December 13, 2008

“Organization XIII” Sheet Music, from Kingdom Hearts II


Organization XIII
Format: PDF
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate
Info: A contemplative, deep piano theme from Kingdom Hearts II. The ending in this arrangement is borrowed from “Another Side,” an expanded version of the Organization XIII theme used in the Deep Dive trailer from KH: Final Mix.

December 11, 2008

“Jolly Roger Bay” Sheet Music, from Super Mario 64


Format: PDF
Difficulty: Intermediate
Info: This song is usually called “Dire, Dire Docks” after the more difficult water world, but I was terrified of that level as a kid, so I’ve always referred to it as JRB.

The syncopations in the sheet music can look intimidating, but if you ignore the exact note durations and play what feels right to you, it should sound fine, since the JRB theme has an improvisatory feel anyway. I just wanted to get as close to the original recording as I could.

December 8, 2008

Song/Sheet Music Requests

Do you take song requests?

I’m definitely open to suggestions, though it may take me awhile to get around to them. Please leave a comment or email me with the name of the song, what it is and where it’s from, and a link to where I can listen to it. (I prefer videogame music!)



Can you make sheet music for this song?


I make sheet music for most of the pieces that I perform on YouTube, but in case you can’t find what you’re looking for, here are a few things you can try:

1. Check sites like gamemusicthemes.com and sodasheetmusic.com to see if other arrangers have transcribed it already.
2. Search online to see if there is an official song book that you can purchase.
3. Leave a comment or email me asking (nicely, please - no whining and begging!)
4. Hire me to arrange it for you - just email me for more info!

Contact

Leave a comment or email me: 
music [at] aivitran [dot] com

November 19, 2008

“Space Junk Galaxy” Video and Sheet Music, from Super Mario Galaxy

The “Space Junk Galaxy” theme, one of my favorite songs from Super Mario Galaxy. I instantly fell in love with it when I heard it. 


Format: PDF
Difficulty: Intermediate-Advanced
Info: The arrangement from my Space Junk Galaxy video. (Hear the original.)



I’m not sure if this has any place here, but this was a very emotional piece for me. My grandmother just passed away two weeks ago, and in the midst of this strange loneliness, I felt the need to play this sweet, beautiful song for both her and myself.

This was a heartfelt and therapeutic performance for me, and for those of you who enjoyed it, thank you very much.

The Enchanted Rose

“The Enchanted Rose” is an alternate theme that I composed for the Beast’s Castle world from Kingdom Hearts II. I’m a fan of the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack by Alan Menken, and when I imagine the Beast’s Castle, I think of watery piano runs, haunting strings and gentle melodies. I was a little jolted by the crashing cymbals and fast pace of “Waltz of the Damned” from Kingdom Hearts, so I wanted to try composing something closer to Alan Menken’s enchanting soundtrack, while keeping the light-hearted bounce of Kingdom Hearts music.



Ever notice that the “Prologue” from Beauty and the Beast sounds a bit like “Aquarium” from Saint-SaĆ«ns’ Carnival of the Animals?

November 13, 2008

Sick Fingers

Hello! I’m still alive; I’ve just been down and out. I have a few YouTube covers in line for when I’m feeling better, like an F-Zero medley and “Space Junk Galaxy,” which might be more appropriate for my sick fingers at the moment. Hopefully I’ll be back in shape soon!

October 17, 2008

“Freezeflame Galaxy” Video, from Super Mario Galaxy

I was toying around with the idea of a “cold versus hot” medley, using the Freezeflame and Melty Molten Galaxy themes from Super Mario Galaxy. They complement each other so well – they’re in the same key and completely opposite in character. Freezeflame is sparse and electronic, while Melty Molten is epic and orchestral.

Sadly, I’ve been having trouble playing Melty Molten, so here’s Freezeflame Galaxy on the piano by itself.


October 16, 2008

“Boss Battle Piano Medley” Sheet Music and Video


Format: PDF
Difficulty: Advanced
Info: A monster medley of boss battles that I arranged last year, as a present for a friend. These pieces are included in the medley, however extensive or brief (click on them to hear the originals):
If you decide to perform this, please credit me for the arrangement. (It’d also be nice if you’d let me know where I can see you play it, though it’s not necessary.) Thanks!


October 14, 2008

“Song of Healing” and “Fairy Fountain” Sheet Music, from the Legend of Zelda Series

Two Zelda tunes for pianists of all skill levels!


Format: PDF
Difficulty: Beginner-Intermediate
Info: From Majora’s Mask. I made this for one of my piano students (who played it beautifully! I was so proud of her.)

Format: PDF
Difficulty: Advanced
Info: From Link to the Past, and heard in nearly every Zelda game after that.

October 1, 2008

“Shadow’s End Forest” Video, from Chrono Cross

My arrangement of “Shadow’s End Forest” from Chrono Cross, for six hands (three pianos).


September 27, 2008

Fall of Innocence

“Fall of Innocence” is a piano solo that I composed for my good friend, Dianne. When we were 17, she opened her heart to me and told me about her mother’s tragedy from her childhood. Inspired by her courageous smile after her loss, I wrote this while thinking of her.

September 10, 2008

“Comet Observatory Medley” Video, from Super Mario Galaxy

My arrangement of the “Comet Observatory” theme, “Rosalina’s Story” and part of “Sad Story” from Super Mario Galaxy.


September 1, 2008

Zelda: Ocarina of Time Videos

An OoT medley and cover of “Zora’s Domain,” performed by yours truly! OoT is a game that’s near and dear to my heart, and I’ve been playing a lot of these songs on my piano since childhood.



July 24, 2008

Music from Ponyo and the Mononoke Symphonic Suite, by Joe Hisaishi

The new Miyazaki movie, Ponyo On A Cliff By The Sea came to theaters while I was in Japan! I wish I had known... I didn’t end up seeing it, but since I’m a big Joe Hisaishi fan, I picked up the soundtrack before I left Tokyo.

I’m a little disappointed because it’s not as melodically memorable as Hisaishi’s recent Ghibli soundtracks, but it still has lovely bits of his style and his richest orchestrations yet. I think my dismay comes from the movie itself, not Hisaishi’s talent - Ponyo seems to be geared toward a younger crowd than Miyazaki’s previous movies. As a result, its music sounds cheerful and heroic with open chords and harmonies, rather than mysterious and surprising like Hisaishi’s work on Spirited Away or elegant and breathtaking like that of Howl’s Moving Castle. The Ponyo soundtrack is still fantastic and has many gems; I was just hoping that more of it would be like his other music that I’ve come to love.

On another note (pun totally intended), I’ve been listening to Hisaishi’s Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite a lot lately, specifically a track that I never paid attention to before - “The Forest of the Deer God.” It’s amazing. The Deer God’s theme in the movie is pretty simple, but the expanded symphonic version is a full exploration of the melody that borders on Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” When your favorite film composer is capable of writing music like that, it’s inspiring to know that great movie soundtracks and great classical music can exist in the same world.