ReMix:Rygar "Don't Mess with Rygar" 1:59

By Musicalman

Arranging the music of one song...

"Primeval Mountain ~ Ragua Sando"

Primary Game: Rygar (Tecmo , 1987, NES), music by Michiharu Hasuya

Posted 2009-06-11, evaluated by the judges panel


Apparently, in addition to Texas, The Zohan, and Jim, we can all add Rygar to our lists of things not to be messed with. This was perhaps implicitly understood, given his crossbow, grappling hook, running, jumping, and myriad other legendary abilities, but musicalman (Pascal Lamarche) is nonetheless here to remind us. He enthusiastically writes:

"Ok, this one's very special...on the edge for time 2:01 (i think OC ask at least 2 minutes of music), but the original track in Rygar is a loop of 18 seconds....LOL. BUT I WAS REALLY INSPIRED ABOUT IT! The whole idea, that i had at the first place, was to keep the melody and the structure as pure as the original... I wanted to make an orchestral arrangement as GRIEG (IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING) Hope you'll have an open mind for this one... Honestly, i really think that this arrangement's really interesting. CHEERS OC!"

Rygar and Grieg, together at last! Select quotables from our esteemed judges:

  • Liontamer: "The arrangement was a great example of taking a short melody and capably getting a lot out of it through several creative variations with a good use of instrumental variation as well as dynamic contrast."
  • Palpable: "Disappointing that this only lasted two minutes because the concept is so good, but it's quite coherent and varied for that time. The Grieg inspiration is apparent and the way this builds is pretty much masterful. I was grinning at 1:26 because I never thought the song would ramp up so much."
  • Another Soundscape: "I did NOT see this one coming after listening to the source :3 Very interesting concept. Great sounds all around too. I love how dynamic this piece is, it starts out tiny and grows into this huge hectic orchestra."
  • Fishy: "Haha, this is one of the most awesome arrangements I've had the good pleasure of judging. The way it playfully speeds up and bounces around so cheekily. Starts very cautiously but immediately the staccato fever takes over, this is about as enjoyable as an orchestration can be and the production is more than strong enough to convey it."

From that, you should probably gather a couple things... this is a brief but very creative arrangement that takes a minimal source and embellishes it quite flamboyantly. From the mix title, you might expect rock, trance, or something more aggressive, but by the time this piece has concluded, I guarantee that you too will see why you simply don't mess with Rygar. Things intro with a beautiful choral, harp, and bell combination, as staccato strings quietly enter with clarinet on the left. Attention to dynamics and timing is inspired; everything builds tightly & tensely into an unsuspected but effective climax that reminded me of some of Basil Poledouris's score to Conan the Destroyer (final scene, specifically) - in two minutes, Pascal really accomplishes a ton. Judges had some production issues, but honestly I think things are pretty fine there as well. From an arrangement perspective, this is an absolute gem - interpretive, conceptual, efficient, dynamic, and unique. Don't mess with Rygar, but DO download this mix and see what Pascal's cooked up; very original.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Jedi QuestMaster
on 2014-08-29 03:18:53
skeletal birds dropping eggs on Rygar's head every screen. This time, Rygar's fighting back. HARD.

Technically, Rygar is a translation variant of 'Ligar' the final boss. But whatever.

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Rozovian
on 2009-12-14 16:23:51

This is one awesome mix. I love how it starts off so mellow and progresses into high-energy music without resorting to supersaws or guitars or unts unts. Too bad it's so short, imo this is a track that could be twice as long. :D

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DragonAvenger
on 2009-12-03 21:13:54

This was in no way what I was expecting when I downloaded this mix, and I have to say that I don't think any other mixes on the site that have pleasantly surprised me as much as this one did. The orchestration of this one is fantastic, and the resemblance of In the Hall of the Mountain King is apparent and enjoyable.

I'm going to be on the other side of the boat about the length, I think this one is just perfect. Any longer and I think this would have overstayed it's welcome or lost it's intensity.

Awesome work!

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Hale-Bopp
on 2009-09-18 23:24:08

Loooooooove this. Absolutely brilliant, playful, story-like and fresh all the way through.

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Mazedude
on 2009-07-06 17:27:37

Ah, I love it. I was toying with the idea of remixing this tune at some point. I love this game. And the Hall of the Mountain King motif for this piece from the game worked beautifully.

This one grows on you... first time I heard it I started off like "what???" but then by the end I was grinning. Wonderful.

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Martin Penwald
on 2009-06-27 15:25:16

Very well done build-up, and the finale puts a smile on my face.

Short, but very fun and quirky tune. Nice one.

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OmNiExiZt
on 2009-06-12 17:19:55

That had to be hard. You basically turned water into wine. To do so without going off on a tangent to fill the clock is definitely the mark of an artistic mind.

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Platonist
on 2009-06-11 16:10:39

whehey! my deepest wishes comes true more and more on this site!

i love the source i love grieg and i love how playful this arrangement is ... too bad it's a little shorter than i'd hope for... but NEVERMIND THAT .. because i don't have the guts to give any negative criticism!

this! is absolutely mountastic!

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Jae
on 2009-06-11 15:26:51

Taking 18 seconds of music and creating a piece over two minutes is certainly a task. I was wondering why the song was so short, but I hadn't listened to the source until now. I think what's been done here is really cool. The build-up of instruments and speed keeps the song moving and interesting.

This works really well, and I think for using an 18 second source this turned out beyond what I would have expected.

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KyleJCrb
on 2009-06-11 14:06:37

Beautiful. Hall of the Mountain King, eat your heart out.

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Lucentas
on 2009-06-11 13:01:31

Short but sweet, but over all very nice. It's great when arrangers can take such a minimal source and expand it into a whole new dimension of music.

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OA
on 2009-06-11 12:33:23

Damn, I wish this was longer, because it's so good. After it stopped I could hear where i'd have taken it next, but I'd like to hear what Pascal would have done. The way it's arrange, i'm really surprised the source is so short, because it doesn't feel stretched out at all.

Amazing work, you need to get more mixes up in here. :-)

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BlackPanther
on 2009-06-11 11:54:27

OMG why was this sooo short? I don't have anything to critique since this is orchestra and I have no experience with that, but I will tell you that I really enjoyed how this was put together. I really wasn't expecting the end since it starts off so slow at the beginning good stuff man.

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Polo
on 2009-06-11 11:38:33

The somber choir+bell intro adds a delicate counterbalance to the transitory bulk, from apprehensive to full-blown hectic. It totally exemplifies the danger of those areas with those skeletal birds dropping eggs on Rygar's head every screen. This time, Rygar's fighting back. HARD. And it puts a big smile on my face. :-D

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djpretzel
on 2009-06-11 11:08:13

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Rygar (Tecmo , 1987, NES)
Music by Michiharu Hasuya
Songs:
"Primeval Mountain ~ Ragua Sando"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Classical
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Orchestral
Additional:
Time > Duration: Short

File Information


Name:
Rygar_Don't_Mess_with_Rygar_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
2,941,456 bytes
MD5:
48bba9d62f7ee4162d719f5564281511
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
1:59

 

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