How Many Times is PRELUDE Used in FINAL FANTASY XIV?

[@Rides1283man]

ONES I MISSED: - SHB: Four-Fold Knowing also has Theme 2 - SHB: The Dark Which Illuminates the World - SHB: Torn From the Heavens/The Dark Colossus Destroys All - Medley Version - EW: Athena, The Tireless One is actually arpeggiation, not Prelude. - DT: The Interphos (phase 1) [theme 2] Bonus: - Riding Home has the same shape as Theme 2, but a different rhythm and starting scale degree. It is possible that the two are connected! I'll be keeping the spreadsheet in the description up to date with the timestamps as well.

[@Lucy-dg9en]

In dawntrail the lvl 99 dungeon also has a snippet of it I think Edit: it does, at exactly one minute in

[@Rides1283man]

@@Lucy-dg9en In another thread I explained why I don't see this as Prelude. Tl;dr the notes aren't the same

[@dbappio]

would you say flow has the prelude in it? it's at roughly 2 minutes and 40 seconds in

[@Rides1283man]

I'm not really hearing Prelude from that, no

[@beurtalvarez]

Kainé Prelude version from last NieR raid (I don't think it's the same as Dark Colossus which IIRC is the second raid). Great job overall

[@AJarOfYams]

FFXIV feels like one big love letter to the franchise by the franchise

[@sammicopor]

Thats exactly why I love it, it has the social aspect of 11 but it plays like a game within a game.

[@titusfortunus2916]

Because it is. In fact, one of its original marketing slogans was advertised, to me, as "Like a Final Fantasy Playground, where you can relive the first time for every final fantasy". Yoshida is the biggest final fantasy nerd and loves all of them. Vivi, Zidane, Garnet, and Steiner, Cloud, Aerith, Tifa, and Barret, Lightning, Tidus, Noctis, Bartz, Kain Highwind, even Tactics' Belouve siblings Alma and Ramza. THE GOLD SAUCER IS RIGHT THERE! God I love this game.

[@Extremely_Casual]

If you've never played it, you should

[@AJarOfYams]

@@Extremely_Casual I have, from mid ARR to somewhere in Shadowbringer

[@sammicopor]

​@@titusfortunus2916 I really dig the gold saucer. My first time being there, i spent two hours & earned 28k mgp.

[@Novakixx]

Weight of the World - Prelude version still gives me chills

[@seiverdamross]

It is super good and it was also not done by soken

[@zerosolis6664]

​@@seiverdamrossContrary to popular belief, Soken actually doesn't really compose all the music. He will do the building blocks, the motifs and main themes of all the soundtracks that we all love, and ofc he absolutely does stuff like Alexander music, A Long Fall, etc etc, but he actually has a team of composers that he supervises that do the majority of arrangements. Like for example, DT level 97 dungeon is probably Takafumi Imamura.

[@AllMyJalens]

@@zerosolis6664 the fanbase sees Soken as the head Chef essentially so anything that comes out of the proverbial kitchen, gets his praise. It makes sense not everyone will understand the inner working so how the music is composed even I don’t.

[@zombiesxaliens]

@@AllMyJalens Doesn't help that the rest of the music composition team doesn't get the spotlight so we simply don't know who to praise!

[@iaxacs3801]

Knowing what that song is about and where it plays in Automata. The Prelude version to me is your answer of resolve after the question gets asked

[@TKGPYT]

They're usually not at all subtle about it, but I never clocked that in Where the Hearth Is before. Excellent selection!

[@Rides1283man]

@@TKGPYT glad you got something out of the video!

[@Gee-xb7rt]

Masayoshi Soken considers himself above all a jazz composer, so his use of riffs like this is common in his work, a really good example is Abyssos 8 which is a total mashup of every piece of music that was ever used as a theme for Lahabrea.

[@Rides1283man]

@Gee-xb7rt do you have a source for that comment? I'm very curious about that. But also I don't know what the relevance between being jazz composer and using leitmotifs is.

[@Gee-xb7rt]

​@@Rides1283man About the jazz? I don't have any quotes or footnotes for you. I don"t know the best way to explain these things, a riff is the same as a motif, and a lietmotif is a specific kind of riff/motif. I am not a lore guy but P8 includes stuff like Akademia Anyder because the last zone is Lahabrea's experimentation in phantomology or something like that. While it is a riff/motif its not exactly leitmotif in this instance, i don't think? The idea of jazz is constantly playing with motifs/riffs, how people can improv jazz, one person plays a riff/motif and the next person adds their own riff and they just build like that.

[@Rides1283man]

@@Gee-xb7rt That's not really what jazz is. A leitmotif is a motif that represents something, a jazz riff doesn't have anything to do with this. Neither is jazz about stacking riffs; the only real "requirements" for jazz are syncopation, improvisation, and unique harmony. I'm fully aware of all the themes Embers incorporates. But jazz was never about referencing existing themes, so I'm not sure why you said that Soken was a jazz composer.

[@archon5878]

Hearing the ARR pieces feels so bittersweet. It makes me miss the early ARR days and all the friends from 10 years ago who no longer play :(

[@keiichimorisato98]

My fsvorite expansions of FFXIV are ARR and Stormblood. ARR felt like a fantastic beginning brimming with potential. Stormblood because it was the expansion I no lifed.

[@Scampist]

is also the first few notes of Prelude, just really fast!

[@Rides1283man]

Wow!! I never realised this, this is nuts

[@farlado5459]

also is from Prelude

[@MadisonFigueiredo]

It's neat to see how the FFIV second melody became just as important as the original tune. Not just applying to FFXIV of course. I knew it was used a lot in XIV, didn't know it was that much. Nice job!

[@Rides1283man]

True! It's also really simple (at least in the beginning), just an elaboration of a neighbour group. Very easy to weave into other things!

[@Staringathesun]

Not surprised that Endwalker loved the prelude. Really added to the "Finality" that expansion offered.

[@Funami2006]

The answer is pretty much everywhere they can get away with. They will find any excuse to use it in whatever song they want because it’s so easy to slip in.

[@Narlaw1199]

After being stuck in p8sp1 for months, I'm ashamed to never have noticed the Prelude in Embers!

[@chcc12]

I do love how it features in every main menu theme

[@SakuraNene-]

There are 2 more preludes in DT from what I've noticed. Both of them are in the last boss themes. The one in the first phase is very subtle, the one in the second phase is right on your face

[@Rides1283man]

I found the first one, but I've not managed to hear it in the Phase 2 theme. If you're referring to the sweeping happening throughout the track it's not Prelude, the track either uses arpeggiation or outright scale. Unless there's a specific timestamp I'm missing in that track.

[@RobinsMusic]

@@Rides1283manthere is no prelude in phase 2

[@Rides1283man]

@@RobinsMusic good to know I'm not missing anything "right on my face"

[@robomega3893]

The great thing about prelude is that because it's just going up and down the scale, it can be used as rhythmic background in pretty much any piece

[@Rides1283man]

@@robomega3893 yes, exactly. The 1-2-3-5 pattern being four notes means that the onbeat will always be 1!

[@Rondart]

This needs to have more views. Commenting for algorithm!

[@hugoboncar]

Omg, I never realised how much this theme was EVERYWHERE

[@mulefatelluri]

Admittedly it's an extremely new track so I wouldn't say you missed it, but the lvl 99 dungeon in DT has a small section about a minute in that's a dead ringer for prelude

[@Rides1283man]

@@mulefatelluri Ah you're absolutely right. I'll append that to the description

[@Rides1283man]

On second thought, it sounds more like an arpeggiation than Prelude.

[@bakubread9308]

@@Rides1283man no it's definitely the Prelude

[@Rides1283man]

@bakubread9308 I hear the notes for each chord change. It's playing Ab C Eb G (arpeggio of AbM7) and then G C D F (arpeggio of G7sus4). It's not exactly Prelude. Prelude uses scale degrees 1 2 3 5 as opposed to an arpeggio which uses 1 3 5 for a triad, 1 3 5 7 for a seventh chord, or replacing 3 with 4 in a suspension. The problem with deeming it Prelude is it opens up any arpeggiation with the same contour to being Prelude, and I figure that's way too broad in order to consider everything under that umbrella to be Prelude. It's in a sort of a grey area I suppose, I'll just leave it for now

[@bakubread9308]

@@Rides1283man I mean, many of these aren't EXACTLY prelude, but its very clearly meant to be referential to it

[@CorruptedMaterial]

excellent compilation, never noticed many of these

[@ZetLeonhart]

clicked out of curiosity and because how can i scroll past xiv music spent 9 minutes and 34 seconds leaking tears

[@FishyAshB]

The melody itself is extremely flexible, harmonically speaking, so they really can just sneak it into almost anything

[@Ktjnn]

I love how FF gets 2 iconic tracks that are instantly recognizable. Prelude and the FF theme.

[@ShoHidari]

love ffxiv's usage of eastwest, symphonic orchestra

[@aylaveen]

welp i didn't notice that athena song has that melody. what an amazing observation

[@canslough7966]

Glad this video popped up in suggestions!

[@Avengedtenfold]

It's also played very briefly in Dawntrail's Anatomy Of Existence, the lv 99 Dungeon theme.

[@Rides1283man]

There is a whole other comment thread and I concluded that I wasn't gonna add it for now, as I identified it to have the wrong notes for Prelude

[@blackh9604]

A Cold Wind has got to be my favorite use of the prelude (and Torn From the Heavens of course)

[@bickieeeeee]

i think you can also hear it in the crystarium day theme, im not sure what the actual name of the song is though

[@Rides1283man]

You're absolutely right. It's called The Dark Which Illuminates the World. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@Zanguza]

It's almost like finding an audio easter egg whenever I hear those tingling arpeggio notes. Now I'll never stop hearing it in the one's I missed like Embers or Fleeting Moment.

[@Cue-Ball.]

I wouldn't call the Athena one the Prelude. Just because an instrument is arpegiating a chord doesn't instantly = Prelude. The Prelude specifically has to be a "add 9" chord as that's what Uematsu wrote, not any random chord apreggio.

[@Rides1283man]

I think you're right, I just relistened and I'm hearing 1 3 5 7 arpeggiating seventh chords. I didn't think Anatomy of Existence qualified for the same reason. Thanks for pointing this out I'd still like to clarify that Prelude is not an add9 chord, but rather the 2nd scale degree is used as a passing tone.

[@strf90105]

Torn From The Heavens will always be one of my favorite renditions of prelude.

[@SPyoutube42069]

saw thumbnail and idk I wouldn't be terribly surprised if we were looking at a 50+ number at this point lol

[@SPyoutube42069]

oh shit I was close lol

[@chcc12]

I put prelude in it, and but it, I mean my penitus

[@Rides1283man]

@@chcc12 banger

[@andyoh1987]

Discoveries is probably my all-time favorite prelude; it feels like coming home.

[@chabon31]

The voidcast savior is probably my favorite piece of music from endwalker, it perfectly encapsulates my first experience with this series (FFIV) The prelude is the cherry on top

[@sashaanne703]

Fun fact: the original prelude was written in a major time crunch when the game director basically said “hey, we need a theme to go here, and you have 30 minutes to do it.”

[@Kaligraphy22]

Hearing the Heavensward Prelude (A Cold Wind) always gave me the best chills. It's so.... majestic and daring? I dunno how to describe it but I love it. Sorely missed it once the expansion moved on.

[@TormentedLion789]

This is a great video! I love this motif and how FFXIV uses motifs throughout the expansions. I had no idea my favourite songs like A Fine Death and Where The Hearth is used this, it's been so eye-opening!! thank you for this vid ❤️

[@TheNatix26]

Remembrance, the best prelude of every FF

[@TheSingingBUn]

Its best to understand that the crystal prelude is none other than a leitmotif of the warrior of light and their guided journey under Haedelyn's guidance

[@Quget]

Goosebumps!

[@こったこたろー]

うおおおおおお　すごい！気付かなかった！

[@Im____ltm]

Chills everywhere

[@gianghuynh9570]

I love the Weight of the World usage if the prelude. For a single moment in an intense fight we are reminded, this is still Final Fantasy.

[@vellusviridi]

Well at the very least you missed Torn From the Heavens/The Dark Colossus Destroys All - Medley Version , but great compilation.

[@Rides1283man]

Ah you're right!! Thanks for pointing that out

[@alliaxandromeda]

ShB: Wind on the Plains (Bozja) has a prelude starting at around 0:13

[@Rides1283man]

@@alliaxandromeda That isn't Prelude, just some ascending and descending figures that might resemble Prelude

[@Amaz3ke]

Hard for me to tell which of these is my favorite iteration, if i had to choose i guess Heartless.

[@Sweet_marcipan]

you can hear a snippet of it in the day theme in urqopacha

[@royox]

2:05 wait, I can't hear it on this one...where should I put the attention?

[@Rides1283man]

Pizzicato strings in the background. You might have to turn up the audio!

[@shplonkus]

I might be mistaken but i believe scale and steel is the ayz lia liet motiff

[@Rides1283man]

That's the main melody playing; listen closely and you will hear Prelude in the background

[@shplonkus]

@@Rides1283man oh shit i hear it now

[@Ravio.Helianthus]

Now I'm curious about FFXVI's Prelude count

[@Rides1283man]

Whenever the PC port comes out I think I'll be diving into their OST just as well. In a previous video someone asked for something similar and I let them know that I've been avoiding FFXVI music as to not be spoiled; I haven't even heard Find the Flame het

[@virgilthemob1242]

​@@Rides1283manYou won't be disappointed when you hear it. Soken cooked hard.

[@ashercameron]

And you can definitely hear influences of XVI’s soundtrack in DT.

[@byrner510]

The first 3 combo trial mounts use the prelude, ShB doesn't. Fenrir mount also uses it

[@u155247]

I'm not sure, but Queen Eternal Trial theme, the beginning of second phase sounds a little like this Prelude.

[@Rides1283man]

That's arpeggiation

[@doctorcoke5072]

I'm sure I heard the prelude in the Urqopacha day theme (I don't know what it's called).

[@Rides1283man]

@@doctorcoke5072 another commented this as well; I think the section you're referring to just uses the same pitches. It has a similar contoir but it's not in the same pattern as Prelude (climaxes at ^3 instead of ^1)

[@professionalfangster1510]

Its almost annoying how much it gets used in 14, but somehow, I still love it. Im gonna get sick of it eventually, im sure.

[@skooterboyle1991]

For DT it's not just that prelude -- it's the main theme that's used in the trailer.

[@Rides1283man]

Where in the trailer theme is Prelude?

[@skooterboyle1991]

@@Rides1283man The theme *is* the prelude basically -- different tempo plus that drumbeat, but if you listen to the Prelude and keep it in your head when the vocals start in the theme I think you'll hear it.

[@skooterboyle1991]

Or while listening to the Prelude on the login screen, see if you can fit the lyrics to it: Time / No more once upon a time Take flight / Find your wings and spread them wide It's time / For the journey of our lives

[@Rides1283man]

@@skooterboyle1991 Oh , that's what you mean. Yeah, that's obvious, but it wasn't the focus of my video. You can find all the other motifs I've located on the spreadsheet in the description.

[@demolisherbpb3390]

Saying FF VI added the second part. This is Symphonic Suite erasure (I do understand the Suite version is much softer and not even the compleate thing, but it clearly was the basis for it in VI onwards)

[@gabbatron7032]

What a beautfiul comprehensive video i love rides1283man like if you agre

[@BuckyDK]

02:38 haha

[@thomasnguyen4427]

prelude demastered was a thing in ffxiv patch 6.4??!?! Where exactly tho?!?!

[@Rides1283man]

@@thomasnguyen4427 It was used in The Rising 2023!

[@llyando]

Neat

[@lostvii5594]

Pretty sure any ff fan knows this is an obvious ff signature melody.

[@Rides1283man]

Point being?

[@SeralyneYT]

I do not hear it in "Where the Heart is". As for Four-Fold Knowing, it *also* has Theme 2. It's the strings you hear in-between the harp. There are also hints of Theme 2 in Prelude - Tales.

[@Rides1283man]

For Where the Hearth Is, Theme 2 is just the four notes I included. Theme 1 is then at a later part at very high register - strain your ears. For Four-fold Knowing, that was glaringly obvious and was my editing mistake

[@SeralyneYT]

@@Rides1283man Also, noticed an error in your spreadsheet - Cyan's Theme is from Final Fantasy 6, not 3! You're probably aware of it already, but the only place FF6 was ever released as FF3 was in North America haha. You're using the Japanese/Global naming scheme elsewhere in the doc, with FF4 actually being listed as FF4 and not FF2, so I figured this was just a hasty mistake

[@Rides1283man]

@@SeralyneYT I had no idea there was a whole thing with that! I'm not familiar with the other FFs at all so I must've just copied it from inconsistent sources. Thanks

[@Golbez42]

FFIV deserves the remake treatment

[@d.3nd352]

What about "recounter" from ShB?😮

[@Rides1283man]

Where in Rencounter?

[@ProfessM]

Soken and his team use Prelude like it was a damn musical instrument all on its own. It needs more Prelude!

[@Zephhi]

Too many times to be honest lmao

[@Cue-Ball.]

Nah. You don't notice it that much if you aren't literally looking out for it like here.

[@keiichimorisato98]

I fucking ADORE the FF Prelude, especially when the vocals kick in, just shivers. And as a big fan of the prelude, I notice it everything it is used in FFXIV, which is a lot, and absolutely amazing.