Mini Analysis: Final Fantasy – Uematsu (Tempo)
Work: ‘FINAL FANTASY XV – World of Wonder’
Composers/Creators: Nobuo Uematsu & Yoko Shimomura
Performers: London Philharmonic Orchestra
Album:FINAL FANTASY XV Original Soundtrack Volume 2 (Square Enix Music, 2018)
Listen to this excerpt and consider some words to describe the character and mood. Does the character change throughout the excerpt?
Need some ideas? See pages 140 & 141 in Decoding Sound.
Press “PLAY” on the video to hear the excerpt.
The character words I chose were:
- elegant
- dreamy
- motivational
- joyful
Listen again to the excerpt and note what impact the tempo choices have on how the music makes you feel.
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We can hear that the tempo starts with a dreamy-sounding Andantino and then increases speed to a joyful and motivational Allegretto.
The tempo is directly linked to the change in the character and mood.
Listen once more, and then reflect on some suggested observations about how tempo impacts the overall expressive outcome of the piece.
Press “PLAY” on the video to hear the excerpt.
The piece begins with a gentle Andantino tempo which is somewhat ambiguous at the beginning due to the long notes and lack of a pulse or accent. This creates a dreamy and elegant feel.
This moves to an Allegretto tempo when the instruments enter. The piano’s quavers build a delightful-sounding atmosphere which becomes motivational in feeling with the entry of the drum kit rhythms, giving the new tempo a sense of momentum and joy.