PIPE ORGANS RANKED + REVIEWED
The professional opinion of a non-professional organist
201 Games
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Stand Up Strong, A Tiny Enormous Miracle
In the massive expanse of MOTHER 3's soundtrack, there are only two pieces that utilize the pipe organ (and one of them doesn't really, but it's written and structured exactly like one so for my purposes it counts). Actually, I just ran the numbers: these two organ tracks account for exactly 1.29% of the total soundtrack. The incredible thing is that MOTHER 3's soundtrack contains some of the most intimately human and evocatively emotional music in the history of the medium - which is to say, even just 1.29% of it is still gonna be some of the best stuff around, and indeed it is. This isn't anything that will impress the way Final Fantasy VI does, or take advantage of the unique characteristics of the organ the way Breath of the Wild does, but what's here is extremely efficient, accurate, poignant, beautiful writing that more than pulls its weight in helping to shape one of the most transcendental soundtracks of all time.
Tracks: Stand Up Strong, A Tiny Enormous Miracle
In the massive expanse of MOTHER 3's soundtrack, there are only two pieces that utilize the pipe organ (and one of them doesn't really, but it's written and structured exactly like one so for my purposes it counts). Actually, I just ran the numbers: these two organ tracks account for exactly 1.29% of the total soundtrack. The incredible thing is that MOTHER 3's soundtrack contains some of the most intimately human and evocatively emotional music in the history of the medium - which is to say, even just 1.29% of it is still gonna be some of the best stuff around, and indeed it is. This isn't anything that will impress the way Final Fantasy VI does, or take advantage of the unique characteristics of the organ the way Breath of the Wild does, but what's here is extremely efficient, accurate, poignant, beautiful writing that more than pulls its weight in helping to shape one of the most transcendental soundtracks of all time.
Rating: BORING
Track: Laurence, the First Vicar
That cello solo is gorgeous! I wish this was a ranking of cello music. Instead I need to talk about the totally flat, lifeless organ part in this. Such a shame that I'm not a cellist instead.
Track: Laurence, the First Vicar
That cello solo is gorgeous! I wish this was a ranking of cello music. Instead I need to talk about the totally flat, lifeless organ part in this. Such a shame that I'm not a cellist instead.
Rating: GOOD
Track: A Prayer to the Road That Leads
Interact with the pipe organ in the cathedral and Chrono will play these quick little chords. Well, "little" - they're gorgeous. The organ tone is rich and full, the chords are thick and creamy, it's a delight. Obviously would have preferred this to be a full piece rather than a quick little idea (and indeed, an incredible piece could be developed off this single idea alone), but it's still an excellent display of organ playing.
Track: A Prayer to the Road That Leads
Interact with the pipe organ in the cathedral and Chrono will play these quick little chords. Well, "little" - they're gorgeous. The organ tone is rich and full, the chords are thick and creamy, it's a delight. Obviously would have preferred this to be a full piece rather than a quick little idea (and indeed, an incredible piece could be developed off this single idea alone), but it's still an excellent display of organ playing.
Rating: THE WORST AND IT'S NOT CLOSE
Context: The Happy Mask Salesman teaching Link the Song of Healing
You'll notice I had to write "context" there rather than "tracks" as I have been for the entire rest of the list. The reason for this is simple; There is no organ in the Majora's Mask soundtrack. In a classic scene, the Happy Mask Salesman seems to materialize a full organ console (three manuals, and six piano pedals? It's a strange configuration) out of thin air, which is hilarious and a great way to further characterize his mysterious absurdity. Unfortunately, the organ... Makes piano sounds? This organ is not an organ. It has pipes and several keyboards, but that sure sounds like a hammer hitting a string to me. And to make it worse, he never actually plays the thing, not in any kind of meaningful way; he plays a total of three notes four times, likely using just a single finger to plunk away at them one-by-one. This is also hilarious, to summon such a massive instrument for such a trivial application, but unfortunately it does make this the absolute worst instance of a pipe organ in video game history - and like how Final fantasy VI will likely stay at the top forever, this will likely stay at the bottom forever as well (at least, I sure hope nobody discovers a worse way to use one).
Context: The Happy Mask Salesman teaching Link the Song of Healing
You'll notice I had to write "context" there rather than "tracks" as I have been for the entire rest of the list. The reason for this is simple; There is no organ in the Majora's Mask soundtrack. In a classic scene, the Happy Mask Salesman seems to materialize a full organ console (three manuals, and six piano pedals? It's a strange configuration) out of thin air, which is hilarious and a great way to further characterize his mysterious absurdity. Unfortunately, the organ... Makes piano sounds? This organ is not an organ. It has pipes and several keyboards, but that sure sounds like a hammer hitting a string to me. And to make it worse, he never actually plays the thing, not in any kind of meaningful way; he plays a total of three notes four times, likely using just a single finger to plunk away at them one-by-one. This is also hilarious, to summon such a massive instrument for such a trivial application, but unfortunately it does make this the absolute worst instance of a pipe organ in video game history - and like how Final fantasy VI will likely stay at the top forever, this will likely stay at the bottom forever as well (at least, I sure hope nobody discovers a worse way to use one).
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: The God Tree, Sacred Precincts
The organ writing here is sparse, yet effectively striking. A luxuriously full tone and heavy chords. Can't complain about that.
Tracks: The God Tree, Sacred Precincts
The organ writing here is sparse, yet effectively striking. A luxuriously full tone and heavy chords. Can't complain about that.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Praise Be To My Master, Passacaglia, Ceremony
These are masterfully crafted pieces of organ music, but it doesn't especially feel like anything besides "well-written music." I'm impressed, but I'm especially not moved. Compared to the first Suikoden's single organ track, these are certainly more accomplished pieces, but the first game's Requiem said something to my heart where these say something to my brain – but I can't stress enough that these are still marvelous pieces of organ music that I respect tremendously. My preference for the first game's single track does not detract just how immaculately composed these are.
Tracks: Praise Be To My Master, Passacaglia, Ceremony
These are masterfully crafted pieces of organ music, but it doesn't especially feel like anything besides "well-written music." I'm impressed, but I'm especially not moved. Compared to the first Suikoden's single organ track, these are certainly more accomplished pieces, but the first game's Requiem said something to my heart where these say something to my brain – but I can't stress enough that these are still marvelous pieces of organ music that I respect tremendously. My preference for the first game's single track does not detract just how immaculately composed these are.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Soul Sanctum
Excellent use of the organ's many sounds and expressions. Intimate, introspective, intense, it's a deeply thoughtful piece that necessitates reflection. At least, this is true when the organ is on its own - the bulking brass hits and stabbing string ostinatos that show up after a while kind of undo a lot of what the organ was building towards. Fantastic organ writing that unfortunately winds up getting talked over right before it's about to say what it wants to say.
Track: Soul Sanctum
Excellent use of the organ's many sounds and expressions. Intimate, introspective, intense, it's a deeply thoughtful piece that necessitates reflection. At least, this is true when the organ is on its own - the bulking brass hits and stabbing string ostinatos that show up after a while kind of undo a lot of what the organ was building towards. Fantastic organ writing that unfortunately winds up getting talked over right before it's about to say what it wants to say.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Prologue, Moonlight Nocturne, Requiem for the Gods, Finale Toccata
If Final Fantasy VI introduced the pipe organ/prog rock marriage into video game music, Symphony of the Night is the next step in its evolution. I only wish it used the organ as effectively as Final Fantasy VI did; it often winds up being more of a background texture for other instruments to project on top of. There are some novel implementations of the organ here though, especially Requiem for the Gods' lowering the attack on the beginning organ chords so they gradually fade forward in a way that a real organ would not be able to do. When the organ does take center stage it's absolutely masterful; I just wish it did so more often.
Tracks: Prologue, Moonlight Nocturne, Requiem for the Gods, Finale Toccata
If Final Fantasy VI introduced the pipe organ/prog rock marriage into video game music, Symphony of the Night is the next step in its evolution. I only wish it used the organ as effectively as Final Fantasy VI did; it often winds up being more of a background texture for other instruments to project on top of. There are some novel implementations of the organ here though, especially Requiem for the Gods' lowering the attack on the beginning organ chords so they gradually fade forward in a way that a real organ would not be able to do. When the organ does take center stage it's absolutely masterful; I just wish it did so more often.
Rating: PERFECT
Tracks: Wedding at Tarrey Town, Hyrule Castle
As you can see from the rest of the list (yes, even including my beloved Final Fantasy VI), video games have a nasty habit of utilizing the pipe organ by pulling out every single stop and letting it rip - which is such a shame!! The instrument is so much more diverse than that. Breath of the Wild is the only game I can think of that so prominently favors the more gentle colors of the organ; the flute, vox, and string stops, as opposed to the typical diapasons. Hyrule Castle in particular uses these to incredible effect - the track is otherwise a pretty standard militarized-orchestra-march affair, save for these quiet solo passages from the organ which turn a typical Star Wars-flavored track into something with meaning. It's no longer just a plunge into an evil castle; suddenly the castle has a history, a humanity, a memory to consider. If the orchestra is the cold stone walls and the bloodthirsty enemies that patrol inside of them, the organ is the tattered books strewn on the floor and the unmade beds that used to belong to people who will never be able to see the world return to peace. It brings a distinctly human touch to the setting and completely re-contextualizes the storm through the castle to always bring forward its tragic history.
Tracks: Wedding at Tarrey Town, Hyrule Castle
As you can see from the rest of the list (yes, even including my beloved Final Fantasy VI), video games have a nasty habit of utilizing the pipe organ by pulling out every single stop and letting it rip - which is such a shame!! The instrument is so much more diverse than that. Breath of the Wild is the only game I can think of that so prominently favors the more gentle colors of the organ; the flute, vox, and string stops, as opposed to the typical diapasons. Hyrule Castle in particular uses these to incredible effect - the track is otherwise a pretty standard militarized-orchestra-march affair, save for these quiet solo passages from the organ which turn a typical Star Wars-flavored track into something with meaning. It's no longer just a plunge into an evil castle; suddenly the castle has a history, a humanity, a memory to consider. If the orchestra is the cold stone walls and the bloodthirsty enemies that patrol inside of them, the organ is the tattered books strewn on the floor and the unmade beds that used to belong to people who will never be able to see the world return to peace. It brings a distinctly human touch to the setting and completely re-contextualizes the storm through the castle to always bring forward its tragic history.
Rating: PERFECT
Tracks: Resurrection, Idol Collapse, Premonition of Revival
Shadow of the Colossus is the pipe organ of video games.
Tracks: Resurrection, Idol Collapse, Premonition of Revival
Shadow of the Colossus is the pipe organ of video games.
Rating: PERFECT
Tracks: Opening Theme, Dancing Mad
This is easily the most famous instance of a pipe organ being used in game music, and for good reason - Nobuo Uematsu has not only created the single most iconic organ riff since Bach's (or at least, it's attributed to him) opening theme in Toccata and Fugue in D minor, but also presents us with a full-course meal of luxuriously decadent chorales that punctuate throughout an otherwise brain-thumping prog rock final boss track which never fails to impress any listener lucky enough to stumble across it, whether in-game or out. The full spectrum of the organ is found here, with its powerful, chilling howls, its gently caressing beauty, and its sacred, enlightened profundity. This is the height of the pipe organ's appearance in the history of the medium, and it's unlikely to ever be topped.
Tracks: Opening Theme, Dancing Mad
This is easily the most famous instance of a pipe organ being used in game music, and for good reason - Nobuo Uematsu has not only created the single most iconic organ riff since Bach's (or at least, it's attributed to him) opening theme in Toccata and Fugue in D minor, but also presents us with a full-course meal of luxuriously decadent chorales that punctuate throughout an otherwise brain-thumping prog rock final boss track which never fails to impress any listener lucky enough to stumble across it, whether in-game or out. The full spectrum of the organ is found here, with its powerful, chilling howls, its gently caressing beauty, and its sacred, enlightened profundity. This is the height of the pipe organ's appearance in the history of the medium, and it's unlikely to ever be topped.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Black Feet, Empire, Boxship
Many instruments in the Panzer Dragoon Saga soundtrack are more like an approximation of actual instruments than always being perfectly identifiable. Most of what's included here is, like some other entries on this list, close enough to a pipe organ both in tone and in writing to be considered as such.
Try as I might, there's very little I can muster up to actually say about the organ in this. I feel the same way about the music as I feel about the game itself; it's a feeling, it's an understanding, it's one of the most honest expressions I've ever seen of anything. Maybe to someone else the organ here will not seem much different from the "boring, lifeless" organs I place further down the list, but here I can feel such a strong and deliberate intentionality. The slowness is the point. The heaviness is the point. It is exactly what it wants to be. It is exactly what it needs to be.
Tracks: Black Feet, Empire, Boxship
Many instruments in the Panzer Dragoon Saga soundtrack are more like an approximation of actual instruments than always being perfectly identifiable. Most of what's included here is, like some other entries on this list, close enough to a pipe organ both in tone and in writing to be considered as such.
Try as I might, there's very little I can muster up to actually say about the organ in this. I feel the same way about the music as I feel about the game itself; it's a feeling, it's an understanding, it's one of the most honest expressions I've ever seen of anything. Maybe to someone else the organ here will not seem much different from the "boring, lifeless" organs I place further down the list, but here I can feel such a strong and deliberate intentionality. The slowness is the point. The heaviness is the point. It is exactly what it wants to be. It is exactly what it needs to be.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Ganon's Tower
Working up the tower to the score of this organ music, only to reach the top and find that Ganondorf himself was the one playing it is the best use of a physical organ in an actual video game environment so far. The music is only so-so, but we're getting actual on-screen organ representation here, and it's a great scene at that. Fantastic moment.
Track: Ganon's Tower
Working up the tower to the score of this organ music, only to reach the top and find that Ganondorf himself was the one playing it is the best use of a physical organ in an actual video game environment so far. The music is only so-so, but we're getting actual on-screen organ representation here, and it's a great scene at that. Fantastic moment.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Kingdom of Burmecia, Immortal Melody, Cleyra's Settlement, Master of Time, Pandemonium, The Darkness of Eternity
Knowing what Uematsu is capable of with the organ, the tracks here in Final Fantasy IX feel strangely empty... They're serviceable, I wouldn't call any of this writing bad at all, but there's a distinct lack of any significant character behind them. There's no guts. The Darkness of Eternity in particular seems to try and hearken back to the pipe organ/prog rock combination of Final Fantasy VI's Dancing Mad, but it just doesn't quite cut it for me. The only one I can see myself actively wanting to listen to again is Master of Time, and even then that piece only really has a few select glimmers of intrigue. There's just really nothing too special here - though Cleyra's Settlement is a cute application of an organ's flute stops.
Tracks: Kingdom of Burmecia, Immortal Melody, Cleyra's Settlement, Master of Time, Pandemonium, The Darkness of Eternity
Knowing what Uematsu is capable of with the organ, the tracks here in Final Fantasy IX feel strangely empty... They're serviceable, I wouldn't call any of this writing bad at all, but there's a distinct lack of any significant character behind them. There's no guts. The Darkness of Eternity in particular seems to try and hearken back to the pipe organ/prog rock combination of Final Fantasy VI's Dancing Mad, but it just doesn't quite cut it for me. The only one I can see myself actively wanting to listen to again is Master of Time, and even then that piece only really has a few select glimmers of intrigue. There's just really nothing too special here - though Cleyra's Settlement is a cute application of an organ's flute stops.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Ministry of Education
Some great juicy chords that take advantage of the fullness of an organ's sound, but ultimately pretty safe and flat writing that doesn't utilize the organ as much as it seems to want to.
Track: Ministry of Education
Some great juicy chords that take advantage of the fullness of an organ's sound, but ultimately pretty safe and flat writing that doesn't utilize the organ as much as it seems to want to.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Deacons of the Deep
I've regularly said FromSoftware games are doing more to keep classical music traditions alive and relevant than actual classical music establishments and initiatives; tracks like this are what I'm talking about. There's a beautiful darkness that's exclusive to the languishing, dramatic elegance of something like Fauré's masterwork requiem that not many games have the confidence to approach. Dark Souls III not only has that confidence, but also the skill to back it up. This is just actual classical music and I'll eat it up every time.
Track: Deacons of the Deep
I've regularly said FromSoftware games are doing more to keep classical music traditions alive and relevant than actual classical music establishments and initiatives; tracks like this are what I'm talking about. There's a beautiful darkness that's exclusive to the languishing, dramatic elegance of something like Fauré's masterwork requiem that not many games have the confidence to approach. Dark Souls III not only has that confidence, but also the skill to back it up. This is just actual classical music and I'll eat it up every time.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Pray for the People's Joy
One of the most pure, crystalline, beautiful organ pieces I've heard in a game. This piece isn't technically demanding, it doesn't use a unique combination of stops, it doesn't break genre conventions or use intense chromatic chords with tons of extensions, but it does have a heart the size of the moon and weeps with devastating compassion. There's an emotional honesty here that resonates so strongly because of its simplicity, not despite it. Simply put: a masterpiece.
Track: Pray for the People's Joy
One of the most pure, crystalline, beautiful organ pieces I've heard in a game. This piece isn't technically demanding, it doesn't use a unique combination of stops, it doesn't break genre conventions or use intense chromatic chords with tons of extensions, but it does have a heart the size of the moon and weeps with devastating compassion. There's an emotional honesty here that resonates so strongly because of its simplicity, not despite it. Simply put: a masterpiece.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Prayer, Imperial Scrolls of Honor
These Dragon Quest jingles are finally being played by a discernible facsimile of some kind of sound resembling a real pipe organ, but it's still not enough to save them from being so dull.
Tracks: Prayer, Imperial Scrolls of Honor
These Dragon Quest jingles are finally being played by a discernible facsimile of some kind of sound resembling a real pipe organ, but it's still not enough to save them from being so dull.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Demon World
As tends to be the case, the organ in this track is mostly used just to accompany something else; in this case a choir. It gets a few bars to sing on its own, and it's a great few bars, but overall the organ writing here is simply serviceable and doesn't especially utilize anything about the organ that makes it unique. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it's not like it does anything especially great either.
Track: Demon World
As tends to be the case, the organ in this track is mostly used just to accompany something else; in this case a choir. It gets a few bars to sing on its own, and it's a great few bars, but overall the organ writing here is simply serviceable and doesn't especially utilize anything about the organ that makes it unique. It doesn't do anything wrong, but it's not like it does anything especially great either.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Tower of the Gods, Gohdan
Gohdan isn't exactly a pipe organ, but coming off the heels of Tower of the Gods and the way it's structured definitely insinuates that it's supposed to be. And it's a pretty cool piece! It has two distinct halves: one that's focused on a melismatic melodic idea borrowing heavily from Baroque conventions, and one that's more rhythmically-focused pulling more from jazz. The instant switching from one to another works surprisingly well tonally, but I'd be lying if I said the actual playing didn't feel a little aimless. Any particular moment is cool on its own, but there's no real identifiable theme or consistent through-line to bring the piece together. Neat individual phrases, but it winds up feeling like a bunch of wandering around trying to find a solid idea to latch on to.
Tracks: Tower of the Gods, Gohdan
Gohdan isn't exactly a pipe organ, but coming off the heels of Tower of the Gods and the way it's structured definitely insinuates that it's supposed to be. And it's a pretty cool piece! It has two distinct halves: one that's focused on a melismatic melodic idea borrowing heavily from Baroque conventions, and one that's more rhythmically-focused pulling more from jazz. The instant switching from one to another works surprisingly well tonally, but I'd be lying if I said the actual playing didn't feel a little aimless. Any particular moment is cool on its own, but there's no real identifiable theme or consistent through-line to bring the piece together. Neat individual phrases, but it winds up feeling like a bunch of wandering around trying to find a solid idea to latch on to.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Joyous Promenade, Caute Cave Mortem, Baking the Wondertart
Nobody needs me to say just how unbelievable Cuphead's music is. I've called it "one of the single most impressive audio/visual experiences since the turn of the century" and I really truly believe that. We didn't get much organ music in the base game, but the DLC manages to pull it out just a few more times - and thank goodness! What a treat. That Kristofer Maddigan manages to work impeccably with every style he tries. The organ music is just as wonderful and just as authentic as the big band stuff, which is to say, it's damn good.
Tracks: Joyous Promenade, Caute Cave Mortem, Baking the Wondertart
Nobody needs me to say just how unbelievable Cuphead's music is. I've called it "one of the single most impressive audio/visual experiences since the turn of the century" and I really truly believe that. We didn't get much organ music in the base game, but the DLC manages to pull it out just a few more times - and thank goodness! What a treat. That Kristofer Maddigan manages to work impeccably with every style he tries. The organ music is just as wonderful and just as authentic as the big band stuff, which is to say, it's damn good.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Malzeno Battle
The organ writing here is actually pretty engaging, its place in the ensemble is active and dynamic - but it's so quiet in the mix!! Bring that shit forward baby, let me hear that thing sing!! Shake what your mama gave you there's nothing to hide!!
Track: Malzeno Battle
The organ writing here is actually pretty engaging, its place in the ensemble is active and dynamic - but it's so quiet in the mix!! Bring that shit forward baby, let me hear that thing sing!! Shake what your mama gave you there's nothing to hide!!
Rating: GOOD
Track: Dark Colossus - Kaiju
Similar use to Final Fantasy VI, where the organ is only introduced after the rest of the ensemble hangs back. It's a great little shining moment that adds a great texture to the piece, but unfortunately the actual organ writing itself is a little sparse. By no means bad, just lacking. It could certainly do with a more "full" sounding selection of pulled stops or a more dynamic part with more movement.
Track: Dark Colossus - Kaiju
Similar use to Final Fantasy VI, where the organ is only introduced after the rest of the ensemble hangs back. It's a great little shining moment that adds a great texture to the piece, but unfortunately the actual organ writing itself is a little sparse. By no means bad, just lacking. It could certainly do with a more "full" sounding selection of pulled stops or a more dynamic part with more movement.
Rating: BAD
Track: Fugue #7777
They slam on the keyboard for two chords and then leave it alone. They're good chords! But it ain't much. The following fugue itself is incredibly well-written and would adapt to an organ perfectly, but unfortunately that's not what it was written for.
Track: Fugue #7777
They slam on the keyboard for two chords and then leave it alone. They're good chords! But it ain't much. The following fugue itself is incredibly well-written and would adapt to an organ perfectly, but unfortunately that's not what it was written for.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Chapel, Game Over, Throne Fights
Surprisingly for a Castlevania game, the organ music here is pretty underwhelming. Certainly not bad, but at least personally I can never seem to remember much about these tracks without going back to listen to them again. The organ is used effectively in the ensemble, but obviously there's something missing here to make anything about them stand out.
Tracks: Chapel, Game Over, Throne Fights
Surprisingly for a Castlevania game, the organ music here is pretty underwhelming. Certainly not bad, but at least personally I can never seem to remember much about these tracks without going back to listen to them again. The organ is used effectively in the ensemble, but obviously there's something missing here to make anything about them stand out.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Tatsh feat. K. Nayuki
Wow! I've shamed other games on this list for unsuccessfully trying to merge organ music with pop music - while dance music and pop music aren't quite the same, I am impressed at how well they mingle here. The difference between this and the other games that try is that the organ here is not accommodating the dance music, it's an organic part that doesn't sacrifice any aspect of itself to belong in the ensemble. The organ is making great use of its full register, it's employing some great harmonic movements, but it's not doing this despite the dance music, it's doing this because of it. These two aspects are working together to support each other rather than trying to make one change to better suit the other. Games that try to use the organ for more modern pop-styled music should take notes.
Track: Tatsh feat. K. Nayuki
Wow! I've shamed other games on this list for unsuccessfully trying to merge organ music with pop music - while dance music and pop music aren't quite the same, I am impressed at how well they mingle here. The difference between this and the other games that try is that the organ here is not accommodating the dance music, it's an organic part that doesn't sacrifice any aspect of itself to belong in the ensemble. The organ is making great use of its full register, it's employing some great harmonic movements, but it's not doing this despite the dance music, it's doing this because of it. These two aspects are working together to support each other rather than trying to make one change to better suit the other. Games that try to use the organ for more modern pop-styled music should take notes.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Crossbell Cathedral
Perfectly pleasant and authentic church music. Smooth, gentle selection of stops, delicately balanced part writing, if you told me this was actually a piece of Bach music I'd have no reason not to believe you (though only because for as great as Bach is, a lot of his music in major keys can be exceptionally simple, bordering on boring - this track is more like those than the Bach pieces that really impress me).
Track: Crossbell Cathedral
Perfectly pleasant and authentic church music. Smooth, gentle selection of stops, delicately balanced part writing, if you told me this was actually a piece of Bach music I'd have no reason not to believe you (though only because for as great as Bach is, a lot of his music in major keys can be exceptionally simple, bordering on boring - this track is more like those than the Bach pieces that really impress me).
Rating: GREAT
Track: Tainted Lovers
The interplay here between the pipe organ and the guitar is seriously incredible - maybe the best actual blending of traditional organ writing and rock music I've seen yet, which is something a good amount of games tend to try for. The pipe organ isn't around for nearly as long as the electric organ is, but it uses its limited time on the stage to blast out some absolutely show-stopping riffs that perfectly blends the inherently technical run-on nature of both Baroque music and guitar solos without ever feeling disingenuous to either of them. Really, these are two styles that have a lot more similarities between each other than differences, but somehow a lot of games tend to get too stuck on those differences; this game understands their similarities in a gorgeously authentic way and lets it rip in one of the most exciting entries on this list.
Track: Tainted Lovers
The interplay here between the pipe organ and the guitar is seriously incredible - maybe the best actual blending of traditional organ writing and rock music I've seen yet, which is something a good amount of games tend to try for. The pipe organ isn't around for nearly as long as the electric organ is, but it uses its limited time on the stage to blast out some absolutely show-stopping riffs that perfectly blends the inherently technical run-on nature of both Baroque music and guitar solos without ever feeling disingenuous to either of them. Really, these are two styles that have a lot more similarities between each other than differences, but somehow a lot of games tend to get too stuck on those differences; this game understands their similarities in a gorgeously authentic way and lets it rip in one of the most exciting entries on this list.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Alcamoth (Day)
There's some great chords here, and the tone of the organ is gorgeous, but the instrument is only around for just a little bit towards the beginning, and it's noodling around pretty aimlessly. The heart of a good organ part is here, but it would be a lot better if it had more of a specific, defined purpose in the piece.
Track: Alcamoth (Day)
There's some great chords here, and the tone of the organ is gorgeous, but the instrument is only around for just a little bit towards the beginning, and it's noodling around pretty aimlessly. The heart of a good organ part is here, but it would be a lot better if it had more of a specific, defined purpose in the piece.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: King Koopa Battle, Clash of the Titans, Fawful's Stronghold - Act 1, Fawful's Stronghold - Act 2, Final Boss Intro
There's a couple nice passages here, but overall the compositions in this just don't have any kind of character to make them stand out in any way. Very simple, safe applications that don't offend but also don't leave any kind of impression.
Track: King Koopa Battle, Clash of the Titans, Fawful's Stronghold - Act 1, Fawful's Stronghold - Act 2, Final Boss Intro
There's a couple nice passages here, but overall the compositions in this just don't have any kind of character to make them stand out in any way. Very simple, safe applications that don't offend but also don't leave any kind of impression.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Healed by a Hymn
Just some nice honest organ music. It's no Franck, but it sure is Haydn, and sometimes Haydn is alright. Sometimes.
Track: Healed by a Hymn
Just some nice honest organ music. It's no Franck, but it sure is Haydn, and sometimes Haydn is alright. Sometimes.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Battle! Dr. Tomouki
Surprisingly intricate contrapuntal writing flying over top an uncharacteristically straight (for Soichi Terada) hip hop beat. There's a lot of confidence on display here, as well as a lot of technical accomplishment; the harmonic places the two organ lines wrap around to are incredibly inspired, and the two distinct tones being used for the two lines compliment each other charmingly. There's a lightness both in both flavor and performance that allows this piece to float around to wherever it wants - organs rarely feel so playful!
Track: Battle! Dr. Tomouki
Surprisingly intricate contrapuntal writing flying over top an uncharacteristically straight (for Soichi Terada) hip hop beat. There's a lot of confidence on display here, as well as a lot of technical accomplishment; the harmonic places the two organ lines wrap around to are incredibly inspired, and the two distinct tones being used for the two lines compliment each other charmingly. There's a lightness both in both flavor and performance that allows this piece to float around to wherever it wants - organs rarely feel so playful!
Rating: GREAT
Track: Heretic Mansion (Shining Heaven)
Gorgeous flowing passages that develop and expand on each other seamlessly. Some of the absolute best counterpoint video game have to offer, with a pipe organ or otherwise. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Track: Heretic Mansion (Shining Heaven)
Gorgeous flowing passages that develop and expand on each other seamlessly. Some of the absolute best counterpoint video game have to offer, with a pipe organ or otherwise. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
Rating: GOOD
Track: A Messenger
Another piece where the organ doesn't have much going on, but I sure am a sucker for big, thick chords. The writing here isn't anything particularly special, but there are some attention-grabbing harmonic shifts that utilize the darkness and the fullness of the sound well. Ultimately, the only real reason the organ is here is because the piece needs to sound vaguely spiritual; otherwise it could be replaced handily with just about any other sustaining instrument. Far from the worst but far from the best.
Track: A Messenger
Another piece where the organ doesn't have much going on, but I sure am a sucker for big, thick chords. The writing here isn't anything particularly special, but there are some attention-grabbing harmonic shifts that utilize the darkness and the fullness of the sound well. Ultimately, the only real reason the organ is here is because the piece needs to sound vaguely spiritual; otherwise it could be replaced handily with just about any other sustaining instrument. Far from the worst but far from the best.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Alatreon Theme
One more on the board for a general organ theme employed to sound menacing and not much else. It earns some good-boy points for having some interesting harmonic shifts, but the organ itself isn't doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. It's just a half-interesting piece of music that happens to have an organ in it.
Track: Alatreon Theme
One more on the board for a general organ theme employed to sound menacing and not much else. It earns some good-boy points for having some interesting harmonic shifts, but the organ itself isn't doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. It's just a half-interesting piece of music that happens to have an organ in it.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Feast of the Damned, Demitri Victory, Victor von Gerdenheim Victory
For a horror-themed fighting game, I'm surprised it took until the third entry to use a pipe organ. And then the just kinda don't do much with it... The typical Baroque-styled melismatic runs you'd expect are here, the heavy minor chords are here, it's exactly what a game like this calls for and nothing else. Many other games have found significantly more interesting ways of blending Baroque music with other styles.
Tracks: Feast of the Damned, Demitri Victory, Victor von Gerdenheim Victory
For a horror-themed fighting game, I'm surprised it took until the third entry to use a pipe organ. And then the just kinda don't do much with it... The typical Baroque-styled melismatic runs you'd expect are here, the heavy minor chords are here, it's exactly what a game like this calls for and nothing else. Many other games have found significantly more interesting ways of blending Baroque music with other styles.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Mirror of Judgement
That classic Baroque balance of dignified, brilliant counterpoint and flowing passion finds its way into yet another climactic moment in a video game. Gorgeously weaving and interlocking phrases that expand on each other wonderfully. Such a tightly structured piece of music is a surprise in the Planet Laika soundtrack, and that sudden juxtaposition to the rest of the game scores its scene perfectly.
Track: Mirror of Judgement
That classic Baroque balance of dignified, brilliant counterpoint and flowing passion finds its way into yet another climactic moment in a video game. Gorgeously weaving and interlocking phrases that expand on each other wonderfully. Such a tightly structured piece of music is a surprise in the Planet Laika soundtrack, and that sudden juxtaposition to the rest of the game scores its scene perfectly.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Shadowlord's Castle / Memory, Shadowlord
Similarly to MOTHER 3 and Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shadowlord's Castle / Memory does not actually use a real pipe organ, but the synthesized sounds are so clearly evocative of one and written in such exactly the same style that for our purposes it counts. Also similarly to MOTHER 3, this is one of the most incredible soundtracks of all time, in which every instrument is used with a thoughtful, considerate, deliberate hand to squeeze out the maximum expression at any possible moment. As such, the organ writing here is predictably exquisite. My only complaint is that I could have sworn it was used more often - and I wish it was with how glorious its inclusions are!! Please, Okabe, I'm starving!!
Track: Shadowlord's Castle / Memory, Shadowlord
Similarly to MOTHER 3 and Panzer Dragoon Saga, Shadowlord's Castle / Memory does not actually use a real pipe organ, but the synthesized sounds are so clearly evocative of one and written in such exactly the same style that for our purposes it counts. Also similarly to MOTHER 3, this is one of the most incredible soundtracks of all time, in which every instrument is used with a thoughtful, considerate, deliberate hand to squeeze out the maximum expression at any possible moment. As such, the organ writing here is predictably exquisite. My only complaint is that I could have sworn it was used more often - and I wish it was with how glorious its inclusions are!! Please, Okabe, I'm starving!!
Rating: GOOD
Track: The Dark Church
A quiet, tranquil little ostinato figure shimmering around some soft synth pulses. Not much to say, it's just some pretty playing.
Track: The Dark Church
A quiet, tranquil little ostinato figure shimmering around some soft synth pulses. Not much to say, it's just some pretty playing.
Rating: PERFECT
Tracks: Journey to the Demon King, Hopelessness, The Demon King Odio, Armageddon
Live A Live ranks so highly here almost exclusively because of the track Armageddon. This is just a phenomenal organ piece. All the other tracks utilize the organ excellently as well, but Armageddon is right up there with Final Fantasy VI's Dancing Mad as one of the absolute best organ pieces the SNES - and indeed, video games as a medium - has to offer. A chillingly captivating piece of music with a distinguished air of dignity and gravitas gushing with passion. Absolutely astounding.
UPDATE: The 2022 remake of Live A Live beefs up and expands upon the game's organ repertoire. I will not be listing the remake separately from the original game, so instead I will mention it here; the new and extra work done in the remake bumps this entry up from "GREAT" to "PERFECT." Thank you, Shimomura-san.
Tracks: Journey to the Demon King, Hopelessness, The Demon King Odio, Armageddon
Live A Live ranks so highly here almost exclusively because of the track Armageddon. This is just a phenomenal organ piece. All the other tracks utilize the organ excellently as well, but Armageddon is right up there with Final Fantasy VI's Dancing Mad as one of the absolute best organ pieces the SNES - and indeed, video games as a medium - has to offer. A chillingly captivating piece of music with a distinguished air of dignity and gravitas gushing with passion. Absolutely astounding.
UPDATE: The 2022 remake of Live A Live beefs up and expands upon the game's organ repertoire. I will not be listing the remake separately from the original game, so instead I will mention it here; the new and extra work done in the remake bumps this entry up from "GREAT" to "PERFECT." Thank you, Shimomura-san.
Rating: PERFECT
Tracks: Cathedral of Shadows (all instances), Battle b6, Reign
The culmination of all the strength, beauty, and profundity of Shin Megami Tensei's pipe organs, which will be chronicled further throughout the list. This series has an unrivaled relationship with the pipe organ, and this game establishes itself as the peak not just by introducing new gorgeous, majestic, innovative tracks of its own, but also by resurfacing some legendary pipe organ tracks from games past. A true celebration of the single video game series that consistently showcases the pipe organ with the most virtuosity and splendor. Few poor words can be uttered against any of this series' application of the instrument, and none could even begin to approach the general direction of this entry.
Tracks: Cathedral of Shadows (all instances), Battle b6, Reign
The culmination of all the strength, beauty, and profundity of Shin Megami Tensei's pipe organs, which will be chronicled further throughout the list. This series has an unrivaled relationship with the pipe organ, and this game establishes itself as the peak not just by introducing new gorgeous, majestic, innovative tracks of its own, but also by resurfacing some legendary pipe organ tracks from games past. A true celebration of the single video game series that consistently showcases the pipe organ with the most virtuosity and splendor. Few poor words can be uttered against any of this series' application of the instrument, and none could even begin to approach the general direction of this entry.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Funerary Services
Beautiful chords with a sprinkle of that classic Taniguchi quirk - the organ may just be just be pure block chords, but when the chords are so fascinating and expressive, it's hard to complain.
Track: Funerary Services
Beautiful chords with a sprinkle of that classic Taniguchi quirk - the organ may just be just be pure block chords, but when the chords are so fascinating and expressive, it's hard to complain.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Safety in the Sanctuary, Yuga's Plan, Osfala Captured, Zelda's Portrait
Safety in the Sanctuary is a gorgeous development of Link to the Past's iconic track, which introduces a pipe organ to the choir and gives that organ a marvelous little phrase of its own separate from just doubling the choir parts. The rest of the pipe organ music in this is acceptable bordering on pretty good, but really this just gives me an excuse to rank Link to the Past's sanctuary music on this list, since the pipe organ is not present in the SNES release. One of my favorite pieces of Zelda music, and now it has an organ in it!!
Tracks: Safety in the Sanctuary, Yuga's Plan, Osfala Captured, Zelda's Portrait
Safety in the Sanctuary is a gorgeous development of Link to the Past's iconic track, which introduces a pipe organ to the choir and gives that organ a marvelous little phrase of its own separate from just doubling the choir parts. The rest of the pipe organ music in this is acceptable bordering on pretty good, but really this just gives me an excuse to rank Link to the Past's sanctuary music on this list, since the pipe organ is not present in the SNES release. One of my favorite pieces of Zelda music, and now it has an organ in it!!
Rating: BORING
Track: Mithra (4th ver.)
This is something you'd teach to an organ student to get them comfortable with using the pedal board.
Track: Mithra (4th ver.)
This is something you'd teach to an organ student to get them comfortable with using the pedal board.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Organ Style, Horror
Organ Style is just a performance of the fifth movement from Charles-Marie Widor's Symphony for Organ No. 5. And a damn good performance at that! Bravo to Peter James Adcock for a brilliant interpretation of a brilliant piece. Is it unfair to have actual organ repertoire so high on a list of video game music? Only as unfair as it is to include this as part of a game soundtrack in the first place. It was French composers around La Belle Époque like Widor that really drove my interest in music to be something I pursued as significantly as I do now and I can't hide my biases. Top of the list just on principal. (Widor was never one I was specifically interested in though - hit me up if you want to hear more about French composers that actually inspired me, I've got a lot to say and not many people to say it to!!)
Oh uh, and Horror is alright too. It's an original piece and it's got some neat ideas. But I mean, come on. We're all here for Widor.
Tracks: Organ Style, Horror
Organ Style is just a performance of the fifth movement from Charles-Marie Widor's Symphony for Organ No. 5. And a damn good performance at that! Bravo to Peter James Adcock for a brilliant interpretation of a brilliant piece. Is it unfair to have actual organ repertoire so high on a list of video game music? Only as unfair as it is to include this as part of a game soundtrack in the first place. It was French composers around La Belle Époque like Widor that really drove my interest in music to be something I pursued as significantly as I do now and I can't hide my biases. Top of the list just on principal. (Widor was never one I was specifically interested in though - hit me up if you want to hear more about French composers that actually inspired me, I've got a lot to say and not many people to say it to!!)
Oh uh, and Horror is alright too. It's an original piece and it's got some neat ideas. But I mean, come on. We're all here for Widor.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Sudden Metamorphosis, Fecto Forgo Hunted by the Beast, Two Planets Approach the Roche Limit
I really had to strain my ears to tell if there actually were pipe organs in these tracks, but I promise there are! They're just very weak and not playing much of anything at all, existing only to add to the wall of sound these tracks are trying to impress with. Well, maybe the sound trying to be achieved here necessitates the organ being such a minuscule ingredient, but you can't fool me!! I see how boring your organ part is, and I give you a bad ranking on my Backloggd Dot Com list for it!!
Tracks: Sudden Metamorphosis, Fecto Forgo Hunted by the Beast, Two Planets Approach the Roche Limit
I really had to strain my ears to tell if there actually were pipe organs in these tracks, but I promise there are! They're just very weak and not playing much of anything at all, existing only to add to the wall of sound these tracks are trying to impress with. Well, maybe the sound trying to be achieved here necessitates the organ being such a minuscule ingredient, but you can't fool me!! I see how boring your organ part is, and I give you a bad ranking on my Backloggd Dot Com list for it!!
Rating: BORING
Tracks: The Place of Relaxation, Kingdom of the Sky, Tales of Dragon Buster
It seems like with every new Tales release, they become less interested in the organ. In fact the previous game, Tales of Legendia, didn't have use the organ at all! So I suppose in some way this is some step up from that - but is it really a step up when there's so much nothing going on? I think I'd rather the organ just be left alone than see it in such a comatose state. How horribly disheartening it is to watch a series with such a deep, storied, intimate history with this instrument gradually fall out of love with it. Hopefully, if there's a more modern Tales game that ranks higher than this one, you can smile with the warm dramatic irony of knowing that before too long I'll see these two rekindle their flame. And if not... I suppose yet more heartache is all that awaits us further.
Tracks: The Place of Relaxation, Kingdom of the Sky, Tales of Dragon Buster
It seems like with every new Tales release, they become less interested in the organ. In fact the previous game, Tales of Legendia, didn't have use the organ at all! So I suppose in some way this is some step up from that - but is it really a step up when there's so much nothing going on? I think I'd rather the organ just be left alone than see it in such a comatose state. How horribly disheartening it is to watch a series with such a deep, storied, intimate history with this instrument gradually fall out of love with it. Hopefully, if there's a more modern Tales game that ranks higher than this one, you can smile with the warm dramatic irony of knowing that before too long I'll see these two rekindle their flame. And if not... I suppose yet more heartache is all that awaits us further.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Outline of the Demon Descent Chain, That Guy's Name is Fear, Rise Above the World, To the Other Side of the Earth
In a mind-meltingly hot soundtrack, the organ here never really does all that much, but its presence in the background is always significant to the piece's texture. Hard and heavy, it's an imposing presence that contributes strongly to Valkyrie Profile's brutal desolation.
Tracks: Outline of the Demon Descent Chain, That Guy's Name is Fear, Rise Above the World, To the Other Side of the Earth
In a mind-meltingly hot soundtrack, the organ here never really does all that much, but its presence in the background is always significant to the piece's texture. Hard and heavy, it's an imposing presence that contributes strongly to Valkyrie Profile's brutal desolation.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Bloody Tears
The classic theme from Simon's Quest is brought back, juiced up, and developed on gorgeously here. Gorgeous organ tone, excellent writing (as it was on the NES as well - the only reason the original Simon's Quest track is not present in this list is because the genre blending and limited NES sound channels make it difficult to discern what parts are really supposed to be an organ and which are not), just an incredible win for organ lovers. It's only a shame we don't see it much else in this soundtrack, they've obviously got a great hand for it!
Track: Bloody Tears
The classic theme from Simon's Quest is brought back, juiced up, and developed on gorgeously here. Gorgeous organ tone, excellent writing (as it was on the NES as well - the only reason the original Simon's Quest track is not present in this list is because the genre blending and limited NES sound channels make it difficult to discern what parts are really supposed to be an organ and which are not), just an incredible win for organ lovers. It's only a shame we don't see it much else in this soundtrack, they've obviously got a great hand for it!
Rating: GREAT
Track: Ultimate Koopa
This is a classic. It'd be easy to write this off as a generic pipe organ track being used for an evil character simply for the sake of itself (as I will often be doing further down this list), but the writing here is incredible! The motives are all clearly defined, developed on masterfully, and effectively utilizes the full extent of the instrument's range. As far as pipe organs being included just for the sake of the villain is concerned, this is as good as it gets.
Track: Ultimate Koopa
This is a classic. It'd be easy to write this off as a generic pipe organ track being used for an evil character simply for the sake of itself (as I will often be doing further down this list), but the writing here is incredible! The motives are all clearly defined, developed on masterfully, and effectively utilizes the full extent of the instrument's range. As far as pipe organs being included just for the sake of the villain is concerned, this is as good as it gets.
Rating: GOOD
Track: The Mausoleum
Quirky little waltz with a gorgeous organ tone and fun, dynamic writing. A unique angle of the organ we don't normally hear - just a good time!
Track: The Mausoleum
Quirky little waltz with a gorgeous organ tone and fun, dynamic writing. A unique angle of the organ we don't normally hear - just a good time!
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: N's Castle, Rayquaza Appears!
- Standing in for all generation 5 Pokemon games -
Another game where the organ is used as a quick shorthand for power and majesty. It does a good job in really utilizing that grandeur, but to me there's just a little something missing. Neither of these instances of the organ are even remotely bad, in fact they're exceedingly competent, but I can't bring myself to feel especially passionate about such small applications.
Tracks: N's Castle, Rayquaza Appears!
- Standing in for all generation 5 Pokemon games -
Another game where the organ is used as a quick shorthand for power and majesty. It does a good job in really utilizing that grandeur, but to me there's just a little something missing. Neither of these instances of the organ are even remotely bad, in fact they're exceedingly competent, but I can't bring myself to feel especially passionate about such small applications.
Rating: BORING
Track: Temperantia - In Foregoing Pleasures
Similar to Bayonetta 1, the organ here just is not doing anything to really justify its presence. Doubling other orchestra parts with some arpeggiated ostinatos every now and then isn't enough.
Track: Temperantia - In Foregoing Pleasures
Similar to Bayonetta 1, the organ here just is not doing anything to really justify its presence. Doubling other orchestra parts with some arpeggiated ostinatos every now and then isn't enough.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Ending
The organ shades the color of this piece excellently. The texture of this piece is fascinating, and the use of a pipe organ is an excellent choice that even I wouldn't have thought of – and I'm constantly trying to find places to use pipe organs!! The writing isn't too impressive but that's not really what the point is here. It's about the texture. The organ's clearly defined place in this slippery, dreamy ensemble speaks well to its deliberate and considered implementation.
Track: Ending
The organ shades the color of this piece excellently. The texture of this piece is fascinating, and the use of a pipe organ is an excellent choice that even I wouldn't have thought of – and I'm constantly trying to find places to use pipe organs!! The writing isn't too impressive but that's not really what the point is here. It's about the texture. The organ's clearly defined place in this slippery, dreamy ensemble speaks well to its deliberate and considered implementation.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Smooch of Divine Protection
Gorgeously honest little gospel-flavored organ playing. Fun harmonic movements, fun little performance flourishes - would easily skyrocket higher up the list if not for how solidly conventional it is. When I hear the name Hirofumi Taniguchi, "conventional" is the last word I think of - would have loved to see him push it a little more here!
Track: Smooch of Divine Protection
Gorgeously honest little gospel-flavored organ playing. Fun harmonic movements, fun little performance flourishes - would easily skyrocket higher up the list if not for how solidly conventional it is. When I hear the name Hirofumi Taniguchi, "conventional" is the last word I think of - would have loved to see him push it a little more here!
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Church Prayer
Incredibly normal piece of video game organ music. It's good, but not good enough to inspire any particular feelings.
Track: Church Prayer
Incredibly normal piece of video game organ music. It's good, but not good enough to inspire any particular feelings.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Virgo
Virgo is the only track in Ace Combat 3's soundtrack that uses a pipe organ, but it's used in the single most unique way I've found in a score yet. The organ itself isn't playing anything particularly incredible, but the way it's spliced and remixed re-contextualizes the sound of an organ to be something completely new. Being so big, organs ring out in the space of the room they're in, so splicing between samples also means cutting between different points of reverberation in the room. That physical continuity of the space (or lack thereof), matched with some twisting harmonic sequences crafted by jigsaw-puzzle-shuffling-around different points of the recording, results in a fascinatingly disorienting track that only manages to remain so meticulously cohesive thanks to an astoundingly delicate hand of an obviously experienced artist. One of the most innovative sounds I've heard not just from a pipe organ, but from a video game in general.
Track: Virgo
Virgo is the only track in Ace Combat 3's soundtrack that uses a pipe organ, but it's used in the single most unique way I've found in a score yet. The organ itself isn't playing anything particularly incredible, but the way it's spliced and remixed re-contextualizes the sound of an organ to be something completely new. Being so big, organs ring out in the space of the room they're in, so splicing between samples also means cutting between different points of reverberation in the room. That physical continuity of the space (or lack thereof), matched with some twisting harmonic sequences crafted by jigsaw-puzzle-shuffling-around different points of the recording, results in a fascinatingly disorienting track that only manages to remain so meticulously cohesive thanks to an astoundingly delicate hand of an obviously experienced artist. One of the most innovative sounds I've heard not just from a pipe organ, but from a video game in general.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Cackletta Theme, Agony
Yet another villain with a pipe organ. This one at least has a pretty distinct flavor to it; it's got just a bit of a lilt to it which helps characterize Cackletta as less of an outright "villain" and more of an inconvenience. Tossing the theme around between the different registers is a great way to develop a piece that is used a lot in actual organ repertoire but not so much in games; it's nice to see it here.
Track: Cackletta Theme, Agony
Yet another villain with a pipe organ. This one at least has a pretty distinct flavor to it; it's got just a bit of a lilt to it which helps characterize Cackletta as less of an outright "villain" and more of an inconvenience. Tossing the theme around between the different registers is a great way to develop a piece that is used a lot in actual organ repertoire but not so much in games; it's nice to see it here.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Koopa Castle, The Dungeon Is Full of Monsters, Geno Awakens, Celebrational Melody, Fight Against Smithy
What's incredible about Super Mario RPG is that, even back on the SNES, it utilizes a different combination of stops for every track the pipe organ is used in (several different combinations in Fight Against Smithy)! One of them is even exclusive to a quick little jingle - I have a sneaking suspicion Yoko Shimomura is an organhead just like me. Hell, composers now in 2022 hardly take the time to use different organ stops throughout their soundtracks! This alone would be enough for me to put this pretty high in this ranking of pipe organ representation, but on top of this, the music written for the organ is also sublime. It's not particularly prevalent throughout the entire soundtrack, but whenever the organ does show up it's always a treat - well, more like a meal, and let me tell you, we're eating good.
Tracks: Koopa Castle, The Dungeon Is Full of Monsters, Geno Awakens, Celebrational Melody, Fight Against Smithy
What's incredible about Super Mario RPG is that, even back on the SNES, it utilizes a different combination of stops for every track the pipe organ is used in (several different combinations in Fight Against Smithy)! One of them is even exclusive to a quick little jingle - I have a sneaking suspicion Yoko Shimomura is an organhead just like me. Hell, composers now in 2022 hardly take the time to use different organ stops throughout their soundtracks! This alone would be enough for me to put this pretty high in this ranking of pipe organ representation, but on top of this, the music written for the organ is also sublime. It's not particularly prevalent throughout the entire soundtrack, but whenever the organ does show up it's always a treat - well, more like a meal, and let me tell you, we're eating good.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Zod's Blessing
There's some neat harmonic motions and cute melodic phrases, but nothing too poignant outside of that. Just some solid, pleasant, non-challenging organ music. Gets the job done and has a pretty fun time doing it.
Track: Zod's Blessing
There's some neat harmonic motions and cute melodic phrases, but nothing too poignant outside of that. Just some solid, pleasant, non-challenging organ music. Gets the job done and has a pretty fun time doing it.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: The Nexus, Old King Allant
Oh this is what I like. I love the room to breathe in these, the silences punctuating such powerful bellows is excellent. Gorgeously colorful yet dark writing, deliberate with its sparseness and squeamish harmonies. Despite this, the tracks are quite simple and quite short, so it's nothing that'll stick with me, but the tracks are wonderful while they're around.
Tracks: The Nexus, Old King Allant
Oh this is what I like. I love the room to breathe in these, the silences punctuating such powerful bellows is excellent. Gorgeously colorful yet dark writing, deliberate with its sparseness and squeamish harmonies. Despite this, the tracks are quite simple and quite short, so it's nothing that'll stick with me, but the tracks are wonderful while they're around.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Scutum - Cruel, Scutum - Fang, Scutum - Intertwine, Scutum - Decisive Battle
I'm not totally convinced this Scutum theme is great enough to be re-arranged so constantly throughout the soundtrack, and it certainly isn't worth keeping the game's only instances of pipe organ confined to it. The Decisive Battle iteration at least juices it up to any kind of satisfying degree, but it still isn't anything too impactful, especially compared to the Tales series' history with the instrument.
Track: Scutum - Cruel, Scutum - Fang, Scutum - Intertwine, Scutum - Decisive Battle
I'm not totally convinced this Scutum theme is great enough to be re-arranged so constantly throughout the soundtrack, and it certainly isn't worth keeping the game's only instances of pipe organ confined to it. The Decisive Battle iteration at least juices it up to any kind of satisfying degree, but it still isn't anything too impactful, especially compared to the Tales series' history with the instrument.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: At The Great Cathedral
There's some neat ear-catching harmonic shifts, but the plodding introduction featuring the organ which quickly is swept underneath a larger ensemble to continue just laying out some chords doesn't take advantage of what intrigue the piece is close to having. I can tell there's some kind of inspiration here, it's just not a whole lot.
Track: At The Great Cathedral
There's some neat ear-catching harmonic shifts, but the plodding introduction featuring the organ which quickly is swept underneath a larger ensemble to continue just laying out some chords doesn't take advantage of what intrigue the piece is close to having. I can tell there's some kind of inspiration here, it's just not a whole lot.
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Mad Monster Mansion, Inside the Mansion, Cemetery, Church Door Opens, Inside the Church
The only track here with anything going on even remotely is Inside the Church, and even then I really struggle to say it's anything of much value. The ideas behind the composition are already extraordinarily dull, and their arrangement on the organ does not invigorate it in any way.
Tracks: Mad Monster Mansion, Inside the Mansion, Cemetery, Church Door Opens, Inside the Church
The only track here with anything going on even remotely is Inside the Church, and even then I really struggle to say it's anything of much value. The ideas behind the composition are already extraordinarily dull, and their arrangement on the organ does not invigorate it in any way.
Rating: BORING
Track: Shock
"Shock" is right - how can one organist keep spinning out these ostinato figures so fast for so long?? I guess it's a pretty neat passage at least, though I'd prefer some actual organ writing.
Track: Shock
"Shock" is right - how can one organist keep spinning out these ostinato figures so fast for so long?? I guess it's a pretty neat passage at least, though I'd prefer some actual organ writing.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Castle Mu Exterior, Judge Jury and Executioner
This game wants to be so many other games so bad
Tracks: Castle Mu Exterior, Judge Jury and Executioner
This game wants to be so many other games so bad
Rating: GREAT
Track: Thee Houses Main Theme, The Crest of Flames, Arcana Code, Life at Garreg Mach Monastary, Scales of the Goddess, Garreg Mach Cathedral, The Archbishop, At What Cost?
A lot of the pipe organ's use here is to invoke this ancient, sacred sound of the past. And well, they do it in a really boring way!! The writing is flat and lifeless - which yes, that kind of stasis is exactly the kind of emotion this context calls for - but it makes for horribly dull organ writing. Fortunately, that's not all this soundtrack has to offer; whenever the organ is used outside of these situations (save for the splash of unconvincing half-committed pop flavor of Life at Garreg Mach Monastary), there's a switch that gets flipped which decides if it's going to be Poulenc/Duruflé-flavored impressionism or Franck/d'Indy-flavored Romanticism, showcased excellently in Garreg Mach Cathedral which tends to flip between them throughout the piece. The careful, considerate, conscious bridging between these two styles is the organ's stand-out moment in the soundtrack and basically the sole reason this game ranks so highly. I get the feeling this composer is just kind of showing off their vocabulary of repertoire here - but unlike most showcases of talent for the sake of itself, this one is actually grounded in some kind of genuine artistry. There's a reverence for the history of the organ and it's being applied to create something new and beautiful.
Track: Thee Houses Main Theme, The Crest of Flames, Arcana Code, Life at Garreg Mach Monastary, Scales of the Goddess, Garreg Mach Cathedral, The Archbishop, At What Cost?
A lot of the pipe organ's use here is to invoke this ancient, sacred sound of the past. And well, they do it in a really boring way!! The writing is flat and lifeless - which yes, that kind of stasis is exactly the kind of emotion this context calls for - but it makes for horribly dull organ writing. Fortunately, that's not all this soundtrack has to offer; whenever the organ is used outside of these situations (save for the splash of unconvincing half-committed pop flavor of Life at Garreg Mach Monastary), there's a switch that gets flipped which decides if it's going to be Poulenc/Duruflé-flavored impressionism or Franck/d'Indy-flavored Romanticism, showcased excellently in Garreg Mach Cathedral which tends to flip between them throughout the piece. The careful, considerate, conscious bridging between these two styles is the organ's stand-out moment in the soundtrack and basically the sole reason this game ranks so highly. I get the feeling this composer is just kind of showing off their vocabulary of repertoire here - but unlike most showcases of talent for the sake of itself, this one is actually grounded in some kind of genuine artistry. There's a reverence for the history of the organ and it's being applied to create something new and beautiful.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Thus Spoke an Alchemist
Gorgeous selection of stops here, but the writing and playing is just a little too dry for me. Not so dry as to call it "academic" but certainly leaning more that way than anything terribly expressive.
Track: Thus Spoke an Alchemist
Gorgeous selection of stops here, but the writing and playing is just a little too dry for me. Not so dry as to call it "academic" but certainly leaning more that way than anything terribly expressive.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Bloody Tears
The use of the organ in the middle of intense drum and bass is really funny. I appreciate the effort and the intention, but in this case it's just two flavors that wind up not really having anything to do with each other. The organ is used so sparingly that it feels separate from everything else, like they only included it because it's a Castlevania track so it needs an organ. Well, take a look around - Castlevania doesn't actually use the organ that often!! I suppose the difference is that Castlevania never feels obligated to use an organ the way this clearly does; what that results in is the actual Castlevania organs being much stronger showings than this one.
Track: Bloody Tears
The use of the organ in the middle of intense drum and bass is really funny. I appreciate the effort and the intention, but in this case it's just two flavors that wind up not really having anything to do with each other. The organ is used so sparingly that it feels separate from everything else, like they only included it because it's a Castlevania track so it needs an organ. Well, take a look around - Castlevania doesn't actually use the organ that often!! I suppose the difference is that Castlevania never feels obligated to use an organ the way this clearly does; what that results in is the actual Castlevania organs being much stronger showings than this one.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Granas Sanctuary
An otherworldly pristine beauty. Not even disappointed that the organ is absent for half the track, because the half it is there for is positively mystifying. Cold and withdrawn, yet reflective and sensitive.
Track: Granas Sanctuary
An otherworldly pristine beauty. Not even disappointed that the organ is absent for half the track, because the half it is there for is positively mystifying. Cold and withdrawn, yet reflective and sensitive.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Prayer for Love
It's a pretty straight arrangement of the same track from Ys III. The higher-fidelity rendering draws out more of its flaws by drawing painstaking attention to the incredibly inorganic MIDI playing. Nothing about the piece itself is any worse as far as how it's written - it's still nice organ writing - but it does feel considerably more soulless here than in the PC-88 original.
Track: Prayer for Love
It's a pretty straight arrangement of the same track from Ys III. The higher-fidelity rendering draws out more of its flaws by drawing painstaking attention to the incredibly inorganic MIDI playing. Nothing about the piece itself is any worse as far as how it's written - it's still nice organ writing - but it does feel considerably more soulless here than in the PC-88 original.
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Church Treatment, Pray at the Church
The classic Dragon Quest jingles are now on the Nintendo DS! Does that change anything? Not really!
Tracks: Church Treatment, Pray at the Church
The classic Dragon Quest jingles are now on the Nintendo DS! Does that change anything? Not really!
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: The Rebellious Spirit of A Serene Mind, Spinning the Thread of Creation
Spinning the Thread of Creation has got some really excellent excerpts tucked away inside itself. Overall the writing it's too impressive, but every now and then there's a splash of something worth paying attention to. Mostly "acceptable" with some highlights that help elevate it beyond other games with similarly standard organs.
Tracks: The Rebellious Spirit of A Serene Mind, Spinning the Thread of Creation
Spinning the Thread of Creation has got some really excellent excerpts tucked away inside itself. Overall the writing it's too impressive, but every now and then there's a splash of something worth paying attention to. Mostly "acceptable" with some highlights that help elevate it beyond other games with similarly standard organs.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Title, The Great Union, Tranquil Hill, Servants of Granada, Staff Roll
I've been vindicated! Further down this list, I mention Paladin's Quest (or Lennus 1) had the potential for incredible organ music, but it just wasn't applying itself enough. Well, now in the sequel, here we are!! The organ music here is serviceable at worst, and stunning at best. Tranquil Hill blew me back in my seat with how ethereally dazzling these chords are. For my money, it's the most unique chords to come out of an SNES pipe organ - and hopefully you can tell by this list I'm saying that with an intense familiarity in that particular subject. There's never been anything else quite like this on that console. What an absolute pleasure to discover something so pristine hidden and tucked away in a game like this.
Tracks: Title, The Great Union, Tranquil Hill, Servants of Granada, Staff Roll
I've been vindicated! Further down this list, I mention Paladin's Quest (or Lennus 1) had the potential for incredible organ music, but it just wasn't applying itself enough. Well, now in the sequel, here we are!! The organ music here is serviceable at worst, and stunning at best. Tranquil Hill blew me back in my seat with how ethereally dazzling these chords are. For my money, it's the most unique chords to come out of an SNES pipe organ - and hopefully you can tell by this list I'm saying that with an intense familiarity in that particular subject. There's never been anything else quite like this on that console. What an absolute pleasure to discover something so pristine hidden and tucked away in a game like this.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Dark Hyrule Castle
Another piece where the organ is just stagnant accompaniment. The second half is pretty evocative and uses the grandness of the instrument well, but it's too little too late. Would have loved to see the piece develop a little more.
Track: Dark Hyrule Castle
Another piece where the organ is just stagnant accompaniment. The second half is pretty evocative and uses the grandness of the instrument well, but it's too little too late. Would have loved to see the piece develop a little more.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Water Prison, Movement of Wicked Energy, The Last Moment of the Dark
It's Ys Origin, dude. We all know. I don't gotta say nothing we all know this shit goes crazy. Moving on.
Track: Water Prison, Movement of Wicked Energy, The Last Moment of the Dark
It's Ys Origin, dude. We all know. I don't gotta say nothing we all know this shit goes crazy. Moving on.
Rating: BORING
Track: Dark Sultan's Fortress, Drysand Desert Theme, Fierce Battle, Hello Divinus
Half of these play during a weirdly racist part in the game, and those are just doing some boring Banjo-Kazooie-esque swirling arpeggios and melodic doubling. The music itself is actually constructed incredibly well, but not the organ parts in particular. The other two, luckily, are not morally reprehensible, and also happen to be much better applications of the instrument. Especially Hello Divinus, which has some real sweet chords.
Track: Dark Sultan's Fortress, Drysand Desert Theme, Fierce Battle, Hello Divinus
Half of these play during a weirdly racist part in the game, and those are just doing some boring Banjo-Kazooie-esque swirling arpeggios and melodic doubling. The music itself is actually constructed incredibly well, but not the organ parts in particular. The other two, luckily, are not morally reprehensible, and also happen to be much better applications of the instrument. Especially Hello Divinus, which has some real sweet chords.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Karazhan (Opera House - Organ)
Wow! This one's really interesting. I'm not sure what its context is in the game, but it's obviously calling on some theatrical/carnival performance traditions, and pushing it really far into some bizarre harmonic and timbral places. Cool use of the instrument, if not something I'd necessarily go out of my way to listen to all the time.
Track: Karazhan (Opera House - Organ)
Wow! This one's really interesting. I'm not sure what its context is in the game, but it's obviously calling on some theatrical/carnival performance traditions, and pushing it really far into some bizarre harmonic and timbral places. Cool use of the instrument, if not something I'd necessarily go out of my way to listen to all the time.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: The Hierophant’s Palace, Unwavering Spear - Roland’s Battle
I was immediately disappointed by Hierophant's Palace - an astoundingly gorgeous piece of music that treated the pipe organ with less dignity than background furniture - only to be immediately won back over by Unwavering Spear. It's not a particularly intricate piece, but it is a beautiful use of the instrument and engages heartily with the rest of the ensemble. Pristine and majestic if not especially impressive.
Tracks: The Hierophant’s Palace, Unwavering Spear - Roland’s Battle
I was immediately disappointed by Hierophant's Palace - an astoundingly gorgeous piece of music that treated the pipe organ with less dignity than background furniture - only to be immediately won back over by Unwavering Spear. It's not a particularly intricate piece, but it is a beautiful use of the instrument and engages heartily with the rest of the ensemble. Pristine and majestic if not especially impressive.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Confession, Healing
DRAGON'S QUEST!!!!!
Tracks: Confession, Healing
DRAGON'S QUEST!!!!!
Rating: BORING
Track: In Labors & Dangers ~Fortitudo~
Once again, the organ is being used exclusively to accompany other things. This is one of the more boring instances of it though; it's basically only ever doing straight block chords, and when it does get more intricate it's simply doubling another more prevalent part.
Track: In Labors & Dangers ~Fortitudo~
Once again, the organ is being used exclusively to accompany other things. This is one of the more boring instances of it though; it's basically only ever doing straight block chords, and when it does get more intricate it's simply doubling another more prevalent part.
Rating: BAD
Track: Enshrinement
Standard organ block chords underscoring a choir. The choir is incredible, but the organ is hardly doing anything at all and offers very little to the piece. In fact, the parts without the organ tend to be the parts I like more...
Track: Enshrinement
Standard organ block chords underscoring a choir. The choir is incredible, but the organ is hardly doing anything at all and offers very little to the piece. In fact, the parts without the organ tend to be the parts I like more...
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Standing in Pain, Untold Despair, Tethe Alla Castle, Rest of the Heart, Mithos, Beat the Angel, Derris Kharian (Appear), Derris Kharian (Shrine), It Can Waver and Fight, Final Destination
Shockingly and disappointingly, the most popular Tales game does not wield the organ nearly as prolifically as some of the lesser-known titles. Other Tales games have the organ incredibly close to the heart and use it to play critical thematic roles in their soundtracks; Symphonia only brings out every now and then to play a couple simple accompaniment chords or loose melody lines. Tethe Alla Castle is a competent piece of organ writing, but otherwise this is a shameful showing compared to the absolutely legendary pipe organs of the earlier Tales games.
Tracks: Standing in Pain, Untold Despair, Tethe Alla Castle, Rest of the Heart, Mithos, Beat the Angel, Derris Kharian (Appear), Derris Kharian (Shrine), It Can Waver and Fight, Final Destination
Shockingly and disappointingly, the most popular Tales game does not wield the organ nearly as prolifically as some of the lesser-known titles. Other Tales games have the organ incredibly close to the heart and use it to play critical thematic roles in their soundtracks; Symphonia only brings out every now and then to play a couple simple accompaniment chords or loose melody lines. Tethe Alla Castle is a competent piece of organ writing, but otherwise this is a shameful showing compared to the absolutely legendary pipe organs of the earlier Tales games.
Rating: BAD
Track: Saint's Prayer
DRAGON'S QUEEEESSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Track: Saint's Prayer
DRAGON'S QUEEEESSSSSTTTTT!!!!!!!!!
Rating: BAD
Track: Final Battle
One of the least convincing organ tones I've ever heard, absurdly quiet compared to the rest of the ensemble, hardly playing anything at all... It's a tried and true recipe for a poor ranking on this list. Sorry, Sakura Wars.
Track: Final Battle
One of the least convincing organ tones I've ever heard, absurdly quiet compared to the rest of the ensemble, hardly playing anything at all... It's a tried and true recipe for a poor ranking on this list. Sorry, Sakura Wars.
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Trends of the World, Nightmare Reflected in the Mirror, A Tragic Decision
Not enough to save the Tales series' rapidly declining reputation on this list. Its use in Nightmare is cliche, in Tragic Decision it's aimless and unjustified... Can nothing revive the pipe organ's spirit in these soundtracks?
Tracks: Trends of the World, Nightmare Reflected in the Mirror, A Tragic Decision
Not enough to save the Tales series' rapidly declining reputation on this list. Its use in Nightmare is cliche, in Tragic Decision it's aimless and unjustified... Can nothing revive the pipe organ's spirit in these soundtracks?
Rating: GREAT
Track: A Fragrant Prayer, Raging Gajiru
I can't get my jaw up off the floor during either of these tracks. A Fragrant Prayer sends such red-hot chills with its delicate, warping harmonic motions, and Raging Gajiru is an onslaught of intense, swelling chords and runs that pierce through the punching, rhythmic orchestra ensemble like fireworks in an inky, cloudy night sky. Absolutely masterful arrangements composed of brilliant part writing that makes each organ appearance engrossing, enthralling, and exhilarating from the first note.
Track: A Fragrant Prayer, Raging Gajiru
I can't get my jaw up off the floor during either of these tracks. A Fragrant Prayer sends such red-hot chills with its delicate, warping harmonic motions, and Raging Gajiru is an onslaught of intense, swelling chords and runs that pierce through the punching, rhythmic orchestra ensemble like fireworks in an inky, cloudy night sky. Absolutely masterful arrangements composed of brilliant part writing that makes each organ appearance engrossing, enthralling, and exhilarating from the first note.
Rating: GOOD
Context: A puzzle near the end of the game
Koudelka, despite being a horror-themed RPG, does not feature a pipe organ anywhere in its soundtrack. Which is pretty funny - RPGs and horror games are the genres people probably most expect to be using those!! Well, not Koudelka - at least, not in its music. Towards the end of the game is a large, decrepit pipe organ that is used to solve a puzzle, which when solved rings out a single cluster chord slam that reverberates out through the room. The puzzle, as the game describes it, involves looking at the "keys" on the organ and "pushing" the ones that have specified markings on them. The reason I use quotation marks is because there are some pretty incredulous errors here: the "keys" they're referring to are the pipe organ's stops, and stops are not "pushed," they're pulled!! For how hyper-attentive the descriptions are for everything else in this game, I simply do not accept that the localization team saw the word "organ" in some compiled spreadsheet of text and assumed it was referring to the keyboard. The entire rest of the game could not have been written so intricately if this was the case. The only conclusion I have to come to is that they simply do not understand how pipe organs work. To make matters worse, the puzzle has to do with markings etched and scratched into the pipe organ's stops, which along with its decayed state is a tragic, gory sight for any organ aficionado. The thing is covered in dust, all the pipes are bent, there's a massive plant growing all around it so it must be horribly humid in that room, warping the wood and metal the instrument is made out of which at best would make it horribly detuned or at worse completely inoperable, plus the aforementioned damage on the stops. Human corpses are littered around Koudelka almost as commonly as the very walls and ceilings the rooms are made of, but I did not expect to be faced with a corpse of something even more morbid.
So, then, you may be wondering: why is something so inhumane ranked so highly on the list? Well, the answer is quite simple. It's a really cool set piece!!
Context: A puzzle near the end of the game
Koudelka, despite being a horror-themed RPG, does not feature a pipe organ anywhere in its soundtrack. Which is pretty funny - RPGs and horror games are the genres people probably most expect to be using those!! Well, not Koudelka - at least, not in its music. Towards the end of the game is a large, decrepit pipe organ that is used to solve a puzzle, which when solved rings out a single cluster chord slam that reverberates out through the room. The puzzle, as the game describes it, involves looking at the "keys" on the organ and "pushing" the ones that have specified markings on them. The reason I use quotation marks is because there are some pretty incredulous errors here: the "keys" they're referring to are the pipe organ's stops, and stops are not "pushed," they're pulled!! For how hyper-attentive the descriptions are for everything else in this game, I simply do not accept that the localization team saw the word "organ" in some compiled spreadsheet of text and assumed it was referring to the keyboard. The entire rest of the game could not have been written so intricately if this was the case. The only conclusion I have to come to is that they simply do not understand how pipe organs work. To make matters worse, the puzzle has to do with markings etched and scratched into the pipe organ's stops, which along with its decayed state is a tragic, gory sight for any organ aficionado. The thing is covered in dust, all the pipes are bent, there's a massive plant growing all around it so it must be horribly humid in that room, warping the wood and metal the instrument is made out of which at best would make it horribly detuned or at worse completely inoperable, plus the aforementioned damage on the stops. Human corpses are littered around Koudelka almost as commonly as the very walls and ceilings the rooms are made of, but I did not expect to be faced with a corpse of something even more morbid.
So, then, you may be wondering: why is something so inhumane ranked so highly on the list? Well, the answer is quite simple. It's a really cool set piece!!
Rating: GOOD
Track: Church
This track in Sanitarium is at once comforting and disquieting, warm and cold. It's one of the more nuanced emotions I've heard come out of an organ and greatly uses the sensitive characteristics of the instrument to its benefit in achieving this.
Track: Church
This track in Sanitarium is at once comforting and disquieting, warm and cold. It's one of the more nuanced emotions I've heard come out of an organ and greatly uses the sensitive characteristics of the instrument to its benefit in achieving this.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Will and Reason, The Empyrean's Throne, Kanonushi the Fifth Empyrean
The pipe organ in this is alright! Will and Reason is fine. The other tracks are pretty lacking, but there's enough going on in Will and Reason to keep it from ranking too poorly, but also not nearly enough to save the Tales series' quickly diminishing reputation on this list.
Tracks: Will and Reason, The Empyrean's Throne, Kanonushi the Fifth Empyrean
The pipe organ in this is alright! Will and Reason is fine. The other tracks are pretty lacking, but there's enough going on in Will and Reason to keep it from ranking too poorly, but also not nearly enough to save the Tales series' quickly diminishing reputation on this list.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Witchy World - Haunted Zone, Witchy World - Dodgem Dome Lobby
The introductions to these Witchy World zones have some charm to them, but after that the organ is relegated to pure, flat, stagnant block chord accompaniment. Totally lifeless.
Tracks: Witchy World - Haunted Zone, Witchy World - Dodgem Dome Lobby
The introductions to these Witchy World zones have some charm to them, but after that the organ is relegated to pure, flat, stagnant block chord accompaniment. Totally lifeless.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: The Prayer of a Tragic Queen, Pressure, Theme of Simon
I'll admit that these organs are not quite so clearly defined as Crusader of Centy's - they sound as if they could just as well be replaced with strings or a harpsichord or whatever else. With Crusader of Centy as a comparison, we can know this falls not on the Genesis' sound chip, but with the way these pieces were written. The music is great, but for this to have ranked higher they would need to be written and structured in a way more authentic and unique to an organ as opposed to anything else.
Tracks: The Prayer of a Tragic Queen, Pressure, Theme of Simon
I'll admit that these organs are not quite so clearly defined as Crusader of Centy's - they sound as if they could just as well be replaced with strings or a harpsichord or whatever else. With Crusader of Centy as a comparison, we can know this falls not on the Genesis' sound chip, but with the way these pieces were written. The music is great, but for this to have ranked higher they would need to be written and structured in a way more authentic and unique to an organ as opposed to anything else.
Rating: BORING
Track: Boo Lake
It sure does use a pipe organ for a couple measures. It doesn't do anything particularly "wrong," but it is embarrassingly short and tediously superficial.
Track: Boo Lake
It sure does use a pipe organ for a couple measures. It doesn't do anything particularly "wrong," but it is embarrassingly short and tediously superficial.
Rating: GOOD
Track: The Last Battle
As far as SNES organs are concerned, this one is pretty weak. The tone is limp and the writing is straight and utilitarian - not bad writing by any definition, but compared to its contemporaries in Final Fantasy VI and Live A Live, it can't even find a candle to try and hold in the first place. We do at least get some fun interplay between the organ and the rest of the orchestra here - usually these pieces are written in a way where the organ winds up being separate from the rest of the ensemble. It feels like it really belongs in the space here and is engaging with the material in some kind of meaningful way.
Track: The Last Battle
As far as SNES organs are concerned, this one is pretty weak. The tone is limp and the writing is straight and utilitarian - not bad writing by any definition, but compared to its contemporaries in Final Fantasy VI and Live A Live, it can't even find a candle to try and hold in the first place. We do at least get some fun interplay between the organ and the rest of the orchestra here - usually these pieces are written in a way where the organ winds up being separate from the rest of the ensemble. It feels like it really belongs in the space here and is engaging with the material in some kind of meaningful way.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: God's Country, Fight with a Miler
The pipe organ in this game is... almost bashful? It uses principal stops but they're the quietest, most timid principal stops I've heard in my life. This is the gutsiest tone an organ can have, but here they're totally gutless. I've listened to this soundtrack many times in the past few years without even noticing it used pipe organs at all until I checked it for this list, that's how subdued its texture is. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing on its own - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks ranks quite high on this list for doing something very similar, in fact. The issue here is that Popolocrois' organ is never used to accomplish anything meaningful. It's always hidden in the mix and just sitting on some accompaniment chords that are usually made redundant by the rest of the rhythm section. It's a shame; this soundtrack is gorgeous and its organ tone is fascinating. Had it only used the organ with a more deliberate hand this would easily place somewhere in the top half of this list, but unfortunately the pipe organ seems to be one of this soundtrack's few weak points.
Tracks: God's Country, Fight with a Miler
The pipe organ in this game is... almost bashful? It uses principal stops but they're the quietest, most timid principal stops I've heard in my life. This is the gutsiest tone an organ can have, but here they're totally gutless. I've listened to this soundtrack many times in the past few years without even noticing it used pipe organs at all until I checked it for this list, that's how subdued its texture is. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing on its own - The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks ranks quite high on this list for doing something very similar, in fact. The issue here is that Popolocrois' organ is never used to accomplish anything meaningful. It's always hidden in the mix and just sitting on some accompaniment chords that are usually made redundant by the rest of the rhythm section. It's a shame; this soundtrack is gorgeous and its organ tone is fascinating. Had it only used the organ with a more deliberate hand this would easily place somewhere in the top half of this list, but unfortunately the pipe organ seems to be one of this soundtrack's few weak points.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Catacomb of the Sage Ra'a, The Mad Priest Roein, Spirit Parasite Melzas
The highlight here is of course Spirit Parasite Melzas. The organ isn't around for terribly long, but it is an exceptionally inspired passage that leaves an indelible impression. The Mad Priest Roein similarly throws around some chillingly profound chords like it's no big deal. Could we expect anything less from Kohei Tanaka? One of the best in the business. It's just a shame the pipe organ isn't used more frequently; the themes in this game definitely could have benefited from it.
Tracks: Catacomb of the Sage Ra'a, The Mad Priest Roein, Spirit Parasite Melzas
The highlight here is of course Spirit Parasite Melzas. The organ isn't around for terribly long, but it is an exceptionally inspired passage that leaves an indelible impression. The Mad Priest Roein similarly throws around some chillingly profound chords like it's no big deal. Could we expect anything less from Kohei Tanaka? One of the best in the business. It's just a shame the pipe organ isn't used more frequently; the themes in this game definitely could have benefited from it.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Jakyou no Yakata, Devils Fusion, Terminal Point
Rich, powerful, profound counterpoint as expected of a Jakyou track in a Shin Megami Tensei game. The other two tracks unfortunately, while carrying an appropriate gravitas, are just a little on the grating side. Something about the tone of the organ and the pitches being sustained for so long just doesn't sit perfectly well.
Tracks: Jakyou no Yakata, Devils Fusion, Terminal Point
Rich, powerful, profound counterpoint as expected of a Jakyou track in a Shin Megami Tensei game. The other two tracks unfortunately, while carrying an appropriate gravitas, are just a little on the grating side. Something about the tone of the organ and the pitches being sustained for so long just doesn't sit perfectly well.
Rating: BORING
Track: Golbez, Clad in Darkness
This most generic iteration of "A Bad Guy Theme That Sounds Menacing With a Pipe Organ." It does what it needs to do, but what it needs to do is nothing worth paying attention to.
Track: Golbez, Clad in Darkness
This most generic iteration of "A Bad Guy Theme That Sounds Menacing With a Pipe Organ." It does what it needs to do, but what it needs to do is nothing worth paying attention to.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Fade Into Darkside, Carpet
Fade Into Darkside has a great little opening phrase with the organ, but then it's dropped for the rest of the piece; meanwhile, Carpet is all organ all the time, but it's pretty standard fare of a bunch of chromatic mediants signposting the typical dark, oppressive sound expected of a pipe organ for a final boss. Luckily, the absolute impact of those organ chords at the start of Fade Into Darkside are such a shock at the immediate tone shift the game goes through that it still winds up being an inspired inclusion, and the chord voicings and extensions in Carpet manage to be considerate and fulfilling. Monster World IV's soundtrack is incredible and though the organ very nearly falls into the typical pitfalls, enough charm still finds its way into these to maintain character - and indeed, they're quite iconic in their own right.
Tracks: Fade Into Darkside, Carpet
Fade Into Darkside has a great little opening phrase with the organ, but then it's dropped for the rest of the piece; meanwhile, Carpet is all organ all the time, but it's pretty standard fare of a bunch of chromatic mediants signposting the typical dark, oppressive sound expected of a pipe organ for a final boss. Luckily, the absolute impact of those organ chords at the start of Fade Into Darkside are such a shock at the immediate tone shift the game goes through that it still winds up being an inspired inclusion, and the chord voicings and extensions in Carpet manage to be considerate and fulfilling. Monster World IV's soundtrack is incredible and though the organ very nearly falls into the typical pitfalls, enough charm still finds its way into these to maintain character - and indeed, they're quite iconic in their own right.
Rating: GREAT
Track: The Sanctum
Emancipate the dissonance, baby. Where so much of this list is swallowed up by Baroque- and Romantic-flavored music, this is something a lot more modern. It's not like we're on the verge of Ligeti here, but this certainly is along the lines of the kind of stuff contemporary organists would be playing in our current post-Dupré world. Uematsu's got his pulse on a lot more music scenes than he lets on, it seems!! That, or contemporary organ music has a lot more in common with other contemporary music genres than we (I) give it credit for, which is also strikingly likely. Either way, this rules. Thank you.
Track: The Sanctum
Emancipate the dissonance, baby. Where so much of this list is swallowed up by Baroque- and Romantic-flavored music, this is something a lot more modern. It's not like we're on the verge of Ligeti here, but this certainly is along the lines of the kind of stuff contemporary organists would be playing in our current post-Dupré world. Uematsu's got his pulse on a lot more music scenes than he lets on, it seems!! That, or contemporary organ music has a lot more in common with other contemporary music genres than we (I) give it credit for, which is also strikingly likely. Either way, this rules. Thank you.
9 Comments
8/26/2022 - just hit 150 entries....... PIPE ORGAN LIST WILL NEVER DIE!!!
1/11/2023 - 200 entries and going strong. PIPE ORGAN LIST WILL NEVER DIE!!!
As a fledgling composer, fucking incredible list and the best list I've seen on this website so far. Following for this alone so I don't lose this list.
this list fucking rules. LOVE your notes. amazing
@DIOXYRIBOSE thank you so much
This is it. The greatest list on all of Backloggd.
Funbil
1 year ago