[VIDEO] Uematsu Arr. Mizuta- Choc-a-bye Baby

[49410enrique]

This year marks an important milestone in the “Final Fantasy Universe.” Final Fantasy (a popular long running Japanese game franchise with numerous media titles in video games, movies, music, and other formats) turns 25 in 2012.  The series has been particularly recognized for its original scores and many arrangements for solo piano, full orchestra, and solo classical guitar.  Coinciding with this milestone is the 10th anniversary of one of its most successful installments, Final Fantasy XI.
One of the most charming and ubiquitous musical themes to emerge from these titles is “Chocobo's Theme”, a theme song for the series mascot chocobo (cute birds that eventually grow to the size of a large ostrich that are ridden much like horses). Each game in the series utilizes a different mix of the central melody arranged in a particular style of music. The naming frequently states the musical style in which the theme is arranged followed by the French/Spanish/Portuguese preposition de, "of", and ending with "Chocobo". Usually infused with tastes of jazz, I like to describe these pieces as having “all the wrong notes in all the right places”.
Today I played one of the most original arrangements of the theme from a special piano music release (one of several sets of pieces) from Final Fantasy XI.  Arranged in the style of a lullaby by Naoshi Mizuta, there is more original music here than the theme it is based on, making it almost an entirely new composition except for a short “musical quote” of Nobuo Uemtastu’s original central chocobo melody well into the 2nd half of the piece.  You could almost call it short paraphrase on a chocobo theme. However, the departure from the normal formula outlined above (notice there is no style designation and use of “de”) and use of the title Choc-a-bye Baby, with its nod to the well-known lullaby Rock-a-bye Baby, seems so appropriate.

[zezhyrule]

Very good performance, this arrangement is really nice. The Chocobo theme definitely comes through throughout the piece. Everything about it is very different from the FFXI version, I'm surprised it's an arrangement of that one specifically. However it does sound like something that could be in FFIX 

Also yay for the frocobo picture at the end n_n

[chopin2015]

so pretty!!

[rachfan]

Hi enrique,

Very nicely played!  Thanks for sharing.

David

[49410enrique]

Very good performance, this arrangement is really nice. The Chocobo theme definitely comes through throughout the piece. Everything about it is very different from the FFXI version, I'm surprised it's an arrangement of that one specifically. However it does sound like something that could be in FFIX  

Also yay for the frocobo picture at the end n_n

hey thanks man. i'm super glad you enjoyed it.

so pretty!!

what more a compliment could a guy/pianist ask for?

Hi enrique,

Very nicely played!  Thanks for sharing.

David

David, as always, praise from such a fine pianst/musician is a super big deal to me. Thanks for taking the time to listen and for your kind words.


thanks again everyone!

[costicina]

What a delightful piece, Enrique! And your interpretation is absolutely inspired: delicate, full of grace, nuanced: really enchanting!!! I enjoyed it so much....

You should perform more in public, it's helping you so much to gain self-confidence and to reach that magic empathy between performer/audience that only playing live could allow. You've done impressive progresses in these last months....

[49410enrique]

What a delightful piece, Enrique! And your interpretation is absolutely inspired: delicate, full of grace, nuanced: really enchanting!!! I enjoyed it so much....

You should perform more in public, it's helping you so much to gain self-confidence and to reach that magic empathy between performer/audience that only playing live could allow. You've done impressive progresses in these last months....

oh wow. thank you! i didn't expect that at all!!

[starstruck5]

I don't know the piece or any themes from Final Fantasy -but even though I had no familiarity with the theme, you still revealed a lot about characterisation -

I always love the way you voice chords -it has a kind of multi-dimensional quality -as if harmony and melody are conversing in some way -very rich tone -I also love the way you can make music dance -light and shade is no problem for you -This piece has both I think -that is what makes it interesting, almost sad and happy at the same time in places - -I am not surprised you revealed the spirit of the piece-Fine performance -

[49410enrique]

I don't know the piece or any themes from Final Fantasy -but even though I had no familiarity with the theme, you still revealed a lot about characterisation -

I always love the way you voice chords -it has a kind of multi-dimensional quality -as if harmony and melody are conversing in some way -very rich tone -I also love the way you can make music dance -light and shade is no problem for you -This piece has both I think -that is what makes it interesting, almost sad and happy at the same time in places - -I am not surprised you revealed the spirit of the piece-Fine performance -

your reactions to and compliments to music are always so descriptive and great! i know others really appreciate the thought you put into describing how and why you like (or don't) a perfomrnace.

thanks for watching it and i'm happy you enjoyed it, especially so- as it was 'unfamiliar' music to you so that you picked on up so many of the little things I felt I wanted to project (but was afraid perhaps did not make it) makes your reaction to it all the more rewarding.

[candlelightpiano]

I don't know anything about Final Fantasy but this is a delight to listen to.  I expected maybe a more Japanese sounding melody.  There's a bit of it in the beginning but then, the little chocobo enjoys a rollicky dance and takes off into the sky. Very enjoyable and you have a unique way of bringing to life the story behind the music. Great job and thanks for sharing!

[49410enrique]

I don't know anything about Final Fantasy but this is a delight to listen to.  I expected maybe a more Japanese sounding melody.  There's a bit of it in the beginning but then, the little chocobo enjoys a rollicky dance and takes off into the sky. Very enjoyable and you have a unique way of bringing to life the story behind the music. Great job and thanks for sharing!

thank you choo! i'm super glad you liked it. although there are some very nice very 'difficult' gems in these collections, it is the charming little ubiquitous chocobo theme and i can say i consistently like best as it lends itself so well to different 'styles'. I hope to get some more done and up soon.