Well, Matt and I have finally come together to work on this update. While he still needs to be further hazed to be able to solo an update, he's here to help out with all the stuff that I'm just too tired to do. He and I actually had dreadfully long days, functioning on two hours of sleep each. I don't know specifically went through today, but I can tell you that I've been occupied with either classes, lessons, concerts, or rehearsals since I woke up this morning, and it seems I must stay up later to train Mr. RedBeastMage so he can eventually do a better job as curator than I was/am.

I don't know why I thought last month's challenge would be successful, since philosophy in music is something that I would be loathe to touch in my own music. Anyway, Matt and I have come up with a nicer and simpler challenge for December:

Arrange a battle theme!

Really, that's it. I'd like to make a request otherwise for holiday-themed remixes, a lot like the challenge I posed around this time last year.

So, here's Matt:

<Trick> okay, now, I think just a few sentences saying 'Hi...' is all I need from
        you now.
<Trick> or one sentence.
<Trick> or just
<Trick> 'Hi'
<RedBeastMage> WAZZUP!....no don't use that

Seriously though:

Hello everyone. My name is Matt Foster, also known as RedBeastMage. Over the next week or two, I will be moving into the sound test as new curator. I will speak more about myself in time, but for now check out my bio if you want to get a head start on things. Until I completely take curatorship, I will be speaking to you through Trick. So until next week, take care, and listen to some good music.

Matt has also provided the comments on this week's submission, Niels van der Leest's famed 'Final Fantasy the Ninth' for percussion ensemble, now with a better quality recording!

The themes all fit together nicely within each respective work. Some transitions feel a bit to abrubt, or allow to much silence. The first [movement] wasn't much my style, and some tempo choices didn't agree with me. But the recording was fantasically done. Nice reverb and ambience.

Really, the recording quality is much better than its previous iteration, and knowing my penchant for live recordings of remixes, this is something that shouldn't be passed up.

Remember, Sound Test now has a designated IRC chatroom on Espernet, #operahouse. Be sure to read the RPGamer IRC guide for more information.

and Matt 'RedBeastMage' Foster
Music Submissions - music@rpgamer.com

This week's audio selections Final Fantasy the Ninth Part I: Meeting the Friends Part II: The Journey Part III: Finale (Final Fantasy IX) Niels van der Leest - website At last I made a better recording of this piece. It took a lot of time and effort, but it’s worth it (I think). This recording is played by my students, and a few parts by myself, and with a lot of help from my brother in law Paul on guitar en his friend Marc on bass. Here’s the theme’s I used for the 3 parts. Part 1: Meeting the Friends · Zidane’s theme · Garnet’s theme · Steiner’s theme · Vivi’s theme Part 2: The Journey · Night over Alexandria · Ice Cavern · Battle theme · Song of memories · Quina’s theme Part 3: Finale · Rebirth of the evil mist · Assault of the white dragons · Mix of: Dark Messenger and the Battle theme