The Mass Effect Suite - Movement III - Selections from Mass Effect 3
Reupload due to incorrect score version - (0:14) “The Fate of the Galaxy” Tremendous opening track. Very simple yet deep harmonically and does a good job of introducing the “mass effect motif” giving it a darker spin. - (1:32) “Leaving Earth” Had to include this one. Set’s the tone of the movement really well. In order to recreate the iconic reaper noise, I layered the lower brass, woodwinds, and tremolo bass strings as loud as possible. I think I got pretty damn close. It was a toss up whether to bring this theme in here or at the end of the piece with “An End Once and For All”, however I feel as though it lacks a certain finality. - (3:27) “Reaper Chase” I decided to introduce early to set tone of movement as tonally shifting. A very fast paced piece with the choir being introduced with wide spaced chords. Very “ethereal” and haunting, while having a sense of urgency. - (4:58) “I’m Sorry” An interesting piece to arrange solely from a tempo perspective. I chose to notate it with a double time feel and drop back to half tempo during the exit of the piece to really emphasis the tempo feel of the piece. - (7:34) “I was Lost without you” – altered arrangement. I tried to keep in key melodic ideas whilst cutting the length down. Starts a trio to introduce the A theme, whilst the B theme is brought in with the strings. The main theme section of this song has an interesting rhythmic accompaniment which I tried to mimic with syncopated woodwind trade-offs. - (9:37) “The Fleets Arrive” A really iconic track, and the first time we hear the main theme. Big broad and triumphant. I only chose to include the first part of the track to cut down on unnecessary bloat. - (10:24) “Battle for Earth” – Heavily modified, ME3 lacks a final boss and so climactic music is limited to arena set pieces. I wanted something that felt “high stakes” while mimicking the final beam run. I included the main themes from the track and then included a section of “original” music. Bringing back the main theme, and reincorporating the reaper noise amidst Saren’s theme helps to really set the stakes. - (12:11) “I’m Proud of You” Love this piece so much and so heartbreakingly beautiful. As a final conversation between Shepard and Anderson it’s very appropriate. The final chord being the 4th that heavily wants to lead back to the tonic or home is so bittersweet to me. I almost ended this movement here, but I thought it might lack a feeling of finality. If you want, stop the track after the final piano chord to have that sense of uncertainty. - (13:24) “Resolution” -From Extended cut. Picking a final piece in a three-piece movement is difficult to say the least. There were about many other options here (“memoriam”, “Mass effect theme”, “Aralakh company”, “An end once and for all” …) but I tried to pick something that in my head canon makes sense (Destroy, Shephard lives). It reintroduces the theme from “I’m proud of you” before ending with the main theme and one final chord. I was tempted to have the ending less “happy”, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. This series has brought me so much joy and emotion that I had to reflect how I feel about it. Favourite arrangement: I love how “I was lost without you” came out. I originally had the piano taking the solo (as in the original song) but I felt it was too boring. I feel as though I nailed the ending section to this piece. It feels big and lush, and an accurate, yet fresh take on this piece. Alternatively, I really love my arrangement of “I’m Sorry”. Huge lush chords with minimal melodic entry. Least Favourite arrangement: Probably “Leaving Earth” If for no other reason than I hate the sound of my piano VST. Alternatively, “Reaper chase” is such a dense piece that transposing this was a nightmare. General Score remarks: Mass Effect 3’s score, at least in the non-battle theme’s, returns to highly orchestral roots and moves away from a lot of synth production (Perhaps due to the fact Jack Wall did not return for this game). The score feels completely detached from the first two games in a lot of ways both for better and for worse. There were also countless tracks I could have included here (“Surkesh”, “Rannoch”, “We face our enemy together” …) but finding a healthy selection that didn’t overlap in tone or theme was important to me. It would have been really interesting to see the return of more existing themes (like “Sovereigns Theme”, “Suicide mission”, “Reflections”..) and incorporated into the mass effect 3 score in meaningful, developed ways. This was a wonderful month of arranging and gave me a much needed break from the working from home woes. Thankyou for listening, and reading my ramblings.
Reupload due to incorrect score version - (0:14) “The Fate of the Galaxy” Tremendous opening track. Very simple yet deep harmonically and does a good job of introducing the “mass effect motif” giving it a darker spin. - (1:32) “Leaving Earth” Had to include this one. Set’s the tone of the movement really well. In order to recreate the iconic reaper noise, I layered the lower brass, woodwinds, and tremolo bass strings as loud as possible. I think I got pretty damn close. It was a toss up whether to bring this theme in here or at the end of the piece with “An End Once and For All”, however I feel as though it lacks a certain finality. - (3:27) “Reaper Chase” I decided to introduce early to set tone of movement as tonally shifting. A very fast paced piece with the choir being introduced with wide spaced chords. Very “ethereal” and haunting, while having a sense of urgency. - (4:58) “I’m Sorry” An interesting piece to arrange solely from a tempo perspective. I chose to notate it with a double time feel and drop back to half tempo during the exit of the piece to really emphasis the tempo feel of the piece. - (7:34) “I was Lost without you” – altered arrangement. I tried to keep in key melodic ideas whilst cutting the length down. Starts a trio to introduce the A theme, whilst the B theme is brought in with the strings. The main theme section of this song has an interesting rhythmic accompaniment which I tried to mimic with syncopated woodwind trade-offs. - (9:37) “The Fleets Arrive” A really iconic track, and the first time we hear the main theme. Big broad and triumphant. I only chose to include the first part of the track to cut down on unnecessary bloat. - (10:24) “Battle for Earth” – Heavily modified, ME3 lacks a final boss and so climactic music is limited to arena set pieces. I wanted something that felt “high stakes” while mimicking the final beam run. I included the main themes from the track and then included a section of “original” music. Bringing back the main theme, and reincorporating the reaper noise amidst Saren’s theme helps to really set the stakes. - (12:11) “I’m Proud of You” Love this piece so much and so heartbreakingly beautiful. As a final conversation between Shepard and Anderson it’s very appropriate. The final chord being the 4th that heavily wants to lead back to the tonic or home is so bittersweet to me. I almost ended this movement here, but I thought it might lack a feeling of finality. If you want, stop the track after the final piano chord to have that sense of uncertainty. - (13:24) “Resolution” -From Extended cut. Picking a final piece in a three-piece movement is difficult to say the least. There were about many other options here (“memoriam”, “Mass effect theme”, “Aralakh company”, “An end once and for all” …) but I tried to pick something that in my head canon makes sense (Destroy, Shephard lives). It reintroduces the theme from “I’m proud of you” before ending with the main theme and one final chord. I was tempted to have the ending less “happy”, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. This series has brought me so much joy and emotion that I had to reflect how I feel about it. Favourite arrangement: I love how “I was lost without you” came out. I originally had the piano taking the solo (as in the original song) but I felt it was too boring. I feel as though I nailed the ending section to this piece. It feels big and lush, and an accurate, yet fresh take on this piece. Alternatively, I really love my arrangement of “I’m Sorry”. Huge lush chords with minimal melodic entry. Least Favourite arrangement: Probably “Leaving Earth” If for no other reason than I hate the sound of my piano VST. Alternatively, “Reaper chase” is such a dense piece that transposing this was a nightmare. General Score remarks: Mass Effect 3’s score, at least in the non-battle theme’s, returns to highly orchestral roots and moves away from a lot of synth production (Perhaps due to the fact Jack Wall did not return for this game). The score feels completely detached from the first two games in a lot of ways both for better and for worse. There were also countless tracks I could have included here (“Surkesh”, “Rannoch”, “We face our enemy together” …) but finding a healthy selection that didn’t overlap in tone or theme was important to me. It would have been really interesting to see the return of more existing themes (like “Sovereigns Theme”, “Suicide mission”, “Reflections”..) and incorporated into the mass effect 3 score in meaningful, developed ways. This was a wonderful month of arranging and gave me a much needed break from the working from home woes. Thankyou for listening, and reading my ramblings.