The goal for the Lost Noise Unofficial/Unlicensed album is to find songs that call to mind images or feelings that I want the reader to have with characters, peoples, or scenes within the story of Lost Noise. This may be a foolish endeavor because I am not a practiced composer or music theorist. What these pieces might inspire in others is probably very different than what they inspire in me. However, I hope this exercise is at least interesting for you to get into my head as the writer to see how I interpret these pieces of music into the context of the story.
Below, you can listen to some fascinating pieces of music while reading what I associate these pieces with and my reasoning why I feel that way.
Zel’s theme
I really like the progression of this piece. The use of woodwinds calls to the nature-veneration of the Aldsan tribes and the movements between driving and serene of this piece could stand double duty for a “battle theme” as well as a more contemplative theme for Einar Zelemeri.
Agent Neff
The sound of these ancient strings really inspire a feeling of mystery and mysticism. I feel like this piece carries a weight of experience with it, and it is a gift to capture a glimpse of it.
Lai Maifang’s theme
This piece is harrowing and inspiring. It beckons the infinite span of the moonless sky on the Steppes, and the vocals (especially once the male and female voices join together) drives this piece to a new level.
The Bondsmen
I’ve really never heard a piece of music like this. The beat is kept with what sounds like a blade being sharpened on a whetstone, and it absolutely oozes malice throughout the runtime. It captures the spirit that I want Xin Yun’s bondsmen to embody remarkably well.
Xin Yun’s Theme
It should be obvious that much of the inspiration for the “Xuini Horde” has been taken from the Mongol Empire if they found themselves in a world where all horses were wiped out in a plague. This piece, titled “Brother of Chinggis Khan,” is a bit on-the-nose as a choice for Xin Yun, but it fits well for his character. It’s slow, but it exudes a quiet confidence that an aged world-breaker should have as he sallies forth yet again.
Xin Batu’s theme
This piece reminds me of what the Xuini ascetics would sing as part of their rituals. Xin Batu, son of Xin Yun and Jinong of the Xuini Horde, is a practicing ascetic (at least in title) and this makes is an appropriate theme for him.
Xin Jaran’s theme
This is a fascinating piece of music. The throat singing is a compelling call to action. This piece gives me a glimpse into how Xin Jaran should be viewed by the members of the Xuini Horde. He is the only fully “pure-blood” potential heir to the empire, and his is a proven military leader worth praising. I would like to expanded on this piece somewhat with a few more variations, but it is such an interesting piece. From what I understand, this song is a good-natured poke at someone for being lazy, and this makes me imagine Xin Jaran motivating his Marines.
Süüder’s theme
I have trouble expressing how much I love this piece. This is one of the few Mongolian-inspired pieces that I listen to that doesn’t have vocals, but this piece simply draws me into visions of the wide-open steppes with the stars above glowing brightly as we ride through a sea of grass. I can see this being the First Bondsman’s motivator throughout his service to the Opal Family.
The Chieftess’ theme
The dynamic range of this piece reminds me of the serenity that nature can bring as well as how quickly a light summer breeze can become a crashing thunderstorm. The Earth is timeless and will outlive us all, and this piece gives me a moment to reflect on the immortal beauty of nature.
Marie De Ralse’s theme
This piece fits Marie De Ralse, the virgin queen of East Dur’tan, very well. It’s haunting, beautiful, and provides a bridge between the character and the operas that she inspired a millennium after her death.
Anton Drago’s theme
I like how this piece plays against Marie De Ralse’s theme. Both share similar aspects but are tangentially misaligned.This piece calls forth images of the militaristic side of imperialism. This is a piece that translates to “When We Were at War,” and I hope I can inspire the same feelings in readers about Anton that this piece inspires in me.
Balen Frey’s theme
Balen Frey has always been associated with dulcimers in my mind. I can’t exactly say why, but the mysticism that these instruments conjure plays remarkably well with the contrasts of his character.I would like to expand this piece to embrace the hammering nature of the dulcimer for a battle theme for Balen, but I have yet to find a piece that really captures the next steps that this piece would need.
Nyle’s Theme
The name of this piece is “Life is a game in the darkness for power of mighty thrones.” This is a happy coincidence. I stumbled upon this piece, but I really think the sound captures the contemplative yet cynical nature of Nyle. Thematically, it fits because it shares similar national origins to Balen’s theme.
Professor Blail’s theme
This piece does some interesting things with time that are difficult for an amateur musician like myself to articulate. Karen Blail has always been associated with Sibelius’ body of work in my mind, but this particular performance in particular feels captivating and free. The mixture of the warmth of the cello and the sharpness of the pizzicato create a striking balance that just makes sense in my mind. I would love to develop a theme for her using this as a north star.
Asinor
The island of Asnior is referenced in Lost Noise and Hymns of the Apostate (and also Final Fantasy 6, if you wish), and I like how this piece captures the distance, mystery, and danger that this island embodies.
Aldsan Tribes
This piece extends well from the Chieftess’ and Zel’s theme as a good, slower piece to represent that nature-worshipping tribes that decided to burn their forests down for the greater good.
The Whispers
The Hurdy-Gurdy is a natural fit for the Whispers. I find the sound of this instrument familiar enough but also slightly off-putting. It falls into the uncanny valley of sound where something is wrong, but I just can’t put my finger on the why. I want readers to have that same feeling about the Whispers and the strange, almost-human sounds that they make.
Xuini Horde
I love the energy of this piece. It drives me forward and evokes the need to roam to find greener pastures. The variety of the piece also reflects on the surprisingly cosmopolitan makeup of both the historical Mongolian empire and the Xuini horde.
The Sacred Grove
Imagine walking into a grove of trees nearly as old as all known organic life on the planet. Empires rise and fall and are forgotten in what seem like mere moments in these tree’s lives.I wanted a piece that captures how overpowering and humbling such a moment would feel like.
Whisper Battle theme
The hurdy-gurdy really sings in this piece and creates the impression of a desperate struggle with an enemy not of this world. It’s a difficult piece for me to listen to, but the feeling it stirs within me captures the uncanny nature of the Whispers.
The Twin Dukes
I like how this quartet plays off each other in this piece to create both frantic and calm scenes. I would like to iterate off of this sound (with one of the violins out of tune) to create a sense of the cognitive dissonance and contradictions that a dual-monarchy would have to endure in order to function in the real world.
Waltzing Witch
Marie de Ralse would later go on to loosely inspire the Opera featuring Draco and Maria featured in Final Fantasy 6. It’s fun to juxtapose Marie and Maria, but it’s more fun to lean into the performative aspects of the characters. I imagine this music playing during episode XIV-1 where Marie de Ralse does pirouettes and ballet poses while obliterating Shimtei troops.