• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Final Fantasy VIII Suite from Final Symphony II performed by the RSPO (Video)

Zhao_Yun

Member
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has uploaded their performance of the FFVIII Suite "Mono no aware" which was recorded during their Final Symphony II concert on June 9th.

Watch it here: http://rspoplay.se/?m=aGgri6jqUWtXyLPpXrFiVg
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Arrangement: Roger Wanamo
Conductor: Giedré Slekyté

The Final Symphony II concert program, which features music from Final Fantasy V, VIII, IX and XIII, has already been a big hit with audiences across Europe and Japan, but now everyone can experience part of that concert for themselves, thanks to an exclusive new video of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra performing music from Final Fantasy VIII.

Recorded earlier this year during Final Symphony II at the Stockholm Concert Hall, this new video showcases the Final Fantasy VIII arrangement, Mono no aware, in its entirety and features some of composer Nobuo Uematsu’s most popular themes from the game, including Ami, Waltz for the Moon and Balamb Garden.

As arranger Roger Wanamo explains, “it felt like there was more melancholy in this game compared to other Final Fantasy games I've played. This is a feeling I carried in to the arrangement, which features lots of slow and contemplative parts.”

You can watch the Final Fantasy VIII piece from Final Symphony II now at the official RSPOPlay website.

http://www.gameconcerts.com/en/neue...harmonic-orchestra-perform-final-symphony-ii/

For those unfamiliar with the "Final Symphony" concerts: It's the newest video game concert production by Merregnon Studios and is following in the footsteps of their previous productions like "Symphonic Fantasies", "Symphonic Legends" and "Symphonic Odysseys". Unlike most other video game music concerts (like Distant World), these concerts do not feature tracks that are simply arranged for an orchestra. Instead, arrangers are trying to re-arrange known tracks from games into a long, coherent and more elaborate arrangement. It's certainly not an approach for everyone, but for what it wants to do, it does it in a magnificent way and almost all their concert productions have been met by a very positive critical response.

The RSPO has also uploaded their performance of the FFVI Symphonic Poem "Born with the Gift of Magic" from the first Final Symphony if you want to see more: http://rspoplay.se/?m=DcYk7tk9fdSiKvNw_aykcw
 
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has uploaded their performance of the FFVIII Suite "Mono no aware" which was recorded during their Final Symphony II concert on June 9th.

Watch it here: http://rspoplay.se/?m=aGgri6jqUWtXyLPpXrFiVg
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Arrangement: Roger Wanamo
Conductor: Giedré Slekyté



http://www.gameconcerts.com/en/neue...harmonic-orchestra-perform-final-symphony-ii/

For those unfamiliar with the "Final Symphony" concerts: It's the newest video game concert production by Merregnon Studios and is following in the footsteps of their previous productions like "Symphonic Fantasies", "Symphonic Legends" and "Symphonic Odysseys". Unlike most other video game music concerts, these concerts do not feature tracks that are simply arranged for an orchestra. Instead, arrangers are trying to re-arrange known tracks from games into a long, coherent and more elaborate arrangement. It's certainly not an approach for everyone, but for what it wants to do, it does it in a magnificent way and almost all their concert productions have been met by a very positive critical response.

The RSPO has also uploaded their performance of the FFVI Symphonic Poem "Born with the Gift of Magic" from the first Final Symphony if you want to see more: http://rspoplay.se/?m=DcYk7tk9fdSiKvNw_aykcw
Saw it live and it was amazing :D
 
Don't think they will upload a second track unfortunately, but hopefully they will release a CD recording again like they did for the first Final Symphony. Would be a shame if not :(
I think they talked about Spotify in an interview a few months ago. Might've just been a general "We're going to make more of our massive library available on Spotify" answer though.
 
Don't think they will upload a second track unfortunately, but hopefully they will release a CD recording again like they did for the first Final Symphony. Would be a shame if not :(
Yeah, while the video would be nice, audio is all I need. FFIX is sorely lacking in full orchestral performances.
 

Zhao_Yun

Member
I think they talked about Spotify in an interview a few months ago. Might've just been a general "We're going to make more of our massive library available on Spotify" answer though.

Do you mean Square Enix?
The first Final Symphony Album is actually already on spotify, but while they obviously need the okay from Square for it, it's mainly the decision of Merregnon Studios whether they will release a recording or not.
https://play.spotify.com/album/4Cjk7WTdpJjVqEOrkGS1JW

Yeah, while the video would be nice, audio is all I need. FFIX is sorely lacking in full orchestral performances.

I agree! I attended the concert in Bonn and the FFIX Suite was great. I hope you will be able to listen to it at some point (if you haven't already).
 

Zukuu

Banned
I saw "Distant World" live in Berlin, with Nobuo Uematsu attending. Was amazing, but featured songs from every FF game (of course some more frequently than others).

There is no chorus present here tho. Also, first time ever I've seen a female conductor.
 

Gnomist

Member
Thanks for posting this. I was wondering when they would release a clip like they did with VI. I was really hoping for the IX suite since that has so few arrangements but this will do! Of all my many issues with VIII the soundtrack was not one of them. Hoping the CD is released soon.
 

Zhao_Yun

Member
Oh this is wonderful. Where can I buy music?

Final Symphony II is unfortunately not available for purchase yet :( They might release a recording in the future though.

Final Symphony I (contains music from VI, VII and X) can be purchased via itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/final-symphony-music-from/id965183547

Or if you prefer physical:
https://store.na.square-enix.com/pr...final-fantasy-vi-vii-and-x-blu-ray-music-disc

You can also listen to it on Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/4Cjk7WTdpJjVqEOrkGS1JW
 
Final Symphony II is unfortunately not available for purchase yet :( They might release a recording in the future though.

Final Symphony I (contains music from VI, VII and X) can be purchased via itunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/final-symphony-music-from/id965183547

Or if you prefer physical:
https://store.na.square-enix.com/pr...final-fantasy-vi-vii-and-x-blu-ray-music-disc

You can also listen to it on Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/4Cjk7WTdpJjVqEOrkGS1JW

thanks mate
 

Quonny

Member
I am super excited to hear what Ms. Shimomura has in store for FFXV, but man, Uematsu is something else.

Also...VINYL WHEN
 

jett

D-Member
Roger Wanamo's and Jonne Valtonen's orchestral arrangements are THE BEST in the world. By miles.

edit: damn it why must it be such a pain to extract streams from this website. :|
 

King Al B

Member
Just wonderful. Makes me wanna go back and play FFVIII, one of my favorites Final Fantasy's.

*why do some of the seats have like racing style head rests?
 

Wazzy

Banned
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IT!

God VIII's soundtrack is incredible. I never get tired of hearing it.

Edit: I got chills when they started Premonition.
 

t-storm

Member
So beautiful.

VIII soundtrack is the best FF soundtrack.

giphy.gif
 

Simo

Member
Sweet jesus...incredible. Its been years since I've played FFVIII so hearing those themes and tracks brought to life like that stirred some emotions and memories from nearly 17 years ago when I first played it...wow. Thanks OP!

Wait, 17 years?! That can't be right...
 

jb1234

Member
It's wonderful hearing this in good quality finally. Hopefully they'll record all of Final Symphony II soon.
 

Bennettt2

Member
this is pretty sweet. I'm not sure how i feel about their take on Eyes on me, since I prefer it to be more flowing and romantic. otherwise, it is in its own class.
 
It's a shame Fisherman's Horizon wasn't part of this... FH is one of the GOAT pieces of video game music to ever exist.

That said, I enjoyed every bit of it. FF8 is definitely has the best FF soundtrack.
 

WhyMe6

Member
Hmmmmm, FFVIII is one of my favourite OSTs of all time, but I'm just not feeling this arrangement. I really, really loved the FFVI arrangement in the first Final Symphony, and I mostly enjoyed the other tracks too. But this one lacks impact. For me, personally, I also think the lack of a choir drags this piece down. It's a shame, because since Final Symphony II's announcement I've been eager to hear their take on FFVIII.
 

Wazzy

Banned
The only song I wish they had included was the last part of the ending theme . It always chokes me up when I hear it.
The first song was missing the choir, that is what makes the song. Other than that amazing.
Eh. Liberi Fatali is still amazing without the choir. The Ending Theme already has it without the singing so I don't know why people are saying it doesn't sound as good.

The way they managed to tie in Don't Be Afraid, Premonition, The Landing and The Extreme is pretty wonderful.
 

Prelude

Member
Unfortunately, no :(

That sucks.

In the square enix page you can vote for your 10 favourite songs for the Distant Worlds concert. You need to be registered and the menus are in japanese

You can vote here

I voted for new songs from 5, 8 and 9. Only I can wait and see
 
Top Bottom