Nobuo Uematsu

Nobuo UematsuNobuo Uematsu

Japanese Video Game Music Japanese Video Game Music ComposerComposer

BiographyBiography

Born March 21, 1959 in Kouchi CityBorn March 21, 1959 in Kouchi CityTwelve – teaching himself pianoTwelve – teaching himself pianoGraduates - Kanagwa UniversityGraduates - Kanagwa UniversityPlay keyboard for amateur bandsPlay keyboard for amateur bandsBegin writing music for commercialsBegin writing music for commercials

Biography Biography

1985 - part-time job for Square-Enix Co.1985 - part-time job for Square-Enix Co.1987 Square was going bankrupt 1987 Square was going bankrupt Uematsu writes music for “Final Fantasy”Uematsu writes music for “Final Fantasy”Saved company/saved job Saved company/saved job Uematsu worked for Square to 2004Uematsu worked for Square to 2004

BiographyBiography

Compose music for square enix (FF 1-11 Compose music for square enix (FF 1-11 and other games)and other games)

Composed classical, rock, techno, and Composed classical, rock, techno, and pop musicpop music

2003 “The Black Mages” – played final 2003 “The Black Mages” – played final fantasy music hardcore!fantasy music hardcore!

2010 Disbanded – created 3 Albums2010 Disbanded – created 3 Albums

BiographyBiography

2004 left Square Enix/created “Smile 2004 left Square Enix/created “Smile Please” Please”

Composed music for “Lost Odyssey”, Composed music for “Lost Odyssey”, “Blue Dragon”, and “Cry On”“Blue Dragon”, and “Cry On”

Nobody to internationally renouned Nobody to internationally renouned composercomposer

#1 – “One-Winged Angel”#1 – “One-Winged Angel”

From role-playing game, Final Fantasy VIIFrom role-playing game, Final Fantasy VIIChanged the way role-playing games areChanged the way role-playing games are Is the villain theme songIs the villain theme song

#2 – “To Zanarkand”#2 – “To Zanarkand”

From Final Fantasy X From Final Fantasy X The opening sceneThe opening sceneFan favorite – played across the globeFan favorite – played across the globeZanarkand is a city in the gameZanarkand is a city in the game

#3 – “Aerith’s Theme”#3 – “Aerith’s Theme”My favorite of Uematsu’s compositionsMy favorite of Uematsu’s compositionsSong played in Final Fantasy VII at huge Song played in Final Fantasy VII at huge

climax – Death of Aerithclimax – Death of AerithShe is killed by SephirothShe is killed by Sephiroth

#1 – One-winged Angel (0:00-1:10)#1 – One-winged Angel (0:00-1:10)

Dark/scary beginning - use of brass Dark/scary beginning - use of brass instruments/woodwindsinstruments/woodwinds

Woodwinds first then brass – adds scaryWoodwinds first then brass – adds scaryThen, climb of octave ladder – cymbals Then, climb of octave ladder – cymbals

bangbang

#1 – One-Winged Angel (1:10-1:46)#1 – One-Winged Angel (1:10-1:46)

Eerie section – then latin chantingEerie section – then latin chantingChanting continues, lower then higherChanting continues, lower then higherChoir sings “ash” emphasize angerChoir sings “ash” emphasize angerBrass, woodwinds, strings rise – create Brass, woodwinds, strings rise – create

climaxclimax

#1 – One-Winged Angel (2:50-3:36)#1 – One-Winged Angel (2:50-3:36)

Brass and percussion in minor toneBrass and percussion in minor toneLoud snap > Silence > running Loud snap > Silence > running

(flutes/xylophone)(flutes/xylophone)

#1 – One-Winged Angel (3:36-4:25)#1 – One-Winged Angel (3:36-4:25)

Climb by instruments then chanting Climb by instruments then chanting (lower>higher)(lower>higher)

Cello two notes rapidly > violin one noteCello two notes rapidly > violin one noteWoodwinds climb octaves > choir chants Woodwinds climb octaves > choir chants

“Sephiroth”“Sephiroth”

#2 – To Zanarkand (0:00-1:04)#2 – To Zanarkand (0:00-1:04)

Beautiful piano melody beings this piece of Beautiful piano melody beings this piece of music, very slowmusic, very slow

Piano plays > Strings join, play melody Piano plays > Strings join, play melody louderlouder

#2 – To Zanarkand (1:04-2:19)#2 – To Zanarkand (1:04-2:19)

Flute melody, piano and strings harmonyFlute melody, piano and strings harmonyStrings/brass build up for the chorusStrings/brass build up for the chorusPiano – amazing melody Piano – amazing melody Violins slow/become quieter till silentViolins slow/become quieter till silent

#2 – To Zanarkand (2:19-3:13)#2 – To Zanarkand (2:19-3:13)

After silence, harp playsAfter silence, harp plays10 seconds > strings join harp10 seconds > strings join harpWoodwinds/brass then join inWoodwinds/brass then join inBeautiful harmony, melody, and amazing Beautiful harmony, melody, and amazing

timbretimbre

#2 – To Zanarkand (3:13-4:34)#2 – To Zanarkand (3:13-4:34)

Sad section – begins forte then gets quietSad section – begins forte then gets quietStrings play beautiful melody/harmonyStrings play beautiful melody/harmonyFollowing strings, woodwinds similarFollowing strings, woodwinds similarBrass finish melody and harmonyBrass finish melody and harmonyCello goes down octaves, harp goes up in Cello goes down octaves, harp goes up in

octavesoctaves

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (0:00-0:45)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (0:00-0:45)

Slow melody – beautiful clarinetSlow melody – beautiful clarinetFlutes/strings join melodyFlutes/strings join melodyThe harp then climbs like a ladderThe harp then climbs like a ladder

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (0:45-2:16)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (0:45-2:16)

Piano - melodyPiano - melodyStrings - background musicStrings - background musicAfter the piano, flute - melody After the piano, flute - melody Piano/strings – harmony Piano/strings – harmony

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (2:16-2:54)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (2:16-2:54)

Song in forte, piano - melodySong in forte, piano - melodyBrass is playing harmony Brass is playing harmony Flutes – beautiful melody, strings - Flutes – beautiful melody, strings -

harmonyharmony

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (2:54-3:50)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (2:54-3:50)

Flutes play high, strings join inFlutes play high, strings join inPiano/high end xylophone - melodyPiano/high end xylophone - melodyStrings, trumpet, trombone - harmonyStrings, trumpet, trombone - harmony

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (3:50-4:30)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (3:50-4:30)

Trumpet – soft melodyTrumpet – soft melodyFlutes – melody, tuba rhythm in eighthsFlutes – melody, tuba rhythm in eighthsStrings – rhythm pizzacatoStrings – rhythm pizzacato

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (4:30-5:15)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (4:30-5:15)

Loud with flutes and stringsLoud with flutes and stringsCymbals bang each round the melody Cymbals bang each round the melody

endsendsViolin/flutes – melody, brass - backgroundViolin/flutes – melody, brass - backgroundCymbals come backCymbals come back

#3 – Aerith’s Theme (5:15-5:48)#3 – Aerith’s Theme (5:15-5:48)

Ending – flutes play high, strings - Ending – flutes play high, strings - backgroundbackground

Strings play minor – eerie Strings play minor – eerie Strings solid note – harp climbs ladderStrings solid note – harp climbs ladder

ReferencesReferences

http://www.nobuouematsu.com/bio.htmlhttp://www.nobuouematsu.com/bio.htmlhttp://www.squareenixmusic.com/composehttp://www.squareenixmusic.com/compose

rs/uematsu/biography.shtmlrs/uematsu/biography.shtml