ReMix: Final Fantasy VI 'Anthem of Exile'
Download MP3
Play Preview
- Game: Final Fantasy VI (Square, 1994, SNES)
- ReMixer(s): JJT
- Composer(s): Nobuo Uematsu
- Song(s): 'Edgar & Sabin's Theme'
- Posted: 2003-12-01, evaluated by djpretzel
JJT's first ReMix was a good mix with a great title. His sophomore effort, however, took things up not just to another level, but to another game entirely, and remains one of my favorite piano game arrangements. His latest, from FF6, is a multi-instrumental affair in the tradition of Mazedude (for the multiple real instruments, not the style), with - no false advertising here, folks - real trumpet, and a bitchin, totally indulgent rock organ solo. One pictures epileptic fits of organ madness in some rock arena setting, ala the glory days of Emerson, Lake and Palmer...let's see what the Jiggin man himsef has to say:
"This is a ReMix of the Figaro Castle theme from FF6, otherwise known as Edgar & Sabin, or Edgar & Mash. I play three different instruments, and thought it would be cool to incorporate all three into a ReMix. This piece is, at its heart, a trumpet duet. All trumpet parts are performed by me on a Bach model 37. The piano accompanyment was recorded on a Steinway grand, and I did the guitar part on my cheap Yamaha. All other parts were performed in real time on a keyboard. This includes the drum track. Absolutly no sequencing was used in the making of this ReMix. That being said, this whole deal is merely an excuse for me to take a self-indulgent, virtuostic rock organ solo. Hope you enjoy it."At least he's honest about that organ solo :) Would that many a track sound as good as this "excuse"; personally, though the solo does take the spotlight rather unabashedly, I think the trumpet duet is the core, and for me is the primary lure, as you don't see real brass around here all that often, and the murky, soft jazz-inspired tones are very mellow and contrast well with the harder-edged B3, though fitting right in alongside the very human piano and acoustic guitar. This mix masterfully oscillates between mellow and grandiose, lyrical and rockin', and the live, unsequenced element adds to the organic immediacy of the atmosphere. Recommended.
Discussion: Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the Oh yes. This was one of the first FFVI remixes I fell in love with
many years ago. I never paid attention to how old this actually
was, and it surprised me when I saw the posting date. Sure, the
drums sounded a little weak and the solo never worked for me, but
the beauty in the from of trumpets, guitar and piano made up for it
by a hundred miles... The arrangement is just perfect.
This is an OCR classic for me, and listening to it still gets me emotionally invested like so many years ago.
- RiverSound on August 3, 2012
This is an OCR classic for me, and listening to it still gets me emotionally invested like so many years ago.
- RiverSound on August 3, 2012
Right out of the gate, great trumpet playing Jon. It was a good
performance and was captured well. The piano accompaniment was a
great driving force. It's almost something that I would hear in
Final Fantasy 11, but much better produced! The slight panning of
the trumpets was a good way to seperate the parts to have them
heard easier.
The drums, while I liked the beat, felt thin. The gut bustin' clav/organ solo was great, but the drums needed more meat behind them to really drive them! The bass is groovin' left and right. Like it. The acoustic guitar was a nice element, but could've used a little less verb. In fact, the song kind of feels like its drowning in parts from it when everything kicks in. I only bring it up cause it drowns out the awesome parts.
This is a rare occasion where the fade out worked well. Great job Jon!
- tweex on August 4, 2010
The drums, while I liked the beat, felt thin. The gut bustin' clav/organ solo was great, but the drums needed more meat behind them to really drive them! The bass is groovin' left and right. Like it. The acoustic guitar was a nice element, but could've used a little less verb. In fact, the song kind of feels like its drowning in parts from it when everything kicks in. I only bring it up cause it drowns out the awesome parts.
This is a rare occasion where the fade out worked well. Great job Jon!
- tweex on August 4, 2010
I absolutely adore the trumpet playing and piano in this one. The
first 1/3 is pretty close to arrangement and performance
perfection. A few production tweaks would made it flawless
completely, but as is, it's still amazing.
Beautiful and generally subdued, rocking solo or no. :-)
- OA on March 19, 2010
Beautiful and generally subdued, rocking solo or no. :-)
- OA on March 19, 2010
The live quality keeps me coming back to this. There's a humanistic
air about this that adds so much to the emotive aspects of the
theme. I'm all for synth instruments, but in this instance, the
outcome of actually performing this was an extremely smart and
productive move.
Of all the instruments, the drums stick out as the weakest. But it almost doesn't matter. This mix isn't supposed to be flashy and robust. Merely emotive. And that it is. The trumpets sound incredible, and as per usual, JJT is a master of the ivory. The organ solo, whilst unnecessary, also sounds great.
I could have listened to five minutes of this, even if it were just just the piano and trumpets. Everything else is just spoiling me. I wish we'd see more mixes convey the feelings and conviction present here. I'm a massive fan of this mix, and what it stands for.
- Marmiduke on October 19, 2009
Of all the instruments, the drums stick out as the weakest. But it almost doesn't matter. This mix isn't supposed to be flashy and robust. Merely emotive. And that it is. The trumpets sound incredible, and as per usual, JJT is a master of the ivory. The organ solo, whilst unnecessary, also sounds great.
I could have listened to five minutes of this, even if it were just just the piano and trumpets. Everything else is just spoiling me. I wish we'd see more mixes convey the feelings and conviction present here. I'm a massive fan of this mix, and what it stands for.
- Marmiduke on October 19, 2009
this is really nice
only the snare got too much reverb, not enough presence
- Radiowar on April 7, 2007
only the snare got too much reverb, not enough presence
- Radiowar on April 7, 2007
I cant think of anything bad about this song, and there's no reason
too. Usually, it's best if a artist sticks with a compatible title,
but hearing someone double-fist out an organ solo, you honestly
don't care anymore. I love the song, and it makes a amazing
Listerine to rinse out the taste of other....well, nevermind that.
The point is that I've been downloading for a while, and this song
made me register just to say how utterly brilliant it is. This is,
without a doubt, my favorite song on OCRemix, with "Seized with
Fury" as a close second. Thank you for a trip I can keep on taking
for a long time.
- Vitamin FF on November 16, 2005
- Vitamin FF on November 16, 2005
JigginJonT wrote: Allthough the original is a statement of freedom, this song definetly ISN'T. It's meant to be a musical journey detailing Sabin's exile from Figaro. The emotions being conveyed are sadness, mourning, and a hope that lies buried underneath all of that. Why would I want to re-create the exact setting of the theme when you can just listen to the MIDI?
Sadness eh? Then how do you explain that part at 2:19? That was a pure jazz arrangement to be sure, very nice done, and the rest of the whole remix was actually a very sad trumpet in exile. My family actually have a trumpet, but I can only manage to blow air through it. How do you play that thing?!
Very solid mix JonT, did it all by yourself and got in my opinion a good remix with a soothing trumpet and piano with a slight touch of jazz. Bravo.
- Bummerdude on October 5, 2005
8O D.O.W.N.L.O.A.D.I.M.M.E.D.I.A.T.E.L.Y. 8O
Seriously, this could have come from an arranged Final Fantasy soundtrack. It is just awesome. The transition to smooth jazz at 1:54 and what comes after it is simply jawdropping.
- Larryboy on August 21, 2005
Seriously, this could have come from an arranged Final Fantasy soundtrack. It is just awesome. The transition to smooth jazz at 1:54 and what comes after it is simply jawdropping.
- Larryboy on August 21, 2005
This is one of my favorite remixes here so far. The arrangement is
amazing, with so many textures, if you know what I mean. I love the
floating piano and guitar bits towards the end.
Overall it has a solemn tone... it really does something interesting with the original theme.
This is just great music. This is the kind of music that makes me love this site.
- KelVarnsen on March 19, 2005
Overall it has a solemn tone... it really does something interesting with the original theme.
This is just great music. This is the kind of music that makes me love this site.
- KelVarnsen on March 19, 2005
I must begin with an often-heard "I love OCRemix!"
I've been "lurking" about here for a while, and recently (September, as you can see to the left) registered as a member here. Needless to say, this site is a blast, and I've finally got into the swing of things to start requesting ReMixes of music I like, as you will see on the Request forum...
When djpretzel said this site was originally made to combine... I hate the term "old"... Game music of the past with new, modern techniques, and to expand the musical horizons of musicians kept herein, I think he may have forgotten the impact of these music interpretations upon the general viewing public... Now I am not an ordinary teenager (15, as a matter of fact *cringes as the expected people stop listening immediately at the sound of his age*), but I have never had too strong of a passion for jazz. I mainly orient my tastes around rock (classic and modern), pop, electronica, classical orchestra, and other genres. This song, I believe, puts a few jazzy songs into a certain perspective for me, personally, and may open me up to future jazz songs.
JigginJonT (I feel abbreviated names for people to be looked up to as demeaning, no offense to those who don't, or feel the opposite), this is an awesome remix from an awesome game. Keep up the good work, and draw more people... maybe even those "young whippersnappers" the youth are often called... into your circle of music...
And that goes for all of you here!
- Angelus Laminarum on October 18, 2004
I've been "lurking" about here for a while, and recently (September, as you can see to the left) registered as a member here. Needless to say, this site is a blast, and I've finally got into the swing of things to start requesting ReMixes of music I like, as you will see on the Request forum...
When djpretzel said this site was originally made to combine... I hate the term "old"... Game music of the past with new, modern techniques, and to expand the musical horizons of musicians kept herein, I think he may have forgotten the impact of these music interpretations upon the general viewing public... Now I am not an ordinary teenager (15, as a matter of fact *cringes as the expected people stop listening immediately at the sound of his age*), but I have never had too strong of a passion for jazz. I mainly orient my tastes around rock (classic and modern), pop, electronica, classical orchestra, and other genres. This song, I believe, puts a few jazzy songs into a certain perspective for me, personally, and may open me up to future jazz songs.
JigginJonT (I feel abbreviated names for people to be looked up to as demeaning, no offense to those who don't, or feel the opposite), this is an awesome remix from an awesome game. Keep up the good work, and draw more people... maybe even those "young whippersnappers" the youth are often called... into your circle of music...
And that goes for all of you here!
- Angelus Laminarum on October 18, 2004
Quite possibly my favorite remix on this site. The jazz-inspired
motif is an excellent choice, and the trumpets really bring out the
regal mood of the Figaros. The organ solo near the end adds to the
originality of this piece, and that is what I like about it. It's
absolutely original. Congratulations on a job well done.
- Hotlanta on June 15, 2004
- Hotlanta on June 15, 2004
Excellent. The trumpet duet works very well in this piece. I would
have excised the noodly, uninspired organ solo, but that's minor.
- risingson77 on January 9, 2004
- risingson77 on January 9, 2004
I personally like this very much. I hum "bastardized" versions of
video game tunes all the time, so I don't have the same kind of
knee-jerk "no!" reaction to new interpretations of the
tunes./editorial
The organ solo is awesome and all, but that first part with the trumpets is the one that pulls the heartstrings and captures the imagination. Great stuff.
- Domukaz on December 16, 2003
The organ solo is awesome and all, but that first part with the trumpets is the one that pulls the heartstrings and captures the imagination. Great stuff.
- Domukaz on December 16, 2003
