Demise (Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection)

This is "Demise" from the Final Fantasy X-2 Piano Collection. Final Fantasy X-2 by Square-Enix. Music composed by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi, arranged by Febian Reza Pane.

Demise is really interesting and one of the rather 'special' pieces of the Piano Collections. The Time signature is a real challenge if you're not used to this kind of rhythmic complexity. Additionally, this can only be properly played on a grand, as the score asks you to hold down the string while playing the first three notes (that accounts for the 'inimitability' that has been attributed to the beginning of the original recording in some reviews). Since I can't do that on my digital piano, I omitted them completely because without having the string held down they don't remotely convey the sound and the atmosphere that Febian Reza Pane created in the original recording. BTW, his original recording is impossible. For the life of me I can't figure out how he repeats this first note throughout the first half of the piece at some places (those repetitions are not included in the score), as he would need both hands to play it. There must be a second person, or he edited them into the recording afterwards, or he has MAD SKILLZ :], or...

Also, I play the piece in a different way than he does in the original recording. For me, his second half was too quiet and had too much staccato. I changed that a bit. And I added a few notes here and there. What's really interesting is that the spots that sound totally difficult are actually pretty easy, but the spots that sound easy are a real challenge ... As the first part is played in very high registers and is awfully quiet, you notice every single insecurity and 'clamping' and unevenness in the playing levels.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Demise
• Final
• Fantasy
• X-2
• Piano
• Collection
• Collections
• Noriko
• Matsueda
• Takahito
• Eguchi
• Febian
• Reza
• Pane
• 終焉
• フェビアン
• レザ
• パネ

[concertoldham]

I remember coming across this about a year ago. my friend was like "check this out" and i watched this like 30 times. and you had like 300 views. now you're one of the more popular VGM pianists on Youtube

[Verdegrand]

@concertoldham hi, thanks for your comment, i really appreciate it. yeah i can remember the time when i signed up here pretty well. all these pieces are laden with memories and intense emotions for me. i must say i also appreciate the support of my viewers, and also that your friend recommended me to you. extend my greetings to him. hope to keep playing, i'd have a lot of plans. many greetings

[StewNWT]

I admit I can't deduct from the score what you were mentioning in regard to holding the 1st note (I think you mean that little upside down tie from the 1st-3rd notes on the base clef? it's above my head notation wise).

But this rendition is just astoundingly beautiful, and I love the extra lushness you gave the piece in the lower registers (bass seems better enunciated on electronic pianos). I kind of like the abrupt staccato ending in the original but aside from that yours is incredible.

[Verdegrand]

@StewNWT Hello, I am referring to the Japanese Text in the sheets at the beginning of the piece. It says that the piano player is supposed to hold down the strings with one hand while playing the keys with the other. That accounts for the special 'color' of the first three notes in Pane's original recording. This isn't possible without actual strings so I omitted the notes completely. My digital is a Kawai CA-9, but there have been newer models in the CA series that have been greatly improved.

[StewNWT]

@Verdegrand oh wow I didn't realize it was meant to be taken that literally - so someone actually had to reach into the piano and push on the strings? very strange...

I had thought you meant the ties at the start of the main repeated phrase, but I just realized you were referring to the 3 basso profundo notes, makes more sense now

Really enjoyed your rendition though

[Verdegrand]

@StewNWT Hello, yeah exactly, well it's not someone, but the player himself. So the player would push down the sustain pedal, then put the palm of one hand on the strings and play the key with his other one. The result is that you get much more 'resonance' from the entire corpus and all other strings while the note itself is almost diminished. It's a very interesting sound and a touch of 20th century 'modern' classical music :)

[Tkabishi]

the performance IS incredible. The best one by far in expression and everything. you could easily be one of the piano performer of this album next to Shinko Ogata, Hiroko Kokubu, Masahiro Sayama, Febian Reza Pane.

[melikekun]

music genious:D love it! ^^

[TheYunaSummoner]

Perfect play! One month ago I have studied Silence before the storm after your video. Demise is on progress. Best regards.

[GooseberryMk3]

I think you are by far the best pianist on YouTube at bringing that "fantasy" feeling to life... Simply spine-tingling.

[davidomgwork]

This gives me chills, Your pedaling is perfect, and your playing is just so wonderful. I was looking at this and a few others form the X-2 PC as a dedication to a friend who's been down, and he said this was his favorite, but it's just to hard for me! :\ None the less, when I do learn it I'll have some visual aid, thanks for a great recording.

[joools87]

very nice , super sound, but you should leave the pedal at 1:50