A Pinkie Pie track that isn’t about her being hyperactive and zany? Alright, I’m game. Nothing over the top here, just the sweet noise of Celestia bringing in the morning. The birds sounding off and Pinkie with Gummy in their bed just wanting just a tad more shuteye. The arrangement is this serene piano, along with these harmonizing cords of violins and cellos. It’s almost like this is what Pinkie’s mind is like when resting before it’s time to get up and start trying to make some pony’s day! A lovely gift from Altius Volantis to Makenshi for his birthday. Something different about Pinkie Pie, this will do. As always, this Qilin asks you to judge for yourself.
Orchestral
RedSpark – Battle, Fallen and Epilogue | Orchestral / Soundtrack
In this finale to his concept series, A Tale of Starlight, RedSpark introduces Battle, Fallen and Epilogue – a stirring musical rendering of Starlight Glimmer’s epic battle with evil forces after Twilight became ruler of Equestria. Each movement of the piece corresponds to a scene in the story. First, a gentle piano accompanied by strings sets the stage of the calm before the storm of battle. Next, we hear the sound of war drums, choirs, and horns with a “Pirates of the Caribbean” feel, marking the breakout of an epic confrontation. After this, the music transitions into solemn strings and choirs, and we feel that the enemy has struck our hero to the ground. A grand orchestral section eventually whittles down to a few keys on the piano, conveying uncertainty and the possibility that the hero has suffered defeat. Gradually, however, with resolute strings and horns, the music builds and crescendos into strength and hopefulness. We can hear that our hero has risen to launch one last attack against the enemy – an attack that vanquishes the darkness once and for all! A victorious anthem plays to signify the heroes reveling in triumph! To convey the journey of the exhausted but triumphant warriors as they head homeward, a soothing piano melody wafts over the listener like a lullaby. Don’t miss this inspiring orchestral piece that beautifully concludes this inspiring saga following Starlight Glimmer in her epic battle against evil, and also be sure to check out RedSpark’s full story behind the music, A Tale of Starlight, on Fimfiction, as well!
Altius Volantis – Winter Sunrise | Orchestral
Written as the theme for the upcoming online convention, Snowfall ONLINE 2021, this track skillfully depicts a winter sunrise with its brisk beauty tinged with the harshness of the season. An ongoing tension can be felt throughout, as if the earth is slumbering, but mysteries yet to be revealed are hidden beneath its surface, ready to burst forth with spring’s arrival. In the intro, the sound of church bells carried along by brisk winds immediately brings to mind the mingling of winter’s playful and harsher elements. Strings play a slightly melancholy yet hopeful melody, while plucky sounds create an upbeat, “frolicking-through-the-snow mood. Gentle bells suggest winter delight and tranquility, but heavier strings intermittently suggest its darker side. Layer by layer, the piece adds more and more instruments as the track progresses. Finally, however, the piece reverts back to the church bells that sounded at the beginning. I’m sure the attendees will enjoy listening to it as they attend the convention. Enjoy this contrast of the dark and bright elements of winter!
Koron Korak – Goodbye Can Also Be A New Hello | Hybrid Orchestral
To say that the official reveal of MLP’s fifth generation has inspired people to create many forms of art would be a massive understatement. Even between the accidental reveal of a bedspread containing three of its main characters and the official reveal showing screenshots from the upcoming movie, fan creations came out in droves. Songs have been one of these forms, notably MelodyBrony’s Onward, and Koron Korak’s latest outing, Goodbye Can Also Be A New Hello. The latter song is a trance piece that oozes optimism to the nth degree. Many of the instruments work in harmony to capture that feeling of moving on to great things. Piano and synth sounds permeate through its two and a half minute length and really cut through the mix right next to the punchy drums. The hopeful melody is created by strings which also adds a sense of adventure, something I’m sure we can all feel now that we’re heading into new territory. The future ahead of us is filled with hope and possibility; if we’re already bombarded with fan content that’s this good when we barely have anything to work with at all, who knows how far it’ll go when the movie and show come out?
Aurelleah – Lex Aeterna | Hybrid Orchestral
I want to start off this article by telling you that as someone who fights with my own brain and being familiar to the issues of having ADHD and anxiety and what comes with those battles, I can very much understand Aurelleah’s own struggles. I found out from a friend of mine that Aurelleah has had to face those same issues and more. However as he had said, he fought hard with determination and fortitude, and he has finished his first piece of fandom music in 3 years! Given how epic this piece is, I say it’s a very inspiring thing to do; mental illness doesn’t wait for you, it just hits and affects you at any time. Pushing on and keeping going is not easy. After I heard this piece of music, I heard the love and passion in it. There are so many elements blending together in the work itself; you’re treated to a soft opening of light and soft melodies of pianos, acoustic guitar, and soft vocal harmonies along with some lore to the song in the video, and then you get the start of the song.
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Thunder Dash – The Overcomers | Piano Solo
This encouraging new track from Thunder Dash embodies the message of overcoming life’s many obstacles. The piece is divided into three distinct movements, all representing different phases of the life’s journey. A light and happy melody, introduced at the beginning and played throughout, produces an overall feel of positivity and optimism. This melody, however, falters deliberately at times, suggesting that life is not perfect, but it’s important to keep on going despite obstacles and mistakes. A darker section in the middle of the piece seems to represent the times when life’s struggles can feel almost overwhelming; the times when doubt and fear obscure our vision of the light at the end of the tunnel. However, joyful and encouraging tones quickly return, reminding us that life’s obstacles do not represent the end of the road and do not need to be permanent roadblocks that define us. For all of us who falter or fall at times, the message of this piece is to always get back up and to keep pushing forward with hope and determination. With major and minor key shifts and changes from higher to lower registers on the piano, life’s hills and valleys is clearly depicted, but the piece ends on a high note of victory over life’s struggles.
Dandelion – Art Of The Dress (feat. Aleksey) (Covering Daniel Ingram) | Orchestral
So, everypony, today we’ve got something a bit different. Dandelion got together with a friend (Aleksey) who isn’t actually a brony and got him to play the show’s “Art of the Dress” on a big great grand piano and the result sounds fantastic. Afterwards Dandelion only re-recorded the last part to make it a bit more fortissimo. The entire song is completely without the lyrics and it actually works pretty well! Dandelion also added a subtle bit of orchestra that gives the whole song this beautiful background, and that orchestration also closes the song, making for a great outro.
Thanks to thecanderson for proofreading!
VibePoniez – Overcast | Compilation Album | Multi-Genre
This all-out-attack article is co-written by DrakeEmberHeart and Cynifree.
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[VibePoniez] Skyshard – Season Fantasy | Chillout
Today we return once more to the newest VibePoniez Album, “Overcast“. Skyshard’s contribution is “Season Fantasy”, a lovely Symphony full of happy melodies and all-around great music! The song begins with a happy and calming melody which is later joined by additional instruments fronted by some upbeat strings. A bit later on the song changes and we get a slightly different melody but it still keeps its happy, calming feeling. Closer to the middle the song calms a bit and most of the instruments drop off while only some strings and a synth play. Later those other elements are slowly added back in, and the song gradually returns to its previous form, giving us this lovely progression. Later on the song gets even fuller, and let me tell you–this fullness, especially as the song is nearing the end, is something you see very rarely. It’s this perfect combination of many things happening at the same time and not overloading the track. We end this beautiful piece with an outro of just the strings and a synth.
Thanks to thecanderson for proofreading this article!
Night Blaze – The Night the Lunar Ground Shifted | Orchestral / Soundtrack
Night Blaze creates a beautifully powerful mood in this orchestral piece that conveys an epic, interstellar feel from start to finish. The track skillfully balances the deep and dark elements of the night with the nighttime’s lighter elements of majesty and peace. The track begins with heavy, sustained piano chords that establish a weighty atmosphere. Soon, a twinkling melody casts forth the warm glow of a sky filled with constellations. Later, this light melody falls away and is replaced by emotional strings and majestic choirs undergirded by tympanic drumbeats of war in the heavens. Finally, the orchestra pulls away to highlight the piano and return to the beginning melody, creating a more peaceful, “the storm has passed” mood. Still, the solemn piano chords continue to the end, hinting that behind the curtain of beauty painted by the peaceful night, the storm has left much sadness and pain in its wake.
Horse Music Herald 