Style: Piano interpretations of video game music
Primary Emotions/Themes: Like seeing an old friend for the first time in years, it's a bit different but so very similar at the same time
Thoughts: Celeste is one of the better video games in the last ten years. The soundtrack may very well be the best in that time frame. I can't express enough how much I love Lena Raine's compositions. They are at the very apex of what video game music can and should be. The perfect mix of memorable melodies and the sound that makes the music distinctly within the video game music genre.
What would happen if we took the sound away though? Replaced with piano? Does it still have the same appeal? Does the music still hold up?
The music is indeed different, but different isn't always bad. In fact, Celeste's music lends itself particularly well to this type of interpretation. The melodies hold up despite the instrumentation used. In many ways the change in instrument gives the music a new character, a bit more tenderness than it has with the synths. Other times the acoustic nature of the piano reminds me of why the synths are better suited for this music. Either way though the music itself holds up incredibly well regardless of what it's being played on.
I'm normally not a huge fan of reinterpretations of video game music soundtracks. I prefer to let the original stand on it's own. While the soundtrack will get a ton more play from me than the piano collections, this album does have a place in my collection. It reminds me of how beautiful music Lena's music can be even when not played in the original context.
Written June 5th 2024
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