"At the Shores of a Dream"1 is a single, simple song from the soundtrack of a video game called Chrono Cross. The game is the sequel to my personal favorite video game, Chrono Trigger. The games are frequently considered some of the best video games to ever be made, standing above others with their approaches to story and character development. In addition, I have a sentimental attachment to each of the games as I first played each game during difficult times in my adolescence.
Both of the Chrono games are lauded for their phenomenal soundtracks, both written by the fantastic Japanese composer Yasunori Mitsuda. Out of periods of needing reflective or peaceful music while at my computer, I have often turned to the Chrono Chross soundtrack, and so it is no surprise that he tops my Last.fm (which, I might add, has been a bit neglected this summer due to being away from a computer of my own) charts for most-listened to artist.
Cross's music helps take the "interactor" (more than just "viewer" or "listener" or "gamer"2) to beautiful foreign lands and to dangerous locales. Much of the soundtrack being influenced by Celtic music, the folk and thematic dominance creates atmospheres of peace, tranquility, fear, doubt, and adventure. I have always been a huge fan of the Chrono games' music, and a proponent for video game music in general, so the recent trend of traveling video game orchestra programs has kept my interest. Last February, I attended a Video Games Live! show up in Fort Wayne. I enjoyed the show but hope to someday attend the similar but more serious and professional program known as "Play! A Video Game Symphony" (keeping my eye on a Dayton, OH show for next April) that promises to play Chrono music. In fact, below I have a video of the Play! arrangement of a handful of Chrono series' songs:
Such beautiful music, and such a beautiful performance.
Also, here's a fantastic video of Martin Leung ("The Video Game Pianist"/"The Blindfolded Pianist") playing an arrangement of Cross's "Time's Scar" and "Unstolen Jewel."
A Youtube comment reads "LOVE the collective gasp of recognition at "Unstolen Jewel"."
This moment commented on, taking place around 2:12, is truly magical to hear. Not so much because people get excited when they recognize the melody, but because this would only happen for a most loved song. I did/heard the same thing back in April when I attended an Explosions in the Sky concert. The crowd was quietly enjoying and in awe of the band's fantastic live performance, but when we/they recognized the first part of "Your Hand in Mine," one of the band's most beautiful songs (follow the link and hear for yourself!), a similar cheer of excitement happened and chills went down my spine.
Well, this concludes my foray into what I call "the title track," or the song that inspired the name for this little blog. Thank you for reading.
1 = "At the Shores of a Dream" is also known by various other song titles, such as "Dream Shore" or "On the Beach of Dreams" or "Dream Shore Near Another World." Thank Squaresoft for not releasing a single, definitive English version of the soundtrack. Various fan translations of the Japanese titles of the songs led to different English titles for the songs, supposedly.
2 = "Gamer" has far too many negative connotations for me to feel comfortable using it to describe one who is playing these games that I so highly regard.
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Wow, I had the same moment at 2:12, and did not even realize you had made that comment about it later. Nostalgia is an amazing thing, it really is. I wonder if nostalgia (especially to things in your childhood) is so powerful because of the fact that we are away from, but fully aware of God's presence in our lives. We long for relationship and understanding; is music the closest we can get to understanding the nature of God? I think there is something about instrumental music that speaks to the very center of our creation; that we were made to be in relationship with God alone. Sometimes video game nostalgia feels so much like a "coming home" experience. This game for me is Secret of Mana and the Chrono series. Every time I see those familiar silly little sprites and hear (in snes games) the 16 bit music I just feel so excited (Frog's theme comes to mind).
ReplyDeleteYeah! I would have to agree with what you say. Instrumental music really hits the right spots for me, and tends to resonate with something deep inside of me that I can never quite pronounce or articulate.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the Chrono games, I used to turn Chrono Trigger on to select parts just to listen to the music, and often that would be pulling up "Frog's Theme." Frog/Glenn as a character is a picture of who I am deep on the inside in some ways, so his music makes me want to weep for sorrow and joy at the same time.