melodies of Life" thematic family

In-game uses of the "Melodies of Life" thematic family

6 A Link between Worlds: The Construction of Nostalgia in Game Music and Final Fantasy IX

Nostalgia in music and video games

Adaptation of van Elferen's ALI model

Self-quotation and intertextuality as a means to evoke nostalgia

Types of musical quotation

Direct quotation

Musematic quotation

Discursive quotation

Variant quotation

Stylistic allusion and the musical paraphrase

Black Mages: The Mysidian theme linked to FFIX

Mystic Mysidia

"Black Mage Village"

"Mount Gulug"

Character themes in FFIX

Analyzing the inference of nostalgia from these cues

Part 3 The Lunar Whale

7 Penultimate Fantasies: Compositional Precedents in Uematsu's Early Works

First fantasies: Square and the early Japanese RPG landscape

From action to RPG: Stylistic precedents in other genres

Heroic fanfares in King's Knight

"Now with Dungeons": The underworld aesthetic of King's Knight Special

Aliens: Alien 2 and other boss encounters

Emotional underscoring in the graphical adventure game

8 Music and Narrative Experience in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Final Fantasy XIV: Before A Realm Reborn

Problems surrounding musical crediting in A Realm Reborn

Audial cues in A Realm Reborn

Music in A Realm Reborn

Many players, many stories, one world: Managing asynchrony

Many players, one story: Hearing companionship

Notes.

References

9 Music, Mediation, Memory: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

What constitutes a game? The mechanics of Theatrhythm and FF

Remediation: Redefining FF through rhythm mechanics

Rhythm mechanics as mediation

Part 4 The World of Balance

10 Feminine Themings: The Construction of Musical Gendering in the Final Fantasy Franchise

Damsels and opera floozies: The construction of musical gendering in the FF franchise

Musical narrativizing: Male and female character theme analyses

FFIV (1991)

FFV (1992)

FFVI (1994)

FFVII (1997)

FFVIII (1999)

FFIX (2000)

FFX (2001)

FFXII (2006)

FFXIII (2009)

FFXV (2016)

Conclusion: Nobuo Uematsu's gendered musical legacy

11 Uematsu's Postgame: The Music of Final Fantasy in the Concert Hall (and Beyond)

Uematsu and the concert hall

Arrangement and the Final Symphony

"Transcribing" mad

The end?

Acknowledgments

12 Historical Narratology and the "Hymn of the Fayth" in Final Fantasy X

A primer on Yevon and Faith/Fayth in Spira

Hymn as chant: Establishing topics from western religion

Evolving topics, tropes, and historical influence on musical religion

Influence of the masses: "Song of Prayer"

Evocation in practice: The Sending

Corruption of internal hierarchical structure: Grand Maester Mika

Corruption of iconic figure: Lady Yunalesca

Corruption of a demigod: A Contest of Aeons

Abandonment and dissolution of western faith: Ending theme

Monastic evocation through Japanese wordplay

Concluding remarks

Notes on Contributors

Index of in-game musical cues

Index of terms, people, games, consoles, and characters.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Anatone, Richard The Music of Nobuo Uematsu in the Final Fantasy Series

ISBN:

9781789385557

1789385555

9781789385564

1789385563