Relax and Reflect - A Fading Summer's Eve (Final Fantasy XV piano cover)

The peaceful campfire song from FFXV. This arrangement has an improvisatory quality to it and veers into virtuosic territory in the middle section. I remember learning just the notes for this piece a year ago and giving up because of the impossible rhythms. I gave it another shot about 2 months ago, and only after endless metronome work did it finally begin to make sense. It's a pity this didn't make it into the official Piano Collections, as it's the most successful (and fun) arrangement in my opinion.
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
Music Arranger: Takuro Iga
Transcribed by Alistair Mithras: • FINAL FANTASY XV Origi...
Piano: Kawai Novus NV-10
Piano VST: Garritan CFX Full
My current CFX settings: forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthread...

[@rach3master]

That's it! I've come up with a new recipiece!

[@Abdullah_571]

そっか！新しいレシピが思いついたぞ！

[@ThiNguyen-hz4gp]

Can’t wait to try it

[@nature3510]

Ignis lol :’)

[@Stary_Skies1]

Ugh- low-key crush 😻

[@Fanchen]

Love how happy this is. Those rhythms must have been a grind, masterful as always.

[@ah.yes.indeed]

finding fanchen randomly :O

[@purpleschala]

AHHHHH SO FREAKING AMAZING INCREDIBLE JOB AS USUAL!!!!!

[@rach3master]

Thanks! It's a mystery all right. Thankfully, we have some people willing to do the grunt work of transcribing.

[@toaster8005]

I love listening to literally anything you play, please never stop uploading xD

Very beautiful rendition!!

[@arni3l]

"Hey, where'd you learn that one, rach3?" Seriously, I am a big fan of your work! You've inspired me to keep practicing.

[@gamerchords4526]

Such a beautiful cover!!! 🤩 I played this MULTIPLE times; you nailed it 👏🏼

[@samoyed7895]

I recently found your ffxv covers - you are so talented!! Thank you for sharing these with us :)

[@Briang1108]

Another stunning performance from you. What a wonderful piece this is. Not easy - technically and rhythmically challenging - but you did a great job, as usual.

[@mythun6735]

Another great upload. Thanks a lot.

[@fartisart7266]

my first time seeing one of your videos o.0 damn, how could've i not see any before? AWESOME

[@craigbirnie4152]

Absolutely incredible

[@habama1077]

Amazing display of skill and dedication. That plugin is also insane in quality. I'm planning on transcribing this beast from the original (already done with the first minute or so, but it's in a DAW so it'll be hard to convert to score that isn't pure jank) . It isn't easy, and, while Alstair's transcription is really good,there are a fewmistakes especially in the first part.

[@gilbert356]

I hope to be as good as you someday. I really like your Nier covers. Please keep uploading!

[@patrickseo6529]

This is awesome !

[@mulleralban4703]

Well done for playing this beast. Alistair Mithras really nailed it and it's sad that he's no longer active.

[@alistairmithras8297]

:}

[@NapoleonBonaparteMAGA]

Beautiful

[@johnruelas]

I would say you got those rhythms down pretty well!

[@suzychoi7585]

Nice song, nice piano, nice pianist

[@Rolelo_]

Legend

[@dkallanson9521]

Freakin awesome!! How you're not a professional pianist, Lord only knows!!

[@france4me117]

Beautiful xoxox

[@Carlosyabrudy]

Great achievement here! This one isn’t easy at all

[@AndariReksi]

Thank you for making my instant ramyun tastes fancier 😂😭😊

[@Abdullah_571]

Great

[@fredericfrancoischopin674]

Nice!!! Garritan is the best piano VST

[@fredericfrancoischopin674]

I use in my vídeos.

[@haramari_piano]

👏🏻👏🏻💗💗✨✨

[@themrzakid]

Amazing! I also wonder why they cut it out along with some other good arrangements like Disquiet/Melancholia, which should've easily made it over some other pieces in the final PC version imo.

[@rach3master]

Thanks. Very puzzling. This is the best piano arrangement in the entire OST in my opinion.

[@PancakePvP]

Wow, this arrangement is insanely hard haha. But still keeps the musicality! Great balance. How is the feel of the Kawai Novus NV-10? That's expensive

[@rach3master]

Thanks! I like it a lot. I didn't feel any limitations while playing this piece.

[@MrMarci878]

This sounds wonderful, but you know what. I think I'll just enjoy listening. I wont bother with this for another decade more or less lol F to my hands.

[@rach3master]

F

[@adamthompson7932]

I actually love cooking to this song! 😄

[@suzychoi7585]

Gooourgeos

[@shimamooo]

Wonderful playing. Keep coming back to this! Did you make any changes to the original sheet? I'm noticing a few differences as I try to learn along.

[@rach3master]

Thanks. Yes, I corrected a few mistakes that I heard in the sheet music by ear.

[@nature3510]

Hello i really love your music thank you for sharing!! I am looking for a piano and i saw that you used yamaha and also kawai, which one do you prefer more?

[@rach3master]

Thanks! I prefer Kawai Novus over Yamaha Avantgrand since the action feels slightly more realistic to me.

[@nature3510]

rach3master thank you for your reply, stay safe!

[@MH.Speedcrawler]

I love the diverse musical influences of final fantasy games. Since X, XV is by far my favorite game. The aesthetics, the story and the prequel with Nyx, the mythology really came together for a wonderful experience. Did you play that game too? What did you think? Lovely playing and virtuosic technique as usual! Thank you for bringing back some great memories of mine playing this game.

[@rach3master]

FFX is one of my childhood favorites that I've logged hundreds of hours on across multiple playthroughs! FFXV, in contrast, was a disappointment after 10 years of hype, but I enjoyed the music.

[@MH.Speedcrawler]

rach3master I loved FFX too!! I remember grinding for all the ultimate weapons for each character, maxing out sphere grids and fighting in the end game monster coliseum for hundreds of hours. For some reason, FFXV reminds of FFX. Sorry to hear it was a disappointment to you... What didn’t work for you in FFXV? Did you enjoy the prequel movie with Nyx in the lead?

[@rach3master]

@@MH.Speedcrawler For me, the combat felt very janky and was too easy since you could spam potions without consequence. Also, there were some story pacing issues near the end, especially when it became apparent that a lot of content was cut. And a lot of side quests felt pretty irrelevant, like looking for frogs.

[@MH.Speedcrawler]

rach3master lol. I know what you mean. FFXV was in development for 10 years. They cut a lot of content but tried to release them as updates. The prequel movie with nyx for example was going to be playable originally. But it was a bit too much for one game. I appreciate how ambitious XV wanted to be. I don’t think any battle was any difficult as the pieces you are playing. But some game content could provide some challenge. For me, it was just the Japanese aesthetics that sealed the deal for me. It was mono no aware. Nyx, Luna and noctis are the main cast, a warrior saint, a martyr and a reluctant hero respectively.Your playing captures the spirit of the game so well. I think the developers would appreciate your loving interpretation for sure! Did you play any of the extra content, episodes, etc?

[@MH.Speedcrawler]

rach3master by the way, if looking for frogs yields ribbons, count me in! =P

[@GermanLuk]

Awesome bro, I love FF

[@okame.p1523]

Amazing as always! May i know where do you get the book? Or is it still on sale these day

[@rach3master]

Thanks! There is no official sheet music, but another user has transcribed it themselves. Check my link in the description.

[@okame.p1523]

Thank you so much!! I thought you buy one because in your Somnus video i saw the book you place on your piano xD the one with Noctis and Luna on the cover page!

[@rach3master]

@@okame.p1523 Yes I have that book, which does have official sheet music, but it's missing this piece.

[@okame.p1523]

@@rach3master Oh i see. Is it written in Japanese may i ask?

[@rach3master]

@@okame.p1523 Yes, the only thing in English is the name of the pieces

[@hodor1978]

Thank you for your video and Garritan CFX settings. Have you tried Synchron Pianos ( www.vsl.co.at/en/Synchron_Package/Synchron_Pianos_Bundle )? If yes, how are they comparing to Garritan CFX in terms of playability for a classical pianist, sound realism and dynamic range?

[@rach3master]

Thanks! I've tried the VSL Steinway piano. I know a lot of other people like it, but the sound is too bright and shrill for me personally. I didn't play with it too long to judge the other aspects because I couldn't get past the sound.

[@hodor1978]

@@rach3master Thanks for the feedback. Btw what sample rate do you use as well as buffer size on Garritan? As I see sample rate change the sound significantly. P.S. I've read about Philip Johnston presets for Garritan CFX but couldn't find them (there are no any more on forum.pianoworld.com ). If you have them could you please share them with me? I am your collegiate btw :)

[@rach3master]

@@hodor1978 I use sample rate 44.1k and buffer size 256. Sorry I don't have Philip's settings.

[@RichardYangPiano]

@rach3master, did you have any training in Jazz? I’m trying to learn this piece. I can get the notes. But the rhythm definitely sounds very unnatural. It’s very obvious I’m trying force play jazz from sheet music. Any trick to overcome that? My initial thought is to keep listening to this over and over until my mind is convinced of the rhythm. Not quite working.

[@rach3master]

No jazz training. Rhythm is definitely tricky to grasp. I just did slow metronome work until it clicked.

[@NapoleonBonaparteMAGA]

Good God Almighty this song is amazing brother we should do a collaboration I'll play drums

[@JkyLi]

This is just too hard. I don't think I can handle it in foreseeable future. I wish I started to learn piano much earlier. How many years have you been playing piano though?

[@rach3master]

It's a hard piece yea. I've been playing about 23 years.

[@huynhaiden7686]

impossible...

[@giovanniscancariello7874]

I find it‘s a shame that you plays a $9000 Piano with a VST. You could buy a MIDI Keyboard with wood Keys (Kawai VPC1) with loss money.

[@r8staroflucis344]

bad splits