PIPE ORGANS RANKED + REVIEWED
The professional opinion of a non-professional organist
201 Games
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Cockatrice, Death Crawler, Castle of the Emperor, Astaroth
Astaroth is alright.
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IDK! There isn't really anything going on at all here. It's maybe the most bog-standard implementation of a pipe organ in a Halloween-flavored game out there. Astaroth is alright.
Tracks: Cockatrice, Death Crawler, Castle of the Emperor, Astaroth
Astaroth is alright.
...
...
IDK! There isn't really anything going on at all here. It's maybe the most bog-standard implementation of a pipe organ in a Halloween-flavored game out there. Astaroth is alright.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Sky Palace, Fillmoa
Some of the juiciest chords you'll find for the organ in any game. Yuzo Koshiro really knows how to squeeze the sound out of this thing - the organ's place in this soundtrack is meaningful and deliberate. Incredible and effective writing.
Tracks: Sky Palace, Fillmoa
Some of the juiciest chords you'll find for the organ in any game. Yuzo Koshiro really knows how to squeeze the sound out of this thing - the organ's place in this soundtrack is meaningful and deliberate. Incredible and effective writing.
Rating: BAD
Track: Decisive Battle
Just a few bars of generic pipe organ noodling that pops up throughout the track every now and then to signify that an evil character is on screen. Embarrassing.
Track: Decisive Battle
Just a few bars of generic pipe organ noodling that pops up throughout the track every now and then to signify that an evil character is on screen. Embarrassing.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Toccata
Pretty relaxed for a toccata... Not bad at all though. I'm a fan of the flute stops midway through too, you know I like those more gentle tones. It's clear this was written by someone who isn't too intimately familiar with organ music, but an honest attempt was made and it achieves what it needs to achieve.
Track: Toccata
Pretty relaxed for a toccata... Not bad at all though. I'm a fan of the flute stops midway through too, you know I like those more gentle tones. It's clear this was written by someone who isn't too intimately familiar with organ music, but an honest attempt was made and it achieves what it needs to achieve.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Watchtower, Mysterious Coffin, First Struggle, Underground Waterway, Malus Reappears, Toothed Wheel, Third Struggle - Dance of Illusions, Melodies of Castlevania
Further down on this list I'll be complaining a lot about the pipe organ being used purely for accompaniment purposes - I need to express that those are examples of the pipe organ being used as an accompaniment instrument poorly. This is how to do it right. It's rare for the organ to have any solo segments for it to show off here (though they're great moments the few times it does happen) so most of the time it's simply a part of the larger ensemble. Though even when it's relocated to just these background textures, it still finds ways to poke through and add something to the conversation. Sometimes it's a strangely produced tone, sometimes it's rhythmically slamming down on chords to provide an extra layer of forward driving momentum, or sometimes it really is simply sitting square on some block chords - which still finds a way to be interesting just by the virtue of how the rest of the ensemble dances around the organ being so firmly planted in the ground. Oftentimes the pipe organ being in situations like this winds up feeling bland and inconsequential, but here it always plays a vital role and helps add to a sound that winds up being more than the sum of its parts. Some of the later entries in this list might make it seem like I despise the pipe organ being stuck as a supporting role - this is not true. It simply needs to be treated with the same consideration and respect in that role like any other instrument would be shown, as it is here in Castlevania 64.
Tracks: Watchtower, Mysterious Coffin, First Struggle, Underground Waterway, Malus Reappears, Toothed Wheel, Third Struggle - Dance of Illusions, Melodies of Castlevania
Further down on this list I'll be complaining a lot about the pipe organ being used purely for accompaniment purposes - I need to express that those are examples of the pipe organ being used as an accompaniment instrument poorly. This is how to do it right. It's rare for the organ to have any solo segments for it to show off here (though they're great moments the few times it does happen) so most of the time it's simply a part of the larger ensemble. Though even when it's relocated to just these background textures, it still finds ways to poke through and add something to the conversation. Sometimes it's a strangely produced tone, sometimes it's rhythmically slamming down on chords to provide an extra layer of forward driving momentum, or sometimes it really is simply sitting square on some block chords - which still finds a way to be interesting just by the virtue of how the rest of the ensemble dances around the organ being so firmly planted in the ground. Oftentimes the pipe organ being in situations like this winds up feeling bland and inconsequential, but here it always plays a vital role and helps add to a sound that winds up being more than the sum of its parts. Some of the later entries in this list might make it seem like I despise the pipe organ being stuck as a supporting role - this is not true. It simply needs to be treated with the same consideration and respect in that role like any other instrument would be shown, as it is here in Castlevania 64.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: The Man
An unsatisfying attempt at trying to bridge the gap between the Baroque era and rock music - unfortunately it falls a little flat by stifling the expressiveness of Baroque counterpoint so any particular lead instrument can do some fast runs over top of big, fat block chords from the organ and rhythm section. The organ isn't pulling much weight and, by trying to juggle two flavors at once, the piece clearly seems to favor one flavor over the other. The rock elements are fine, but it's substandard writing for the organ.
Track: The Man
An unsatisfying attempt at trying to bridge the gap between the Baroque era and rock music - unfortunately it falls a little flat by stifling the expressiveness of Baroque counterpoint so any particular lead instrument can do some fast runs over top of big, fat block chords from the organ and rhythm section. The organ isn't pulling much weight and, by trying to juggle two flavors at once, the piece clearly seems to favor one flavor over the other. The rock elements are fine, but it's substandard writing for the organ.
Rating: BAD
Track: Saint's Prayer
The jingle is iconic, but woefully boring.
Track: Saint's Prayer
The jingle is iconic, but woefully boring.
Rating: BAD
Tracks: Chateau d'Oraguille, Castle Zvahl
Man! As far as organs sitting around not doing anything are concerned, this one is particularly lethargic. Literal minutes on end of just droning out a pedal tone and only every now and then does it shift to a different chord. The Chateau at least gets a few moments of, uh, actual writing, but it's so lacking in any meaning that it's still just as wearisome as anything else the organ does in this soundtrack. Shameful.
Tracks: Chateau d'Oraguille, Castle Zvahl
Man! As far as organs sitting around not doing anything are concerned, this one is particularly lethargic. Literal minutes on end of just droning out a pedal tone and only every now and then does it shift to a different chord. The Chateau at least gets a few moments of, uh, actual writing, but it's so lacking in any meaning that it's still just as wearisome as anything else the organ does in this soundtrack. Shameful.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Perverse Religion, Who is Good or Evil?, I Miss You
One of the most shrill, unrefined organ tones on the Super Nintendo surely, which is why the absolute majesty and power of Perverse Religion in particular is so surprising. I'd have a hard time pointing you towards a worse organ sample in such a mainstream game, but I'd also have a have a hard time pointing you towards too much video game organ music better than this (though of course, by looking at this list, I suppose that's exactly what's happening). There's a lot of love being shown to the pedal board here, which is great to see - this pipe organ might be a little tinny but the sound down in that lower register is full and rich and massive. Perverse Religion is also one of the more technical pieces on this list, taking full advantage of just how much mobility an organ player has on such a large instrument. Magnificent.
Tracks: Perverse Religion, Who is Good or Evil?, I Miss You
One of the most shrill, unrefined organ tones on the Super Nintendo surely, which is why the absolute majesty and power of Perverse Religion in particular is so surprising. I'd have a hard time pointing you towards a worse organ sample in such a mainstream game, but I'd also have a have a hard time pointing you towards too much video game organ music better than this (though of course, by looking at this list, I suppose that's exactly what's happening). There's a lot of love being shown to the pedal board here, which is great to see - this pipe organ might be a little tinny but the sound down in that lower register is full and rich and massive. Perverse Religion is also one of the more technical pieces on this list, taking full advantage of just how much mobility an organ player has on such a large instrument. Magnificent.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Opening/Alter of Skorn, Select Character, Desecrated Temple/Ending, Battle Fortress
I'm not sure how to describe this but the 3D Gauntlet games look and sound like they smell bad. I wish I could explain what that means. Anyways, the organ music here isn't that impressive. There's one melodic figure that keeps coming back between Select Character and the Ending that's pretty fun, and it's arranged very nicely in the Ending, but overall it just doesn't inspire very much. Inoffensive, sure; exciting, no.
Tracks: Opening/Alter of Skorn, Select Character, Desecrated Temple/Ending, Battle Fortress
I'm not sure how to describe this but the 3D Gauntlet games look and sound like they smell bad. I wish I could explain what that means. Anyways, the organ music here isn't that impressive. There's one melodic figure that keeps coming back between Select Character and the Ending that's pretty fun, and it's arranged very nicely in the Ending, but overall it just doesn't inspire very much. Inoffensive, sure; exciting, no.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Solemn Castle, Sanctuary, Leon ~Victim of Fate~
Solemn Castle really takes the cake here; Sanctuary is little more than a bunch of scale runs and Leon's sitting on our tried and true long, stagnant block chord accompaniment technique. It's a good thing, in that case, that Solemn Castle is absolutely gorgeous; a little simple and predictable, and not really doing much that utilizes any unique qualities of the organ, but this little motive of constantly landing on then resolving off of non-chord tones really helps lean into the heart-squeezing largeness of this organ's sound.
Tracks: Solemn Castle, Sanctuary, Leon ~Victim of Fate~
Solemn Castle really takes the cake here; Sanctuary is little more than a bunch of scale runs and Leon's sitting on our tried and true long, stagnant block chord accompaniment technique. It's a good thing, in that case, that Solemn Castle is absolutely gorgeous; a little simple and predictable, and not really doing much that utilizes any unique qualities of the organ, but this little motive of constantly landing on then resolving off of non-chord tones really helps lean into the heart-squeezing largeness of this organ's sound.
Rating: BORING
Track: Credits
You'd think a game about Dracula would use the pipe organ more often! Well, I suppose they normally do - just not D. It doesn't appear until right at the very end, about halfway through the credits, and then it just keeps repeating this little rock riff over and over again - and that riff isn't especially inspired, either. A poor display.
Track: Credits
You'd think a game about Dracula would use the pipe organ more often! Well, I suppose they normally do - just not D. It doesn't appear until right at the very end, about halfway through the credits, and then it just keeps repeating this little rock riff over and over again - and that riff isn't especially inspired, either. A poor display.
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
Track: Ancient Disputation
@ all you video game composers who want to use a pipe organ just for insanely fast Baroque/rock-fusion licks: this is how to do it right.
Track: Ancient Disputation
@ all you video game composers who want to use a pipe organ just for insanely fast Baroque/rock-fusion licks: this is how to do it right.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Dungeon of Torment (Intro), Alter of Skorne 1 (Intro), Alter of Skorne 2 (Intro), Alter of Skorne 2, Haunted Cemetary, Mausoleum (Intro), Mausoleum, Gates of the Underworld
Wow, this sure is a whole lot of organ music that sounds basically identical! Sometimes we'll get some more bespoke passages, but mostly we're dealing with some Bach-flavored scalar runs. Alter of Skorn 2 is probably the best use of the pipe organ on this soundtrack, but even then it's not doing things too terribly different from the other tracks, it's just a more structurally cohesive piece.
Tracks: Dungeon of Torment (Intro), Alter of Skorne 1 (Intro), Alter of Skorne 2 (Intro), Alter of Skorne 2, Haunted Cemetary, Mausoleum (Intro), Mausoleum, Gates of the Underworld
Wow, this sure is a whole lot of organ music that sounds basically identical! Sometimes we'll get some more bespoke passages, but mostly we're dealing with some Bach-flavored scalar runs. Alter of Skorn 2 is probably the best use of the pipe organ on this soundtrack, but even then it's not doing things too terribly different from the other tracks, it's just a more structurally cohesive piece.
Rating: BAD
Track: Cave Background
Used for some chromatic mediants right at the start before beginning to actually open up into some harmonic phrases that seem like they're going somewhere, but then stops dead in its tracks and lets a completely different ensemble take over. Sorry, Runescape: stagnant chromatic mediant block chords go at the bottom of the list.
Track: Cave Background
Used for some chromatic mediants right at the start before beginning to actually open up into some harmonic phrases that seem like they're going somewhere, but then stops dead in its tracks and lets a completely different ensemble take over. Sorry, Runescape: stagnant chromatic mediant block chords go at the bottom of the list.
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 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
Track: Palace of Peace
One of the first instances of truly great organ music in a video game. The immaculate counterpoint and development of themes makes the underwhelming Genesis sound chip sing with an unmistakably Baroque sensibility, and it is beautiful.
Track: Palace of Peace
One of the first instances of truly great organ music in a video game. The immaculate counterpoint and development of themes makes the underwhelming Genesis sound chip sing with an unmistakably Baroque sensibility, and it is beautiful.
Ranking: GOOD
Track: Hotel Gomaden
As always, gorgeous counterpoint being displayed in a Shin Megami Tensei game. Something about this feels a little more dry and academic compared to other Shin Megami Tensei titles, it doesn't tug at the heart as much as the others, but it's still beautiful and impeccably structured.
Track: Hotel Gomaden
As always, gorgeous counterpoint being displayed in a Shin Megami Tensei game. Something about this feels a little more dry and academic compared to other Shin Megami Tensei titles, it doesn't tug at the heart as much as the others, but it's still beautiful and impeccably structured.
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: BAD
Tracks: Confession, Healing
DRAGON'S QUEST!!!!!
Tracks: Confession, Healing
DRAGON'S QUEST!!!!!
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: GREAT
Tracks: Solemnity
I feel similarly about this as I did Fortuna Shrine from Tales of Destiny 2. Masterfully powerful chords, aggressively beautiful tone; it's just a little more conventional than Fortuna Shrine, and is only a single track where Tales of Destiny 2 had more than I can remember off the top of my head. The fact that the two games' pipe organs can be compared is higher praise than anything else I could bother saying.
Tracks: Solemnity
I feel similarly about this as I did Fortuna Shrine from Tales of Destiny 2. Masterfully powerful chords, aggressively beautiful tone; it's just a little more conventional than Fortuna Shrine, and is only a single track where Tales of Destiny 2 had more than I can remember off the top of my head. The fact that the two games' pipe organs can be compared is higher praise than anything else I could bother saying.
Rating: BORING
Track: Day of Memories
In a tricky flip of the script, where most games relegate the pipe organ to a lifeless background texture, this game manages to relegate the pipe organ to a lifeless foreground texture. It's honking out a little melodic line that doesn't utilize any unique or meaningful characteristics of the pipe organ at all besides the fact that it has a cultural association with spooky stuff.
Track: Day of Memories
In a tricky flip of the script, where most games relegate the pipe organ to a lifeless background texture, this game manages to relegate the pipe organ to a lifeless foreground texture. It's honking out a little melodic line that doesn't utilize any unique or meaningful characteristics of the pipe organ at all besides the fact that it has a cultural association with spooky stuff.
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: PERFECT
Track: Church
I'll go on to later explain that Suikoden I's pipe organ music reached my heart, and Suikoden II's reached my brain; this reaches both equally. Astonishingly thoughtful, evocative, deliberate, intelligent, heart-felt... In a word, unbelievable.
Track: Church
I'll go on to later explain that Suikoden I's pipe organ music reached my heart, and Suikoden II's reached my brain; this reaches both equally. Astonishingly thoughtful, evocative, deliberate, intelligent, heart-felt... In a word, unbelievable.
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: Spirits' Chapel, Rotting Forest
I'm really into how weird and meandering this is! I can imagine some Nostalgia Critic-imitator trying to punch up how "dissonant" this is (secretly revealing how boring their music taste is), but I mean, it works! It sets an excellently off-putting, uneasy tone. A pipe organ in a Dracula game isn't an especially novel idea but these unconventional progressions and voicings are pretty neat.
Track: Spirits' Chapel, Rotting Forest
I'm really into how weird and meandering this is! I can imagine some Nostalgia Critic-imitator trying to punch up how "dissonant" this is (secretly revealing how boring their music taste is), but I mean, it works! It sets an excellently off-putting, uneasy tone. A pipe organ in a Dracula game isn't an especially novel idea but these unconventional progressions and voicings are pretty neat.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: God's Baptism, Shrine
Wow! Surprisingly intricate, authentic pipe organ music on this very early Genesis game. It's nothing that especially blows me away, but it is very pleasant and excellently arranged - especially considering the hardware.
Tracks: God's Baptism, Shrine
Wow! Surprisingly intricate, authentic pipe organ music on this very early Genesis game. It's nothing that especially blows me away, but it is very pleasant and excellently arranged - especially considering the hardware.
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: NEUTRAL
Track: Church
The organ only appears here in short little burst, but they are fascinating little bursts, though they're also just a little repetitive. It gets the job done though!
Track: Church
The organ only appears here in short little burst, but they are fascinating little bursts, though they're also just a little repetitive. It gets the job done though!
Rating: GOOD
Track: Prayer for Love
These PC-88 games are pretty tough to pin down as far as their uses of the pipe organ (I decided to omit Ys I and II from this list because they were just a bit too vague) but this one feels pretty clear. The writing here is emblematic of typical pipe organ fare, though with the distinction that it was doing them before other video games had much of a chance to! Organ writing doesn't seem to be Yuzo Koshiro's particular strong suit, but he's such a phenomenal composer that this track wind up being great anyways even if it's not especially authentic or showcasing the nuance of the instrument.
Track: Prayer for Love
These PC-88 games are pretty tough to pin down as far as their uses of the pipe organ (I decided to omit Ys I and II from this list because they were just a bit too vague) but this one feels pretty clear. The writing here is emblematic of typical pipe organ fare, though with the distinction that it was doing them before other video games had much of a chance to! Organ writing doesn't seem to be Yuzo Koshiro's particular strong suit, but he's such a phenomenal composer that this track wind up being great anyways even if it's not especially authentic or showcasing the nuance of the instrument.
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: BORING
Track: Awakening the Order of Phoenix
Every time the organ shows up here is just to reiterate a loose phrase that keeps reappearing throughout the track - the phrase is not especially interesting, and the instances of it on the organ do not particularly warrant the instrument's use. To me this sounds like someone trying to write something that sounds inspired without the inspiration.
Track: Awakening the Order of Phoenix
Every time the organ shows up here is just to reiterate a loose phrase that keeps reappearing throughout the track - the phrase is not especially interesting, and the instances of it on the organ do not particularly warrant the instrument's use. To me this sounds like someone trying to write something that sounds inspired without the inspiration.
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: 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: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Time Is Warped in This Crumbling Frozen Old Castle, Death Curse, Boss Battle Ends, Entering Dark Astaroth Area, Dark Astaroth
There's some nice moments here, particularly with Entering Dark Astaroth Area, but for the most part this is all playing pretty strictly by the book. Not as egregiously bland as other games that play their pipe organs so safe, but there is a distinct lack of any particular character here.
Tracks: Time Is Warped in This Crumbling Frozen Old Castle, Death Curse, Boss Battle Ends, Entering Dark Astaroth Area, Dark Astaroth
There's some nice moments here, particularly with Entering Dark Astaroth Area, but for the most part this is all playing pretty strictly by the book. Not as egregiously bland as other games that play their pipe organs so safe, but there is a distinct lack of any particular character here.
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Elegy, Ghosts
Not much to care about in this one. Sounds like someone whose only experience with this kind of music comes from other video games. Aimless.
Tracks: Elegy, Ghosts
Not much to care about in this one. Sounds like someone whose only experience with this kind of music comes from other video games. Aimless.
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Opening, Red Arremer Appears, Citadel Approach, Astaroth Appears, Final Boss Battle, Final Boss Defeated, Credits (Secret Ending)
Any presence the pipe organ typically commands has been sand-papered down to a mushy gelatin that slips between the teeth of these tracks. The only time the pipe organ has any kind of significance at all is during Astaroth Appears, every other time it's just a part of an obligatory backdrop. Yawn.
Tracks: Opening, Red Arremer Appears, Citadel Approach, Astaroth Appears, Final Boss Battle, Final Boss Defeated, Credits (Secret Ending)
Any presence the pipe organ typically commands has been sand-papered down to a mushy gelatin that slips between the teeth of these tracks. The only time the pipe organ has any kind of significance at all is during Astaroth Appears, every other time it's just a part of an obligatory backdrop. Yawn.
Rating: GOOD
Track: The Force of a True Ancestor
Nice!! Great interplay between the organ and orchestra, the melismatic runs are dynamic and exciting, awesomely large and powerful chords, this is delicious. It's just a bit typical and lacking in full-fledged part writing, but what's here is great for what it is.
Track: The Force of a True Ancestor
Nice!! Great interplay between the organ and orchestra, the melismatic runs are dynamic and exciting, awesomely large and powerful chords, this is delicious. It's just a bit typical and lacking in full-fledged part writing, but what's here is great for what it is.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Treasure Box, Theme of Kefin II, Crime and Punishment, Wicked Pleasure (Intro)
Once again, the SNES gifts us with one of the absolute best pieces of organ writing in the history of the medium. Crime and Punishment is a powerhouse of a track, constantly weaving between themes, tones, and emotions to build a sprawling tapestry of pure artistry and raw passion. The organ's role is less significant in the other tracks, but it's always beautifully incorporated, and Crime and Punishment more than makes up for those other less-substantial outings.
Tracks: Treasure Box, Theme of Kefin II, Crime and Punishment, Wicked Pleasure (Intro)
Once again, the SNES gifts us with one of the absolute best pieces of organ writing in the history of the medium. Crime and Punishment is a powerhouse of a track, constantly weaving between themes, tones, and emotions to build a sprawling tapestry of pure artistry and raw passion. The organ's role is less significant in the other tracks, but it's always beautifully incorporated, and Crime and Punishment more than makes up for those other less-substantial outings.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: The GOD bites own lip in chagrin, The Cat Attached to the Rust
Interesting genre combinations here! The Cat Attached to the Rust uses the pipe organ alongside a folksy combination of acoustic guitar and whistling to invoke this kind of mish-mashed Americana style, half-parts bluegrass and half-parts gospel. It's really pretty! The organ writing here is simple but effective, and its place in the ensemble is unique - one of the more inspired creative decisions on this list!
Tracks: The GOD bites own lip in chagrin, The Cat Attached to the Rust
Interesting genre combinations here! The Cat Attached to the Rust uses the pipe organ alongside a folksy combination of acoustic guitar and whistling to invoke this kind of mish-mashed Americana style, half-parts bluegrass and half-parts gospel. It's really pretty! The organ writing here is simple but effective, and its place in the ensemble is unique - one of the more inspired creative decisions on this list!
Rating: BORING
Tracks: Holy Sanctuary, Kaymat - Twisted Reunion
These organ tracks are so close to being phenomenal, but they just never exert themselves. Holy Sanctuary feels like it's constantly vamping towards something that would undoubtedly be beautiful, but it never quite gets there - and while that very well may be the point, it doesn't change the fact that the organ writing is completely void of any expression. Similar situation with Kaymat, where the intriguing organ introduction implies further development on this idea, but we never see the organ ever again. The music in this soundtrack is impressive, if it had only used the pipe organ more liberally it could have easily stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the many legendary SNES pipe organs.
Tracks: Holy Sanctuary, Kaymat - Twisted Reunion
These organ tracks are so close to being phenomenal, but they just never exert themselves. Holy Sanctuary feels like it's constantly vamping towards something that would undoubtedly be beautiful, but it never quite gets there - and while that very well may be the point, it doesn't change the fact that the organ writing is completely void of any expression. Similar situation with Kaymat, where the intriguing organ introduction implies further development on this idea, but we never see the organ ever again. The music in this soundtrack is impressive, if it had only used the pipe organ more liberally it could have easily stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the many legendary SNES pipe organs.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Waycrest Manor
The opening is hilariously Phantom of the Opera-esque, and the rest is kind of plodding and aimless, full of those classic chromatic mediants that make people say things like "it sounds like a movie, dude." It eventually gets phased out entirely with an orchestra taking its place, and you know how I feel about that!
Track: Waycrest Manor
The opening is hilariously Phantom of the Opera-esque, and the rest is kind of plodding and aimless, full of those classic chromatic mediants that make people say things like "it sounds like a movie, dude." It eventually gets phased out entirely with an orchestra taking its place, and you know how I feel about that!
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Rise Above the World
The chords are pretty neat, but it just isn't really doing anything with them. A confusing choice to exclusively use the organ only in this single track when other pieces in the soundtrack imply the existence of one without utilizing it.
Track: Rise Above the World
The chords are pretty neat, but it just isn't really doing anything with them. A confusing choice to exclusively use the organ only in this single track when other pieces in the soundtrack imply the existence of one without utilizing it.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Sacred Capital, Elraine, Ancient Relics, Invitation to the Sea, A Resolution, Holy Place, Fortuna Shrine, Eternal Paradise, Utopia, Sacred Judgement, Zealot, Crooked Sight, Dona Nobis
Pacem, Wheel of Fortune, Wheel of Fortune ~ Last Judgement
This game was originally going to be a lot lower on this list, but then I came across Fortuna Shrine. Good lord. This is what it's all about, people. This soundtrack uses the pipe organ a lot, even in places I didn't expect it to be; it obviously has a deep love for the instrument, but Fortuna Shrine is the track where that love shines through the most sparklingly. This is a thick, babbling soup of some of the largest, most expressively emotional chords you can find in game music. The rest of the organ tracks don't especially impress too much, but the fullness of this organ's tone and the voicings of the chords manage to match and maintain the precedent Fortuna Shrine has laid throughout the soundtrack.
Tracks: Sacred Capital, Elraine, Ancient Relics, Invitation to the Sea, A Resolution, Holy Place, Fortuna Shrine, Eternal Paradise, Utopia, Sacred Judgement, Zealot, Crooked Sight, Dona Nobis
Pacem, Wheel of Fortune, Wheel of Fortune ~ Last Judgement
This game was originally going to be a lot lower on this list, but then I came across Fortuna Shrine. Good lord. This is what it's all about, people. This soundtrack uses the pipe organ a lot, even in places I didn't expect it to be; it obviously has a deep love for the instrument, but Fortuna Shrine is the track where that love shines through the most sparklingly. This is a thick, babbling soup of some of the largest, most expressively emotional chords you can find in game music. The rest of the organ tracks don't especially impress too much, but the fullness of this organ's tone and the voicings of the chords manage to match and maintain the precedent Fortuna Shrine has laid throughout the soundtrack.
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Hey You, What Time Is It?, Come Here! I Defend You, The Absence of My Father from My Childhood, This is Also Training, Of My Life I Regret Nothing, Winged Maiden
Another SNES game that absolutely knocks it out of the park. All of the organ music here is positively lovely - including Come Here's surprise appearance which shows up completely out of nowhere, bringing out this gorgeously lush solo in the middle of a piece that otherwise has absolutely nothing to do with the pipe organ at all, complete with exactly the kind of sparkling writing I'm always looking for. Whether the pipe organ is the main focus of a track or a background texture, its inclusion is never off-handed and always brings something to chew on. Every instance of it in the soundtrack is a delightful surprise that constantly indulges itself by doing things a little differently than how you'd expect, mirroring Treasure Hunter G's position in the SNES RPG canon.
Tracks: Hey You, What Time Is It?, Come Here! I Defend You, The Absence of My Father from My Childhood, This is Also Training, Of My Life I Regret Nothing, Winged Maiden
Another SNES game that absolutely knocks it out of the park. All of the organ music here is positively lovely - including Come Here's surprise appearance which shows up completely out of nowhere, bringing out this gorgeously lush solo in the middle of a piece that otherwise has absolutely nothing to do with the pipe organ at all, complete with exactly the kind of sparkling writing I'm always looking for. Whether the pipe organ is the main focus of a track or a background texture, its inclusion is never off-handed and always brings something to chew on. Every instance of it in the soundtrack is a delightful surprise that constantly indulges itself by doing things a little differently than how you'd expect, mirroring Treasure Hunter G's position in the SNES RPG canon.
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: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Battle, Scenario Clear
There's a lot of organs in this soundtrack, but the sound quality makes it pretty tough to tell which ones are electric and which ones are pipe. I think my selections of tracks here is accurate, but it says a lot about the tone and the writing style here that I'm not entirely confident; every organ here is pumping out some rock-flavored stuff no matter where it shows up, which is perfectly fun and suitable for the soundtrack, but it unfortunately foregoes a lot of the nuances of the pipe organ. No textural changes, no intricate part writing, just a bunch of fast licks and riffs. I get the impression that everything here was essentially written just for an electric organ, and was adapted to a pipe organ whenever the composer wanted a "larger" sound - which is not a problem, but it does feel a little shallow, and to some degree under-considered.
Tracks: Battle, Scenario Clear
There's a lot of organs in this soundtrack, but the sound quality makes it pretty tough to tell which ones are electric and which ones are pipe. I think my selections of tracks here is accurate, but it says a lot about the tone and the writing style here that I'm not entirely confident; every organ here is pumping out some rock-flavored stuff no matter where it shows up, which is perfectly fun and suitable for the soundtrack, but it unfortunately foregoes a lot of the nuances of the pipe organ. No textural changes, no intricate part writing, just a bunch of fast licks and riffs. I get the impression that everything here was essentially written just for an electric organ, and was adapted to a pipe organ whenever the composer wanted a "larger" sound - which is not a problem, but it does feel a little shallow, and to some degree under-considered.
Rating: GOOD
Track: The Crime
Evocative of the playful sound of when organs were used to accompany movies and theatrical productions in the early 1900's - very very cute! That's a section of organ history that often goes unloved, so it's nice to see a callback to it in a video game cutscene - it's scoring the scene identically to how they would have back in the day. This is one of those things where I can imagine the composer having this epiphany moment of "Oh, it'd be really cute if we scored this part like this" - and it is!
Track: The Crime
Evocative of the playful sound of when organs were used to accompany movies and theatrical productions in the early 1900's - very very cute! That's a section of organ history that often goes unloved, so it's nice to see a callback to it in a video game cutscene - it's scoring the scene identically to how they would have back in the day. This is one of those things where I can imagine the composer having this epiphany moment of "Oh, it'd be really cute if we scored this part like this" - and it is!
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: GOOD
Track: Magical Holic, God Bless Prier!, A Heart Filled With Thought
A soundtrack where the organ is - like usual - playing a supporting role, but its texture and charisma are critical to the tone and structure of the pieces it's included in. Gorgeous music with the kind of organ excerpts that perk my ears up and make me say "oh, cool!"
Track: Magical Holic, God Bless Prier!, A Heart Filled With Thought
A soundtrack where the organ is - like usual - playing a supporting role, but its texture and charisma are critical to the tone and structure of the pieces it's included in. Gorgeous music with the kind of organ excerpts that perk my ears up and make me say "oh, cool!"
Rating: GREAT
Tracks: Sacred Space, Separation With God
I think it's up for interpretation whether or not Sacred Space is an organ piece (I could also see it being a string ensemble), but Separation With God is absolutely a pipe organ and it's downright incredible. Lovingly, hauntingly, atrociously emotional work that continues to unfold and reveal more of itself as it keeps pushing forward.
Tracks: Sacred Space, Separation With God
I think it's up for interpretation whether or not Sacred Space is an organ piece (I could also see it being a string ensemble), but Separation With God is absolutely a pipe organ and it's downright incredible. Lovingly, hauntingly, atrociously emotional work that continues to unfold and reveal more of itself as it keeps pushing forward.
Rating: BORING
Track: Sky Fantasia
Tales franchise...... Please, I'm begging you...... Let your pipe organs be good again........ Please........ I'm dying........
Track: Sky Fantasia
Tales franchise...... Please, I'm begging you...... Let your pipe organs be good again........ Please........ I'm dying........
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: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Teteo's Feelings, Pope Galades, Crystal Temple, Final Decisive Battle
A lot of the organ's use in this soundtrack is for the cultural recognition of its grandiosity and bombast; it does not, however, really do much besides recall the fact that organs are "supposed" to feel so powerful. It seems to be content alluding to the towering presence of a pipe organ without really writing anything that incites that kind of impression. The more gentle flute stops used in Teteo's Feelings are incredibly charming and would have been an excellent flavor to keep as a consistent part of the soundtrack's more naturalistic palette - such a shame that they're used once then put away!!
Tracks: Teteo's Feelings, Pope Galades, Crystal Temple, Final Decisive Battle
A lot of the organ's use in this soundtrack is for the cultural recognition of its grandiosity and bombast; it does not, however, really do much besides recall the fact that organs are "supposed" to feel so powerful. It seems to be content alluding to the towering presence of a pipe organ without really writing anything that incites that kind of impression. The more gentle flute stops used in Teteo's Feelings are incredibly charming and would have been an excellent flavor to keep as a consistent part of the soundtrack's more naturalistic palette - such a shame that they're used once then put away!!
Rating: BORING
Tracks: The Saint, Church, Save
Finally a Dragon Quest game that uses a pipe organ for something other than the church jingles! Too bad it's not much more interesting than those jingles either way.
Tracks: The Saint, Church, Save
Finally a Dragon Quest game that uses a pipe organ for something other than the church jingles! Too bad it's not much more interesting than those jingles either way.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Introduction
A premonition of great things to come when the first thing you hear upon booting a game up is a massive chord on a pipe organ! An even greater premonition when it develops into an absolutely show-stopping cantata with choir and string orchestra, with the pipe organ taking a commanding lead. Unfortunately, that premonition wound up being a lie - the pipe organ is absent for the entire rest of the soundtrack. However, this can be forgiven by just how powerful its presence is here right at the start. If only the actual game was as good as this...
Track: Introduction
A premonition of great things to come when the first thing you hear upon booting a game up is a massive chord on a pipe organ! An even greater premonition when it develops into an absolutely show-stopping cantata with choir and string orchestra, with the pipe organ taking a commanding lead. Unfortunately, that premonition wound up being a lie - the pipe organ is absent for the entire rest of the soundtrack. However, this can be forgiven by just how powerful its presence is here right at the start. If only the actual game was as good as this...
Rating: BORING
Tracks: The Corroder, Pour In the Debris
Tales.................
Tracks: The Corroder, Pour In the Debris
Tales.................
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
Track: Marriage & Cohesion
Similar to Xenogears, this is just such a beautifully heartfelt work. It doesn't need to be anything flashy; being honest means so much more.
Track: Marriage & Cohesion
Similar to Xenogears, this is just such a beautifully heartfelt work. It doesn't need to be anything flashy; being honest means so much more.
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: ¯\(ツ)/¯
Track: What Lack
It feels weird putting my own music so high... but the fact of the matter is, I mean, of course I'm making the kind of music I'd want to hear! And of course I'd write for the organ the way I want organs to be written for. I promise this isn't coming from a place of ego or nepotism - it's just that the same mind who is constructing this list also constructed this organ music, so of course it checks the necessary boxes.
I will, however, refrain from being so vain as to review the reasons of why I think it's good. I'm not here to suck myself off. What I can do instead is offer some insight into the actual writing process.
This is a piece I had actually written back all the way in 2017 - well, "written." I sat at a little electronic organ one day and just kinda played around. I liked some of the chords I was using and the meter I was using them in, so I eventually developed it out into a more properly structured and defined piece. It was about half the length it currently exists as now in this soundtrack; in 2021 I decided to bring this piece back and flesh it out for this game. The 2017 lyrics have remained perfectly in tact, but I did write more to extend the voice further into the piece. A fun game for you to play might be trying to see if you can tell where the 2017 ends and the 2021 begins. It's been a long journey, but now in 2022 it's finally released. Shout out to my friend Tia for lending her amazing voice and providing an incredible performance.
Track: What Lack
It feels weird putting my own music so high... but the fact of the matter is, I mean, of course I'm making the kind of music I'd want to hear! And of course I'd write for the organ the way I want organs to be written for. I promise this isn't coming from a place of ego or nepotism - it's just that the same mind who is constructing this list also constructed this organ music, so of course it checks the necessary boxes.
I will, however, refrain from being so vain as to review the reasons of why I think it's good. I'm not here to suck myself off. What I can do instead is offer some insight into the actual writing process.
This is a piece I had actually written back all the way in 2017 - well, "written." I sat at a little electronic organ one day and just kinda played around. I liked some of the chords I was using and the meter I was using them in, so I eventually developed it out into a more properly structured and defined piece. It was about half the length it currently exists as now in this soundtrack; in 2021 I decided to bring this piece back and flesh it out for this game. The 2017 lyrics have remained perfectly in tact, but I did write more to extend the voice further into the piece. A fun game for you to play might be trying to see if you can tell where the 2017 ends and the 2021 begins. It's been a long journey, but now in 2022 it's finally released. Shout out to my friend Tia for lending her amazing voice and providing an incredible performance.
Rating: BORING
Track: Last Battle
The organ here quickly pokes its head in every now and then to say a few words before vanishing from the arrangement altogether. They're neat little bursts to punctuate the piece with, but the organ doesn't really seem to have a justified place in the ensemble.
Track: Last Battle
The organ here quickly pokes its head in every now and then to say a few words before vanishing from the arrangement altogether. They're neat little bursts to punctuate the piece with, but the organ doesn't really seem to have a justified place in the ensemble.
Rating: GREAT
Track: Mansion of Heresy, Mesia Cathedral
Absolutely astounding, breathtakingly beautiful, completely consummate. Shin Megami Tensei impresses again, and far from the last time. Unmistakably, unbelievably, unspeakably incredible. It's unfair to other games just how constantly these games use the pipe organ so immaculately...!!!
Track: Mansion of Heresy, Mesia Cathedral
Absolutely astounding, breathtakingly beautiful, completely consummate. Shin Megami Tensei impresses again, and far from the last time. Unmistakably, unbelievably, unspeakably incredible. It's unfair to other games just how constantly these games use the pipe organ so immaculately...!!!
Rating: BAD
Track: Nightmare Battle
The rest of this soundtrack is incredibly unique and sparkling with unusual applications of unusual instruments. So why is the single use of a pipe organ so typical and trite??
Track: Nightmare Battle
The rest of this soundtrack is incredibly unique and sparkling with unusual applications of unusual instruments. So why is the single use of a pipe organ so typical and trite??
Rating: GREAT
Track: Actos Shrine
Remarkable track that weaves in and out of languishing darkness and triumphant grandeur with a precise flippancy I've never quite seen before. Utterly entrancing and gorgeously structured.
Track: Actos Shrine
Remarkable track that weaves in and out of languishing darkness and triumphant grandeur with a precise flippancy I've never quite seen before. Utterly entrancing and gorgeously structured.
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: GOOD
Track: Track 21
Intoxicating meandering that finds a direction in its own directionless to wind through some harmonic sequences that only seem to be concerned with one thing: is the phrase moving upwards or downwards? Conventional cadences and chordal relationships are foregone for surprisingly heartfelt passages that just seem to happen upon chords rather than intentionally arriving to them. A transient beauty that's characteristic of early FromSoftware titles.
Track: Track 21
Intoxicating meandering that finds a direction in its own directionless to wind through some harmonic sequences that only seem to be concerned with one thing: is the phrase moving upwards or downwards? Conventional cadences and chordal relationships are foregone for surprisingly heartfelt passages that just seem to happen upon chords rather than intentionally arriving to them. A transient beauty that's characteristic of early FromSoftware titles.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: なぞの礼拝堂
There's some fun doubling with the guitar to help layer this full aggressive sound, but like so many others on this list, most of the playing here comes down to just sitting on some chords or swirling around some arpeggios. Not especially inspired, but it is one of the finer instances of this overly-trodden pipe organ trope.
Track: なぞの礼拝堂
There's some fun doubling with the guitar to help layer this full aggressive sound, but like so many others on this list, most of the playing here comes down to just sitting on some chords or swirling around some arpeggios. Not especially inspired, but it is one of the finer instances of this overly-trodden pipe organ trope.
Rating: BORING
Track: Gaudy Church
The tone of the organ here is gorgeous for a SNES game, but unfortunately it's just not really doing much of anything at all. This piece in its entirety is great, but the organ just is not pulling its weight.
Track: Gaudy Church
The tone of the organ here is gorgeous for a SNES game, but unfortunately it's just not really doing much of anything at all. This piece in its entirety is great, but the organ just is not pulling its weight.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Light Force of the Gods, Disciple of Darkness, The Dragon God and the Shrine Maiden, Advent of the Demon Beast
Positively beautiful and surprisingly melodic organ writing here despite always being an accompaniment texture, with the highlight being Light Force of the Gods. The organ isn't even present for about two-thirds of that piece, but when it shows up it sure makes a hell of an impression. Full and rich, and effectively saying exactly what it needs to say.
Tracks: Light Force of the Gods, Disciple of Darkness, The Dragon God and the Shrine Maiden, Advent of the Demon Beast
Positively beautiful and surprisingly melodic organ writing here despite always being an accompaniment texture, with the highlight being Light Force of the Gods. The organ isn't even present for about two-thirds of that piece, but when it shows up it sure makes a hell of an impression. Full and rich, and effectively saying exactly what it needs to say.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Propaganda
This is another one of those tracks where the organ is doing a couple short repeating ideas over and over again while the rest of the ensemble plays with those ideas around it. In this instance, the rest of the ensemble has some beautiful, powerful parts, but the organ is just kinda sitting there spinning around itself. The track is great; the organ writing, while crucially central to the structure of the piece, ultimately just doesn't have much going on.
Track: Propaganda
This is another one of those tracks where the organ is doing a couple short repeating ideas over and over again while the rest of the ensemble plays with those ideas around it. In this instance, the rest of the ensemble has some beautiful, powerful parts, but the organ is just kinda sitting there spinning around itself. The track is great; the organ writing, while crucially central to the structure of the piece, ultimately just doesn't have much going on.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Magician's Tent, Shrine for the Worship of Chaos, Darwin - Treasure Hunter, Birth of a Hero
There's some organs here that are on the verge of sounding like electric organs, but due to the tone of the game and their place in the soundtrack I think they're all supposed to be pipe. Anyways, this ranking is hard carried by Magician's Tent and Birth of a Hero. Magician's Tent provides a cute little madrigal (not particularly great - just "cute") and Birth of a Hero boasts some neat twisting chordal relationships. Neither on their own would mean all too much - to say nothing of the other two tracks, where the organ is simply accompaniment - but as a total package, the pipe organ could do much worse than what Arcana offers. Not bad!
Tracks: Magician's Tent, Shrine for the Worship of Chaos, Darwin - Treasure Hunter, Birth of a Hero
There's some organs here that are on the verge of sounding like electric organs, but due to the tone of the game and their place in the soundtrack I think they're all supposed to be pipe. Anyways, this ranking is hard carried by Magician's Tent and Birth of a Hero. Magician's Tent provides a cute little madrigal (not particularly great - just "cute") and Birth of a Hero boasts some neat twisting chordal relationships. Neither on their own would mean all too much - to say nothing of the other two tracks, where the organ is simply accompaniment - but as a total package, the pipe organ could do much worse than what Arcana offers. Not bad!
Rating: GOOD
Track: Is it Love? A
Gentle yet oppressive, smooth yet unrelenting; a fascinating expression for the organ. Not a particularly engaging piece musically, but the feeling of it is remarkable.
Track: Is it Love? A
Gentle yet oppressive, smooth yet unrelenting; a fascinating expression for the organ. Not a particularly engaging piece musically, but the feeling of it is remarkable.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: Baram's Chasm, Rose Temple
The interplay with the strings in Rose Temple is a lot of fun, and the opportunities it has to be the main focus there are also executed very well. It's just a bit flat for my tastes, it never feels like it's developing much for or towards anything, but for what it is Rose Temple is a perfectly fine piece of organ music in a video game. Better than Baram's Chasm, at least.
Track: Baram's Chasm, Rose Temple
The interplay with the strings in Rose Temple is a lot of fun, and the opportunities it has to be the main focus there are also executed very well. It's just a bit flat for my tastes, it never feels like it's developing much for or towards anything, but for what it is Rose Temple is a perfectly fine piece of organ music in a video game. Better than Baram's Chasm, at least.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Boss Battle
A pretty, floating chorale opens way to a toccata-styled groove. It's light on anything too intricate or engrossing, but there is a a fun honesty to it and it's well-executed for what it is.
Track: Boss Battle
A pretty, floating chorale opens way to a toccata-styled groove. It's light on anything too intricate or engrossing, but there is a a fun honesty to it and it's well-executed for what it is.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Main Title, Defeat, Medal of Honor, Of the Century, Seven Seas, Dawn of Empire, For The Queen!, Wild Frontier, Soldiers Grief, Obstinate Seals, Q.R.G. Guardians, Ardent Prince, Battle Steps, Burn the Floor!, At Advantage, Grand Troops, First Move!, Queen's Army, Fountain Keeper, Spirit's Calling, Take the Field, Dark Side, Willin' Delight, Another Day, Quick Suspicion, A.W.E., My Own Enemy, R.T.S.!
This one is interesting. It uses the pipe organ a lot, but it's an altered sample of one with no sustain and very quick decay, which allows it to be used in a lot more contexts than a normal pipe organ. It gets a lot of use in this soundtrack by doing quick flourishes and runs and arpeggios, but in a way that sounds more like a sparkling synthesizer than the typical heavy darkness the organ usually carries. Thanks to its short sample length, the pipe organ here is able to lend the color of its voice without necessarily muddying up the mix as it tends to do. This would be a wonderful excuse for the composer to have it start doing phrases the instrument would otherwise never do (a la Kirby's pan flutes, for example), but instead the organ is pretty much always played pretty straight and authentically (and just a bit too conventionally); it just sounds a little different than it normally does. Which is cool! The organ carries not just a lot of cultural baggage with it but also timbral ones. The organ can very easily paint a massive wall over the entire frequency spectrum, which can be troublesome for audio mixers (especially when the mix needs to accommodate something like the Nintendo DS speakers, as Ys Strategy does). I think this is one of the reasons why a lot of game composers tend to stay away unless they have a really obvious, clear thematic reason to use it. This is an interesting work-around that allows us to see the pipe organ used as a staple of the soundtrack in many more contexts than we normally would. Very cool to see so much pipe organ love in one place! It's just a shame that so much of it is standard arpeggios and scalar runs that wind up being background textures more than anything else.
Tracks: Main Title, Defeat, Medal of Honor, Of the Century, Seven Seas, Dawn of Empire, For The Queen!, Wild Frontier, Soldiers Grief, Obstinate Seals, Q.R.G. Guardians, Ardent Prince, Battle Steps, Burn the Floor!, At Advantage, Grand Troops, First Move!, Queen's Army, Fountain Keeper, Spirit's Calling, Take the Field, Dark Side, Willin' Delight, Another Day, Quick Suspicion, A.W.E., My Own Enemy, R.T.S.!
This one is interesting. It uses the pipe organ a lot, but it's an altered sample of one with no sustain and very quick decay, which allows it to be used in a lot more contexts than a normal pipe organ. It gets a lot of use in this soundtrack by doing quick flourishes and runs and arpeggios, but in a way that sounds more like a sparkling synthesizer than the typical heavy darkness the organ usually carries. Thanks to its short sample length, the pipe organ here is able to lend the color of its voice without necessarily muddying up the mix as it tends to do. This would be a wonderful excuse for the composer to have it start doing phrases the instrument would otherwise never do (a la Kirby's pan flutes, for example), but instead the organ is pretty much always played pretty straight and authentically (and just a bit too conventionally); it just sounds a little different than it normally does. Which is cool! The organ carries not just a lot of cultural baggage with it but also timbral ones. The organ can very easily paint a massive wall over the entire frequency spectrum, which can be troublesome for audio mixers (especially when the mix needs to accommodate something like the Nintendo DS speakers, as Ys Strategy does). I think this is one of the reasons why a lot of game composers tend to stay away unless they have a really obvious, clear thematic reason to use it. This is an interesting work-around that allows us to see the pipe organ used as a staple of the soundtrack in many more contexts than we normally would. Very cool to see so much pipe organ love in one place! It's just a shame that so much of it is standard arpeggios and scalar runs that wind up being background textures more than anything else.
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: GREAT
Tracks: Holy Radiance, Fallen Angel, Caught Between Hope and Despair
Nearly every instance in which a pipe organ simply squeezes out a melodic line and nothing else ranks considerably lower on this list, but Holy Radiance is such a beautiful melodic line that suits the tone and playability of the organ unbelieveably perfectly. The organ only playing a melodic line here does not diminish the instrument's use in this track at all since the part is so immaculately suited for it. All other organ tracks in this game are similarly incredible - and they apply more of the organ's full utility as an instrument, as well. It's tough to choose a favorite or say one is particularly better than the other; this is just a game with incredible music across the board, and every use of the organ is inspired and effective.
Tracks: Holy Radiance, Fallen Angel, Caught Between Hope and Despair
Nearly every instance in which a pipe organ simply squeezes out a melodic line and nothing else ranks considerably lower on this list, but Holy Radiance is such a beautiful melodic line that suits the tone and playability of the organ unbelieveably perfectly. The organ only playing a melodic line here does not diminish the instrument's use in this track at all since the part is so immaculately suited for it. All other organ tracks in this game are similarly incredible - and they apply more of the organ's full utility as an instrument, as well. It's tough to choose a favorite or say one is particularly better than the other; this is just a game with incredible music across the board, and every use of the organ is inspired and effective.
Rating: BORING
Track: Movie 5 (Collapse)
Pretty typical cinematic chords to help bolster the massive sound of an orchestra. The organ is at least pretty forward in the mix and is the source of a lot of the strength behind the sound being achieved, but it's not especially inspired.
Track: Movie 5 (Collapse)
Pretty typical cinematic chords to help bolster the massive sound of an orchestra. The organ is at least pretty forward in the mix and is the source of a lot of the strength behind the sound being achieved, but it's not especially inspired.
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: 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: NEUTRAL
Track: New Creator
(The Sharp X1 version of Hydlide 3 is not on Backloggd, so instead I need to use the Genesis port; this track is obviously a pipe organ on the Sharp X1 release, but the instrumentation is more vague on the Genesis.)
The organ is only used for a brief introduction, but it is a wonderful introduction. Nothing groundbreaking, but it certainly is pretty!
Track: New Creator
(The Sharp X1 version of Hydlide 3 is not on Backloggd, so instead I need to use the Genesis port; this track is obviously a pipe organ on the Sharp X1 release, but the instrumentation is more vague on the Genesis.)
The organ is only used for a brief introduction, but it is a wonderful introduction. Nothing groundbreaking, but it certainly is pretty!
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: 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: 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: 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.
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: 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
Track: Lurking Enemy Castle 2
In a soundtrack so steeped in traditional Japanese culture (which is rendered lovingly even with such limited technology), I was surprised to find such a bouncy, authentic, Western-classical-styled toccata for what surely must be a pipe organ! Three-part counterpoint flying by and weaving around itself, each voice tossing points of interest between each other, this is just a wonderful piece of organ writing.
Track: Lurking Enemy Castle 2
In a soundtrack so steeped in traditional Japanese culture (which is rendered lovingly even with such limited technology), I was surprised to find such a bouncy, authentic, Western-classical-styled toccata for what surely must be a pipe organ! Three-part counterpoint flying by and weaving around itself, each voice tossing points of interest between each other, this is just a wonderful piece of organ writing.
Rating:
Track: Octum's Desire
A gorgeous chorale that bookends an otherwise pretty uninteresting orchestra piece. Thank goodness the parts with the pipe organ are so beautiful!!
Track: Octum's Desire
A gorgeous chorale that bookends an otherwise pretty uninteresting orchestra piece. Thank goodness the parts with the pipe organ are so beautiful!!
Ranking: NEUTRAL
Tracks: 竜の巣からの話, クリスタル・キャッスル, 避け得ぬ戦い, ファイナルボス
Before saying anything, I want to make it clear this entry is based on the PC Engine release of this game; other releases may vary on their inclusion of the pipe organ.
I gotta say, it hurts to keep Emerald Dragon so low. This is an absolutely otherworldly soundtrack, truly and completely phenomenal, but it's another one where it designates the pipe organ to be an arpeggio machine and not much else. Of course, they're great chords to be arpeggiating, thus the higher ranking compared to other subpar organ uses, but in the end it's just not interested in using the instrument too comprehensively at all.
Tracks: 竜の巣からの話, クリスタル・キャッスル, 避け得ぬ戦い, ファイナルボス
Before saying anything, I want to make it clear this entry is based on the PC Engine release of this game; other releases may vary on their inclusion of the pipe organ.
I gotta say, it hurts to keep Emerald Dragon so low. This is an absolutely otherworldly soundtrack, truly and completely phenomenal, but it's another one where it designates the pipe organ to be an arpeggio machine and not much else. Of course, they're great chords to be arpeggiating, thus the higher ranking compared to other subpar organ uses, but in the end it's just not interested in using the instrument too comprehensively at all.
Rating: NEUTRAL
Tracks: Valleia Crystal Knights, Spirmaze Anger, Scarlet Haired Devil, Overflowing Nightmares, Glory of the Imperial Army, Creed Graphite
Still a far cry from the astronomical reputation of the first couple Tales games' pipe organs, but at least we're not as deep in the dregs as the games immediately previous to this. Overflowing Nightmares and Spirmaze Anger have some nice parts where the organ gets to show off a little, and they're fine enough displays. I do wonder how much credit I'm giving this just based on the fact I'm coming right off the heels of Tales of Innocence and Tales of Vesperia... Though just by the sheer amount of tracks using the pipe organ here compared to those, is it possible the Tales series truly is redeeming itself?
Tracks: Valleia Crystal Knights, Spirmaze Anger, Scarlet Haired Devil, Overflowing Nightmares, Glory of the Imperial Army, Creed Graphite
Still a far cry from the astronomical reputation of the first couple Tales games' pipe organs, but at least we're not as deep in the dregs as the games immediately previous to this. Overflowing Nightmares and Spirmaze Anger have some nice parts where the organ gets to show off a little, and they're fine enough displays. I do wonder how much credit I'm giving this just based on the fact I'm coming right off the heels of Tales of Innocence and Tales of Vesperia... Though just by the sheer amount of tracks using the pipe organ here compared to those, is it possible the Tales series truly is redeeming itself?
Rating: NEUTRAL
Track: 弱い者は死になさい, 光と闇, 祈リ
The first organ piece in this game immediately quotes Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, which hilariously sets the tone perfectly for exactly what we're dealing with here. Just some basic, bare-bones Baroque organing. Astonishingly normal. No risks or any kind of inspiration at all, we're running around the circle of fifths and laying down some plagal cadences. Maybe use a secondary function somewhere and we can call it a day.
Track: 弱い者は死になさい, 光と闇, 祈リ
The first organ piece in this game immediately quotes Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, which hilariously sets the tone perfectly for exactly what we're dealing with here. Just some basic, bare-bones Baroque organing. Astonishingly normal. No risks or any kind of inspiration at all, we're running around the circle of fifths and laying down some plagal cadences. Maybe use a secondary function somewhere and we can call it a day.
Rating: GOOD
Tracks: Unused Track 7, Unused Track 8
I really wish I could rate this higher! These are two great pieces of organ music, but as you can see they're not actually used anywhere in the game. This poses an interesting question: can I really consider a game to "have" a pipe organ if its only inclusion is in tracks that are not in the final game? This is the first instance of needing to consider such a quandry for this list, and as such will set a precedent going forward. Since the organ music does indeed belong to the game I think yes, the game should be included in this list, though the fact that it doesn't actually exist in it means it can't contend with much fervor. Such a shame - I'm sure the composer of these must have been disappointed in their exclusion as well. It's clear some real passion and consideration went into these.
Tracks: Unused Track 7, Unused Track 8
I really wish I could rate this higher! These are two great pieces of organ music, but as you can see they're not actually used anywhere in the game. This poses an interesting question: can I really consider a game to "have" a pipe organ if its only inclusion is in tracks that are not in the final game? This is the first instance of needing to consider such a quandry for this list, and as such will set a precedent going forward. Since the organ music does indeed belong to the game I think yes, the game should be included in this list, though the fact that it doesn't actually exist in it means it can't contend with much fervor. Such a shame - I'm sure the composer of these must have been disappointed in their exclusion as well. It's clear some real passion and consideration went into these.
Rating: GOOD
Track: Watch Out for the Giant, Perplexing Dungeons
Surprise banger out of nowhere from a silly little Data East platformer on the Genesis - this shit rules!! It's no Crusader of Centy but the pipe organ in this is not only clearly identifiable, it's also used a lot more dynamically here than a lot of other games manage to eke out. The music in this game is unreasonably impressive and it finds some real sweet places to employ great organ writing.
Track: Watch Out for the Giant, Perplexing Dungeons
Surprise banger out of nowhere from a silly little Data East platformer on the Genesis - this shit rules!! It's no Crusader of Centy but the pipe organ in this is not only clearly identifiable, it's also used a lot more dynamically here than a lot of other games manage to eke out. The music in this game is unreasonably impressive and it finds some real sweet places to employ great organ writing.
Rating: BORING
Track: Stage 1
I was shocked to see a game like this existed, and shocked again to immediately hear a pipe organ in the first stage. What I was not shocked by is how bog-standard the organ writing is!
Track: Stage 1
I was shocked to see a game like this existed, and shocked again to immediately hear a pipe organ in the first stage. What I was not shocked by is how bog-standard the organ writing is!
Rating: BAD
Track: Eden
Horribly uninspired organ runs over a typical choir and orchestra. Completely unmemorable.
Track: Eden
Horribly uninspired organ runs over a typical choir and orchestra. Completely unmemorable.
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