ReMix:Final Fantasy VII "Duel of the Blades" 3:43

By Kevin Penkin

Arranging the music of 2 songs from 2 games ( view all )...

"Liberi Fatali", "One-Winged Angel"

Primary Game: Final Fantasy VII (Sony , 1997, PS1), music by Nobuo Uematsu

Posted 2012-07-03, evaluated by the judges panel


More orchestral? You're darn tootin' - newcomer Kevin Penkin (www.kevinpenkin.com) writes:

"I have heard many different arrangements of One Winged Angel and have experienced the work in many different recorded and live forms. I have realised that most of the versions I had listened to had 1 thing in common, the structure. The instrumentation might change or something might get put in the middle of the work, but to my knowledge there hasn't been a complete rework of OWA outside of Crisis Core. This is what I wanted to change if I was actually going to try and arrange the tune. While writing the opening section I kept on thinking "Liberi Fatali would work great here" and eventually came into the piece."

For my money, tefnek really deconstructed OWA pretty drastically with his classic 'The End,' but that was a different ballgame/genre. For Kevin's take, think "epic orchestral mashup of two epic themes from FF's 7 & 8" and you've more or less got the idea; solid production initially but then as the piece grows in complexity there's some superb detail work on runs & some especially graceful solo winds towards the end. It's clear the ReMixer had a specific idea with regards to the arrangement, and it's also clear he was able to implement that idea very effectively; OA writes:

"This is a really intelligently arranged orchestral mashup, with the themes fitting together very well. The sequencing and samples are pretty good, with the flute solo being very fluid. I think this is really well done; great concept and solid execution."

Deia adds:

"I think the arrangement here is stellar, and the way the two themes are incorporated really works very well together. I like the subtle changes of melody, and the obvious structural changes really add something to the piece."

Really excellent debut from Kevin, who takes on a titanic track and manages to incorporate another standout Uematsu classic in an arrangement that frames both themes in a new light. Coherent, articulate, and powerful, this mix definitely has me looking forward to hearing more!

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 14 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Black_Doom
on 2014-12-06 23:24:28

This is why I love such orcheastral arrangements - they're always full of energy, very dynamic and dramatic. I like it right from the intro. It was weird to hear OWA arrangement without those latin vocals, but Kevin nailed it here. Love the brass and the flute solo towards the end. Nice work!

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Crulex
on 2013-12-16 10:33:51

To hear someone try to change things up while ReMixing One Winged Angel is such a breath of fresh air. Not that I have anything against mixes that stick closer to the original structure, but it's just neat to hear something a little different from time to time. Probably not my favorite take on either theme, but it was a damn good go at using them both together and a ReMix I can certainly enjoy and appreciate. Not bad, man.

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Seraph
on 2012-08-14 11:08:57

wow. This has quickly become a new favorite of mine. Two of the greatest themes (in my mind at least) together in a cohesive piece that sounds like they belong together. I would like to hear a little bit more of Liberi Fatali shining through in the mix, but that's just me nit picking. Fantastic song!

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evktalo
on 2012-07-24 04:03:11

Really nice work! The arrangement has a great forward drive I think, it's exciting to listen to. The integration of the different themes is indeed well done, very natural. I'm not very familiar with the source, and it seems seamless to me.

The sequencing maybe sounded.. both a little off-rhythm and mechanical at the same time. It's well above the bar for my tastes though. The piano and harp runs at the end were the parts where the mechanical feel hurt the track most, the wind-down at the end was the weakest part of the track overall. I also felt it wasn't as well written as the previous sections (though the mechanical feel might have contributed to this perception). It was still all right though, and I enjoyed the overall structure of the piece, the longish wind-down included.

Good stuff all in all!

--Eino

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Ranch Doritos
on 2012-07-22 18:09:08

Why can't I stop listening to this!

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genius11433
on 2012-07-15 00:17:48

Really great arrangement. I will not lie, this is going straight into my library. I could easily pick up the strains from both Liberi Fatali and OWA, but I agree: you managed to weave them into one cohesive theme quite well.

One question (not a gripe, but an observation): I noticed that in the horn section starting at around 2:00, and again in the piano section near the end, you repeat the "Estuans interius" line from OWA, but never conclude with the ubiquitous "SE-PHI-ROTH!" Am I correct in guessing that the omission was intentional? a means of breaking from the OWA-remix norm?

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sergio
on 2012-07-11 06:59:28

Really nice work!

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DimeTower
on 2012-07-11 02:45:57

Wow, am I impressed. Don't pass this mix up without listening to the last 1:30 - the wind solos and background runs take this tune I know so well into directions and places I had never planned. It's like some kind of airy, yet unsettling, walk through the trees. Very impressive.

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Slemkatt
on 2012-07-10 12:29:11

Really great arrangement! I'd love to hear this with a real orchestra. I was never fond of the syntethic orchestral sound samples.

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auronapern
on 2012-07-04 13:09:32

There is an incredible attention to detail in this piece that you can't help but admire. Through the whole thing everything interweaves so completely the two pieces seem as though they were meant to be one all along. Instant download - no question.

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Toxiceye
on 2012-07-04 01:17:00

Like the mixer himself said, there are a hundred takes on One Winged Angel, and most of them are more or less identical. To take a second epic piece and slam it in to Sephi like a Meteor to the face? Great idea, well pulled off. Readers, locate your download buttons.

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Bahamut
on 2012-07-03 23:24:30

Nice take on OWA and Liberi Fatali. It's a fresh take that rolls on like a relentless march. I do wish it went a bit further and that the ending felt a bit on the weak side for me, but the song has a solid core that mixes and matches the two songs in interesting ways.

Great job and I hope to hear more from you!

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BONKERS
on 2012-07-03 22:42:01

Not gonna lie, I really didn't like how this started off. And the sequencing felt a bit stiff in some spots. But it got a lot better near the end. Which tastefully integrated the prelude in there with both themes.

Honestly this reminds me more of Castlevania Lords of Shadow in somepots than FF. But I don't really see that as a bad thing.

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djpretzel
on 2012-07-03 21:54:55

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

Sources Arranged (2 Songs, 2 Games)


Primary Game:
Final Fantasy VII (Sony , 1997, PS1)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
Songs:
"One-Winged Angel"
Additional Game:
Final Fantasy VIII (Square , 1999, PS1)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu
Songs:
"Liberi Fatali"

Tags (7)


Genre:
Cinematic,Classical
Mood:
Epic
Instrumentation:
Brass,Orchestral,Strings,Woodwinds
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Final_Fantasy_7_Duel_of_the_Blades_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,190,774 bytes
MD5:
51f091d0a54a320e2c9a40c74285844c
Bitrate:
218Kbps
Duration:
3:43

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