Chudah's Corner - Liner Notes

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon Original Soundtrack

Catalog Number: SSCX-10014
Translation By: Ongakusei

Liner Notes

Hello everyone. I'm Hamauzu, the composer for this game. It's a strange name, but please remember it.

Well now, the music for Chocobo's Mysterious dungeon, which I was unexpectedly given charge of. . . When one says "Chocobo", I'm sure you all think of Uematsu-san's famous theme, right? I think I was still in senior high when that lovable character first made its debut in the Final Fantasy series. And accompanying that debut in the game was a perfectly matched theme. "Man, I'd love to try doing this kind of work", I often thought back then. Fast forward to today. . . And here's my senpai Uematsu saying "Chocobo has his own game now? My, how interesting!". He asks me, "Would you like to try this?". "Please let me!" I respond. Afterwards, realizing I would actually be writing the Chocobo music, I was filled with both happiness and apprehension. It was my first time doing anything like this, and I couldn't figure out how to go about writing music to match an image. I finally resolved to do the opening and ending themes with an orchestra, and was permitted such an extravagance. What's more, I'd even said I would handle the arrangement myself. Apparently, no newcomers had ever shown such audacity. But since I never expected to be allowed to do it, I was thrilled. The prospect of me, just a free-wheeling college student not too long before, facing down a 50-piece orchestra scared me stiff and seemed impossible. But because of this (I think), I managed to finish my mysterious music for Mysterious Dungeon. I hope you enjoy its strange atmosphere.

In closing, I would like to thank those who gave me the opportunity to make this CD. Well then, what now? Please wait for the next Hamauzu work. I thank you for your support.

-Masashi Hamauzu

Born Sept.9, 1971 in Munich, Germany. Majored in music at the Tokyo University of Art. Made the unusual transition from classical vocal music to game music composition. Has recently been listening to French music of all eras, and says that influence is probably apparent in Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon.