[N64] Star Fox 64 - "Titania and Macbeth" by Fernman

[Zeta]

Submission Information:
Series: Star Fox
Game: Star Fox 64
Console: Nintendo 64
Title: Titania and Macbeth
Instrumentation Solo Piano
Arranger: Fernman

[Fernman]

Notes:

I recall prior feedback regarding the crescendos that each crescendo is to move from each stage mp>mf>f.
However I would like it to get start at the mp and gradually get louder at each triplet-like pair until it gets to the f.

I'm aware of the decending notes on b4 of m 13, 15, 17, and 19. I primarily hear the trumpets so I will prefer the held notes rather than the descending except in m19 when the descending notes fit better.

m48 I am well aware of the timpani that begins here, but I couldn't get it to sound pleasant if I keep what is currently arranged with the Timpani. It eight notes feel like they rush into b4 if its Staccato'd. or even going from an A to the low d sounds jarring.
If I switched to only the timpani it would feel quite boring so I kept the melodic aspects.

And yes I omitted any octaves in the LH. It doesn't sound as deep, but a triplet-like octaves (e.g. m 43) look very difficult to play. Going from octave to no octave in the song would sound off balance in my opinion.

And finally, to nit-pick VGMDB labels this as "Titania and Macbeth" https://vgmdb.net/album/133
But it's not really Titania AND Macbeth, they are two different planets that have the same song. I prefer "Titania / Macbeth". but that is NSM's call.

[Whoppybones]

Hey Fernman, great arrangement! I personally think it would count better in 4/4 with triplets, especially with the up down up down drum pattern. That would reduce the number of measures and I think clean up the page quite a bit.

Tempo is actually 120bpm
Following feedback is counted as currently written
m12 b3 - I don't hear the top note in this one. I think the first chord is right, then this one is just the lower note. I think that's also true for m14, m16, and other similar measures.
m13 b2.5 & similar - Should be a D, not an Eb
m13 & similar - The LH should have 8th notes on b4-6 (or if you change the time signature, it'll end up as a triplet on b4)
m20-25 - I know you mentioned not wanting octaves, but for these measures specifically there is an additional voice that is currently left out and I think including it would fill out the piece a little more. It starts as a Bb in m20 and then goes up to a C in m21, then a D in m22 and a little more after. I think it would be a great voice to add in!
m29 there are some missing stacattos
m40 & 44 RH - I think it would be good to include an accent mark on the first note.
m44-47, 52-55 - To reduce accidentals, you could just include a Cb in each measure. You have that in 44 already, so just making that consistent should look nice.
m48-49 - starting in b4 of m48, I only hear a G and a Bb in those chords. If there is a D, it's pretty faint. Similar thing in 52-53.

There's also some layout issues. Dynamics and crescendos being too close to measure lines/staff lines is the main issue, but there's also an upside down tie or two.

Overall, this is a great start of a sheet for a great song that I've never heard before. Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to seeing a revised version!

[Fernman]

I personally think it would count better in 4/4 with triplets, especially with the up down up down drum pattern. That would reduce the number of measures and I think clean up the page quite a bit.

I don't disagree with the sentiment, however, I thought with all the triplets and even the 1st beat beginning in m12 which would be a eight + rest + eight triplet, it would look cleaner in 6/8. I want to stay away from 12/8 time since that is more difficult to read.
I agree it feels like it can be counted in 4/4. Though you can read it in 2 bar phrases.

Overall comment, I noticed that the first measure wasn't counted, so I fixed it. Add 1 measure to all comments to keep our place.

Following feedback is counted as currently written
m12 b3 - I don't hear the top note in this one. I think the first chord is right, then this one is just the lower note. I think that's also true for m14, m16, and other similar measures.

No, I hear the top note

m13 b2.5 & similar - Should be a D, not an Eb
m13 & similar - The LH should have 8th notes on b4-6 (or if you change the time signature, it'll end up as a triplet on b4)
m29 there are some missing stacattos
Tempo is actually 120bpm
m40 & 44 RH - I think it would be good to include an accent mark on the first note.
m44-47, 52-55 - To reduce accidentals, you could just include a Cb in each measure. You have that in 44 already, so just making that consistent should look nice.
m48-49 - starting in b4 of m48, I only hear a G and a Bb in those chords. If there is a D, it's pretty faint. Similar thing in 52-53.

Fixed

m20-25 - I know you mentioned not wanting octaves, but for these measures specifically there is an additional voice that is currently left out and I think including it would fill out the piece a little more. It starts as a Bb in m20 and then goes up to a C in m21, then a D in m22 and a little more after. I think it would be a great voice to add in!

I did refresh this LH section to more correct notes. In regards to the second voice, I added some of the notes where I can an octave higher, but not all of them since I didn't seem them in a practical range of either hand position. Not sure if this is what you are looking for.

There's also some layout issues. Dynamics and crescendos being too close to measure lines/staff lines is the main issue, but there's also an upside down tie or two.

I can't do much formatting in notepad

Also, I removed the lower middle note harmonic triplets (e.g. b5 of m20) to make them easier to play without losing sound quality.

[Whoppybones]

I don't disagree with the sentiment, however, I thought with all the triplets and even the 1st beat beginning in m12 which would be a eight + rest + eight triplet, it would look cleaner in 6/8. I want to stay away from 12/8 time since that is more difficult to read.
I agree it feels like it can be counted in 4/4. Though you can read it in 2 bar phrases.

Fair enough. I still think counting it in 4/4 is more natural, but I don't know that there's anything wrong with it being in 6/8 so I will say nothing more on that.

No, I hear the top note

I'm pointing out this one again because I relistened harder and I still don't hear it, even at .5 speed. To ensure we're looking at the same one, I'm referring to the 8th note on b3, not the dotted quarter on b4-6. If you listen again and still hear it, I also will say nothing more on this one.

I did refresh this LH section to more correct notes. In regards to the second voice, I added some of the notes where I can an octave higher, but not all of them since I didn't seem them in a practical range of either hand position. Not sure if this is what you are looking for.

b22 et al - This isn't what I was thinking. I actually prefer the tied note from before over this one because this one muddies the melody throughout this section. Now that you mention it though, you're totally right about the unplayability of it with the second voice I was hearing.

I can't do much formatting in notepad

You can maybe do more than you think. I don't know about the tie, but I know there's ways to adjust crescendos and dynamic markings. Might be tedious and I'm not sure how accurately it can be done in Notepad, but it might be good to move things a little bit since you can.

Anyways, I think that's all the pieces of feedback I have for you. Of course I'll respond if you have any questions about what I mean, but I don't think there will be anything new that I find.

[Fernman]

I'm pointing out this one again because I relistened harder and I still don't hear it, even at .5 speed. To ensure we're looking at the same one, I'm referring to the 8th note on b3, not the dotted quarter on b4-6. If you listen again and still hear it, I also will say nothing more on this one.

I pitched up the audio 2 octaves, played at 0.5 speed and I can hear the top note. Unless there is something off with the HD version. I pitched up the version here: https://archive.org/details/starfox-64-original-soundtrack

b22 et al - This isn't what I was thinking. I actually prefer the tied note from before over this one because this one muddies the melody throughout this section. Now that you mention it though, you're totally right about the unplayability of it with the second voice I was hearing.

Returned it to how it was.