ReMix:The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past "Fushigina Forest" 2:49

By Laura Shigihara

Arranging the music of one song...

"Forest"

Primary Game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo , 1991, SNES), music by Koji Kondo

Posted 2011-11-22, evaluated by djpretzel


Laura Shigihara! Plants vs. Zombies! I've got every reason to believe that Laura will continue writing amazing music, but just Plants vs. Zombies by itself, man... I've been waiting for a chance to gush over how great the PvZ soundtrack is for awhile, and this seems (duh) like the perfect opportunity. There's this tendency for modern "casual" games to have maybe one or two themes, or one theme and a couple variations of it, but Plants vs. Zombies is truly a COMPLETE soundtrack - there are multiple, complimentary pieces, with recurring motifs, and it all fits the game's tone like a glove. I can find absolutely no fault with it, and I'm dying to post our first ReMix from it some day, once something gets submitted & approved. I mentally categorize it along with Danny B's Super Meat Boy score as an example of modern VGM done brilliantly, memorably RIGHT.

But this is a Zelda mix, so I'll temporarily forget about the zombies on my lawn and focus on the task at hand. This is a beautiful, very delicate solo piano arrangement, and while the recording quality isn't pristine, the emotion & very specific dynamics and timing are unobstructed and conveyed fully. Laura writes:

"I've always loved how mysterious the "Forest" theme from A Link to the Past sounded, so I wanted to make sure to maintain that feel. This is a simple piano piece which mixes parts of the original music, with a few new additions. I think it kind of sounds like the shadows of trees at night when there is a full moon. If such a thing can even have a sound."

If it can, this could certainly be it. There's a fragility & vulnerability here that is transporting, honest, and direct, and I love it. 25YEARLEGEND director Roger Hicks concurs:

"I love the improvisation of this track. It definitely shows true skill as a pianist. The subtle changes made bumped this song up to one of my favorites among the series for me!"

As Laura has recently shown with 'Cube Land,' she has a musical depth that extends into more serious, emotional territory, and I think this arrangement beautifully affirms that facet of her work, exploring the more intimate side of Zelda & adding an extra dimension to 25YEARLEGEND.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 13 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
avatar
timaeus222
on 2013-02-24 02:11:27
Laura Shigihara! Plants vs. Zombies! I've got every reason to believe that Laura will continue writing amazing music, but just Plants vs. Zombies by itself, man... I've been waiting for a chance to gush over how great the PvZ soundtrack is for awhile, and this seems (duh) like the perfect opportunity. There's this tendency for modern "casual" games to have maybe one or two themes, or one theme and a couple variations of it, but Plants vs. Zombies is truly a COMPLETE soundtrack - there are multiple, complimentary pieces, with recurring motifs, and it all fits the game's tone like a glove. I can find absolutely no fault with it, and I'm dying to post our first ReMix from it some day, once something gets submitted approved.

Chimpazilla and I say:

Challenge accepted.

avatar
Drachefly
on 2013-02-08 09:21:17

Oddly enough, the first few moments reminded me of Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, Reonciliation, just after the beginning of the solo.

Not only similar chords, but similar mood.

avatar
meccaneer
on 2012-05-21 22:21:55

This track from the game, to me, was always the little gem buried in the dirt and made me happy to hear it. Seems like ya never really got to go into the forest very often... And to hear it like this is just amazing - the piano playing here really wrings out some good emotion. Very subtle power and quiet beauty: "...sounds like the shadows of trees at night when there is a full moon." as Laura said. Totally agree. Kudos!

avatar
Lumancer
on 2012-01-16 17:12:50

I've never been particularly fond of this theme, but this remix has finally sold me on it. I am duly impressed.

avatar
Tuberz McGee
on 2011-12-25 01:11:15

I'm a very big fan of Piano remixes. The expression is what does it for me.

I sit at the piano for hours, trying to improvise off of a song that I learned the day earlier.

I just fall short of the beauty shown by these incredible mixers.

Every time I feel like I can't improvise well enough... I listen to this mix.

It inspires me to continue. To strive to get better.

Mixes should do this more often.

They shouldn't just be there to give nostalgia, but to make others WANT to do pay homage too.

avatar
Neblix
on 2011-12-15 16:40:59

The beginning of this sounds a LOT like DrumUltimA's "Lonely Petals"

Pretty nice and relaxing, but it displeases me greatly that the piano just sounds like it has a high pass filter on it. Where are the warm low frequencies? :( I think it's key that in a solo piano piece, you need to cover a vast range of frequencies.

I like that it's not very long either. I often get bored of solo piano songs because they're 5+ minutes long, they're nothing but the artist just going on and on to increase the length. I don't feel like that as much here. The song goes through what it needs to, and leaves when it needs to.

Nice vibe. Good job. :nicework:

avatar
OA
on 2011-12-12 15:34:22

I really enjoyed the subtle nuances and shades of color in this one, it really captures my attention in a unique way, sortof like how if someone begins whispering to you, it draws you in, so you can hear what is being said. Great phrasing and rubato, as well as dynamics.

Very evocative aural imagery; This one is great.

avatar
Rexy
on 2011-12-04 16:26:50

Glad to see there's another female taken to the piano :)

This one manages to show off some strong improvisation skills and delicacy/emotion, something that I think is a good key component in a solo piano arrangement of this caliber. I can see it capturing the forest in a more peaceful state, and that's been affected well with the way the whole thing was presented.

Two things I may have to say though - while the performance was very spot on, the ambience might be questioned here as there doesn't seem to be much of it in comparison to other solo piano tracks I've witnessed. But it's not so much of a dealbreaker with a track as gracefully played as this. I may also see it getting quite the comparisions to Doc Nano's "Dancing Leaves" for it also being short and taking the performance in a more abstract way, though in spite of the post time between them both they should still be seen as two sweet visions from two similarly skilled artists, and should if ever be seen as more of a coincidence.

Hopefully you'll return to the site soon with future works - I appreciate this one through and through :)

avatar
Bahamut
on 2011-11-24 19:44:42

A nice quaint mix of the Lost Woods music. The performance pretty much speaks for itself here, showing its delicate nature a touch of emotive expression throughout.

avatar
SwordBreaker
on 2011-11-24 14:12:03

Absolutely beautiful and tear-jerking. It's very interesting to hear different piano interpretations of the Lost Woods track, particularly when comparing this piece to the recently-posted Dancing Leaves by Doc Nano, another really good piano arrangement. Both tracks are similar yet very different. Laura's is more somber and better mixed, yet Nano's is a lot more creative and fast-paced. Don't even make me choose which is better. Both are amazing.

avatar
docnano
on 2011-11-23 09:39:11

Very nice, and certainly more respectful of the original than my piano remix of this tune. :-) It reminds me a little of the Sound and Drama arrangement, but with divergent, tasteful interpretation and a more sensitive approach.

avatar
Crulex
on 2011-11-22 11:33:03

So beautiful. The Zelda soundtrack just seems to be made for these kinds of solo piano pieces. Gentle, and peaceful. It's always fun to close my eyes and listen back with headphones, trying to picture the scenes that the piano bring out.

Laura: "I think it kind of sounds like the shadows of trees at night when there is a full moon. If such a thing can even have a sound."

Yeah, I can see that and it's almost when you first go into the lost woods with the fog and all. Solo piano ReMixes always seem to have those minor recording/volume issues, but when done right, like this one, it's almost unnoticeable. Very cool.

avatar
djpretzel
on 2011-11-22 11:11:22

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

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Nintendo , 1991, SNES)
Music by Koji Kondo
Songs:
"Forest"

Tags (4)


Genre:
Mood:
Mellow,Sad
Instrumentation:
Piano
Additional:
Arrangement > Solo

File Information


Name:
Legend_of_Zelda_A_Link_to_the_Past_Fushigina_Forest_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
4,142,737 bytes
MD5:
ea552666c27aa2ddb95df5f736e811ab
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
2:49

Promotion

8-bit Jazz Heroes - Press Start
View All

Latest Albums

View All

Latest ReMixes