Vinphonic
05-14-2014, 10:27 PM
From THE BIG ORCHESTRAL ACTION MUSIC THREAD! (Thread 57893)
Michiru Oshima
Fullmetal Alchemist
The Moscow International Symphonic Orchestra
Conducted by Konstatin D. Krimets
Download (https://mega.nz/#!DMJASbQB!lvDnlk47RD7DgrAVGijrk0Tdnp3pNltwwKpWUr409cw)
So this is it folks, here's every composer's dream. An enormous budget, a superb orchestra and conductor, an excellent recording environment and just one guideline: Go Big!
For most composers (who did not work for old Hollywood) this was a once in a lifetime chance to express themselves. Michiru Oshima is not only a very gifted composer, she is also one of the lucky few who got not one but numerous opportunities to work on such an enormous scale. Even my favorite composers like Yamashita or Sahashi have yet to write that BIG one. Oshima's score for the 2003 TV-Anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" and the 2005 movie "The Conqueror of Shamballa" can only be described in superlatives. Before I'm getting to the score in more detail, let me just say it's everything I could ever want from an orchestral score. Everytime a japanese composer goes to Warsaw or Moscow, magical things happen. This time Oshima wrote perhaps the best score in her entire career but that is of course up to debate. While I agree that Tempest is the better score from a purely technical standpoint (not to mention that her most accomplished pieces are in that score), I think that overall there is just a tiny bit more magic in Fullmetal Alchemist. Perhaps it was her enthusiasm to finally get such a prestigous orchestra or her enthusiasm for the Anime itself, regardless, we have here a score that is bombastic as well as militaristic, adventurous, dramatic and tragic.
The score was written for an animated version of the manga "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi" by Hiromu Arakawain in 2003
When I say I love japanese scores then this is exactly what I'm talking about. I can't get enough of these giant prestige scores that pop out even today every now and then and they usually are in every sense of the word "epic". I consider them to be the modern version of the Golden Age scores for Hollywood Epics. Just like Magi or the recent Gunshi Kanbee, this score shows what true epicness is: Something that the hundreds of Hollywood composers and DJs today can never hope to achieve with one million drum loops and monster brass stabs on top of each other. The score is not purely orchestral bombast ala Lair either. Like the story of the Anime it has a really dramatic and tragic core. Let's not forget that the goal of the music was to tell the story of two brothers who lose everything for not accepting the death of their mother and wanting to gain it back. They become part of a military nation that commits genocide and does horrible experiments on citizens. The brothers are confronted with horrible scenes and crimes and at the end even with their past sins. Even the conflict of religion and science is adressed and the story has no happy ending for everyone. The music incapsulates these elements beautifully, giving us real tearjerker moments and operatic drama. No wonder even Beethoven rises from the grave (for an anime original twist).
However these serious moments make the adventurous, uplifting and heroic moments shine even brighter. The Alchemist Theme is of course the highlight of the score. It goes through one hell of a journey, appearing in full front as a heroic march, a dark sinister march, a smashing action piece or a pastoral string piece. But the motif is appearing in numerous tracks as well, played bold or subtle, heroic or tragic. We have of course many secondary themes and motifs, often for individual story arcs. The movie score also has a very sinister villain theme that is played in numerous variations throughout the score.
Going a bit more into detail I absolutly love how this orchestra sounds. The first bars for the horn in "The Way Home" instantly put me in the world of alchemists. But what really puts me on the edge of my seat are the strings in "Determination", god that is beautiful. "Reminiscence" is one of my favorite orchestral pieces in all of anime and "Hope for the Future" is the best closing title Oshima has written yet, reprising the lovely "Refreshing Weather" at the beginning. Btw, Oshima really loves her cymbal crescendos and clashes, doesn't she.
Michiru Oshima wrote the score for Fullmetal Alchemist with classical music in mind.
The sound director gave her numerous pieces to get inspiration from and she fleshed out her ideas accordingly.
This score presentation has every orchestral track from the four soundtracks but I put them in a sensible listening order, providing a narrative that the album presentation is sadly lacking. I made the movie villain theme the primary antagonist theme of the whole score, connecting the individual story arcs (Chimera & Lab, Ishval, Greed or Dante). The Alchemist Theme is also more prominent thanks to the movie, making it really evident as the Main Theme. I also tried to give it more of a "serious Indiana Jones" feel (considering Shamballa and everything). I think this makes the score as a whole more satisfying. I also divided the score in two parts: The orchestral part and the Piano/Solo part.
The orchestral story:
Track 79 composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Symphony No.5, Op.67)
Track 86 composed by Frederic Chopin (�tude Op. 10, No. 3)
The works for Piano/Solo:
This is everything she has written for piano and solo instruments as well as alternate versions of orchestral pieces. Making them seperate is also helping the flow of the orchestral story (not to mention the almost three hour length). I also put Bratja there as well. It is my favorite "song" Oshima wrote but the orchestra version is better suited for the musical story.
I wish I could post this in FLAC but it's almost one gig ... but I may have better internet next month so perhaps I will update it.
With all that said I hope you enjoy this new take on a well known and loved score around here. And if you haven't heared it then you're about to discover an epic journey.
All is one and one is all
Michiru Oshima
Fullmetal Alchemist
The Moscow International Symphonic Orchestra
Conducted by Konstatin D. Krimets
Download (https://mega.nz/#!DMJASbQB!lvDnlk47RD7DgrAVGijrk0Tdnp3pNltwwKpWUr409cw)
So this is it folks, here's every composer's dream. An enormous budget, a superb orchestra and conductor, an excellent recording environment and just one guideline: Go Big!
For most composers (who did not work for old Hollywood) this was a once in a lifetime chance to express themselves. Michiru Oshima is not only a very gifted composer, she is also one of the lucky few who got not one but numerous opportunities to work on such an enormous scale. Even my favorite composers like Yamashita or Sahashi have yet to write that BIG one. Oshima's score for the 2003 TV-Anime "Fullmetal Alchemist" and the 2005 movie "The Conqueror of Shamballa" can only be described in superlatives. Before I'm getting to the score in more detail, let me just say it's everything I could ever want from an orchestral score. Everytime a japanese composer goes to Warsaw or Moscow, magical things happen. This time Oshima wrote perhaps the best score in her entire career but that is of course up to debate. While I agree that Tempest is the better score from a purely technical standpoint (not to mention that her most accomplished pieces are in that score), I think that overall there is just a tiny bit more magic in Fullmetal Alchemist. Perhaps it was her enthusiasm to finally get such a prestigous orchestra or her enthusiasm for the Anime itself, regardless, we have here a score that is bombastic as well as militaristic, adventurous, dramatic and tragic.
The score was written for an animated version of the manga "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi" by Hiromu Arakawain in 2003
When I say I love japanese scores then this is exactly what I'm talking about. I can't get enough of these giant prestige scores that pop out even today every now and then and they usually are in every sense of the word "epic". I consider them to be the modern version of the Golden Age scores for Hollywood Epics. Just like Magi or the recent Gunshi Kanbee, this score shows what true epicness is: Something that the hundreds of Hollywood composers and DJs today can never hope to achieve with one million drum loops and monster brass stabs on top of each other. The score is not purely orchestral bombast ala Lair either. Like the story of the Anime it has a really dramatic and tragic core. Let's not forget that the goal of the music was to tell the story of two brothers who lose everything for not accepting the death of their mother and wanting to gain it back. They become part of a military nation that commits genocide and does horrible experiments on citizens. The brothers are confronted with horrible scenes and crimes and at the end even with their past sins. Even the conflict of religion and science is adressed and the story has no happy ending for everyone. The music incapsulates these elements beautifully, giving us real tearjerker moments and operatic drama. No wonder even Beethoven rises from the grave (for an anime original twist).
However these serious moments make the adventurous, uplifting and heroic moments shine even brighter. The Alchemist Theme is of course the highlight of the score. It goes through one hell of a journey, appearing in full front as a heroic march, a dark sinister march, a smashing action piece or a pastoral string piece. But the motif is appearing in numerous tracks as well, played bold or subtle, heroic or tragic. We have of course many secondary themes and motifs, often for individual story arcs. The movie score also has a very sinister villain theme that is played in numerous variations throughout the score.
Going a bit more into detail I absolutly love how this orchestra sounds. The first bars for the horn in "The Way Home" instantly put me in the world of alchemists. But what really puts me on the edge of my seat are the strings in "Determination", god that is beautiful. "Reminiscence" is one of my favorite orchestral pieces in all of anime and "Hope for the Future" is the best closing title Oshima has written yet, reprising the lovely "Refreshing Weather" at the beginning. Btw, Oshima really loves her cymbal crescendos and clashes, doesn't she.
Michiru Oshima wrote the score for Fullmetal Alchemist with classical music in mind.
The sound director gave her numerous pieces to get inspiration from and she fleshed out her ideas accordingly.
This score presentation has every orchestral track from the four soundtracks but I put them in a sensible listening order, providing a narrative that the album presentation is sadly lacking. I made the movie villain theme the primary antagonist theme of the whole score, connecting the individual story arcs (Chimera & Lab, Ishval, Greed or Dante). The Alchemist Theme is also more prominent thanks to the movie, making it really evident as the Main Theme. I also tried to give it more of a "serious Indiana Jones" feel (considering Shamballa and everything). I think this makes the score as a whole more satisfying. I also divided the score in two parts: The orchestral part and the Piano/Solo part.
The orchestral story:
Track 79 composed by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Symphony No.5, Op.67)
Track 86 composed by Frederic Chopin (�tude Op. 10, No. 3)
The works for Piano/Solo:
This is everything she has written for piano and solo instruments as well as alternate versions of orchestral pieces. Making them seperate is also helping the flow of the orchestral story (not to mention the almost three hour length). I also put Bratja there as well. It is my favorite "song" Oshima wrote but the orchestra version is better suited for the musical story.
I wish I could post this in FLAC but it's almost one gig ... but I may have better internet next month so perhaps I will update it.
With all that said I hope you enjoy this new take on a well known and loved score around here. And if you haven't heared it then you're about to discover an epic journey.
All is one and one is all