orchestra Symphonic Variations on "Dark Sanctuary" | From the game "DELTARUNE" | Progress Update

hi

been working on this piece for a month now, almost straight after "Your Reality," and around the release of Deltarune's Chapter 3+4. i was super inspired by the new osts so i decided to make a "theme and variations" piece from one of them. you could see it as the next step in my "actually learning orchestration journey," after making an arrangement, i guess

this time (unlike the previous variations piece), i've divided the variations into three parts.

the piece is halfway done in DAW, so i've started to make the score. also, when i do so, i usually polish and look for parts that I can optimize at the same time.

the score currently contains only the introduction and the theme since that's the only progress that I've made with scoring.

instrumentation : 3(III=pic).3(III=corA).3(III=bc).2 - 4.3.3.1 - timp.perc:glsp/xyl/2toms/sus.cymb/cyms/tgl/tamb - strings

lemme know what ya think and feedbacks are always appreciated!

OST:

this is really great! it's nice to see another deltarune fan on this website. I think this captures the original vibe while putting in your own personality!

I've actually made two songs (seious and energy discharge) made out of only deltarune instruments from chapters 1 and 2! (Note: I cant make one for chapters 3 or 4 because there's no .sf2 online)

12 hours ago, therealAJGS said:

I've actually made two songs (seious and energy discharge) made out of only deltarune instruments from chapters 1 and 2! (Note: I cant make one for chapters 3 or 4 because there's no .sf2 online)

 

i've checked out 'energy discharge,' and i think it's very jumpy and peppy!

12 hours ago, therealAJGS said:

this is really great! it's nice to see another deltarune fan on this website. I think this captures the original vibe while putting in your own personality!

 

yooo didn't think i'd meet a deltarune fan here!!! but thank you!!! and yeah, it is exactly what I'm trying to do with this orchestration of the theme's first introduction. the ost, i think, is much more heavier with the drums and stuff but here, it's very light. i'll be developing a lot more of the theme in the variations, of course.

cool.

Also, Serious is on my "activity" so you won't see it on my home page.

VARIATION 1.

I try to maintain the lightness of the theme's orchestration while adding varieties to the theme. the bit at the end is the transition to the 2nd variation, more dance-like i guess.

I just listened to the whole thing! I really like the variation. It's hard to believe it came from a Toby Fox song. It reminds me of a windy forest or an intro to an old animated 1-off Walt Disney movie. Can't wait for the next variation!

Hi @ferrum.wav!

Nice reorchestration for the wip1, nice build up at the beginning. Nice cor anglais/oboe(?) at the 0:40 passage, and also the underlying clarinet! Like how you keep the opening string accompaniment underneath to provide motions to the variation too, also the drum is slowly reintroduced at the end. You don't waste any of those interesting elements even with just a small time span. Nice job!

Henry

3 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Nice cor anglais/oboe(?) at the 0:40 passage, and also the underlying clarinet!

The passage is indeed an english horn solo, mimicking the OST. Glad you liked the added counterpoint on the clarinet. On the OST, it's just a repetition with thickened accompaniments and more emphasized drums, but I wanted a slight variation.

3 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

Nice reorchestration for the wip1, nice build up at the beginning.

I had to add 2 bars (b.9-10) to wind down the dynamic for the eng.horn solo, which is different from the OST (goes straight for it, doesn't build up to a climax), glad you like the reorchestration!

3 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

You don't waste any of those interesting elements even with just a small time span.

Yeah I noticed the use of tom-toms on the OST and immediately picked up the importance of it, since it provides a unique hemiola rhythm kind of thing.

Thanks for the comments!

Hi @ferrum.wav!

I listened to the original track and your first variation immediately afterward.  They do transition into each other very smoothly!  I think making small changes to each successive variation is going to be the best way to eventually make the piece sound more and more different from the original (but still audibly related) as possible.  That's what I always find most exciting about variation form is that it successively sounds more and more different and further removed from the original and brings a surprising sense of variety despite still being audibly connected to the original theme.  Thanks for sharing and good luck on your successive variations!

P.S.:  I've also recently finished a movement of a giant variations piece.  Check it out if you have a chance!

VARIATION 2  has been fully scored!!! yipiieeee

much more rhythm heavy, orchestration is much more heavier, theme is still very much recognizable, just under different context

Great! I like the toms at 0:19 and the xylophone sounding notes! I also admire how it quiets down at the end. Great job!