Tress and Charlie - Tress of the Emerald Sea Fanmade Soundtrack

Hello everyone, I'm back for a Fun Friday, and this is a special one! Cuz I accidentally started writing an extra book soundtrack! In secret. Well, not completely in secret, since I'd been talking and hinting about it here and there, but... it's based on one of Brandon Sanderson's Secret Projects, so... you know what, nevermind. Let's just get talking about the song and the story.
The artwork used for this video is "On the Garden Wall" by Howard Lyon, right out of the book. The art in this book is so good, you guys.
So: Tress of the Emerald Sea is out. I got it and read it and fell in love with it. It's one of my new favorite Sanderson books. And in case you couldn't tell, this song is a love song! I hope it's not too spoilerific to mention there being a love story, seeing as it comes up in the second chapter of the book. And if you've been keeping your ears open to recognize familiar melodies, you'll know that I even used a variation of this melody in a previous KZbin video! Yes, yes, one of my previous uploads was secretly a Tress soundtrack piece, but I kept it a secret from you all. But the music is meant to tell a story here and speaking of which MINOR SPOILERS BELOW FOR TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA. Just a heads up. Also, I worry about this song sounding too derivative of a love theme in an existing movie soundtrack, but I won't say what it is to wait and hear if any of you come to the same conclusion as me.
So, Tress and Charlie, huh? Quite possibly the cutest romance ever written into a Brandon Sanderson book and one of the things I love about it. It's a simple mutual attraction, but there's something very pure and sweet about it, highlighted by the narrator's flowery prose.
The song is mostly in a diatonic major key with a simple melody, because their love story starts out sweet, but simple. As the story progresses, this theme will develop, going into non-diatonic harmony and mixed modes. You can hear this in my previous upload "Setting Sail", which was secretly made for this book. But for now, it's mostly a simple, major key love song. There's a bit of moving away from the key at 0:58 to hint at a greater adventure, but it soons resolves back to the standard simplicity. After all, that part of the journey hasn't quite started yet.
And then the ominous resolution at the end is to signal the arrival of Charlie's father interrupting their moment, as well as foreshadow how soon their love story will seemingly be cut short.
I wanted to introduce this song to you all now so you're familiar with the melody right from the start, because I've been making other songs that feature a variation of the melody (including one I'll post next week) and I want you to know what to listen for. Tress and Charlie's love theme, while subject to many variations in this forthcoming soundtrack, is definitely going to be the main theme of this story. I'm certainly already having a lot of fun with it.
Enjoy listening! Tell me what you think in the comments below! If you've read the book, does the song sound as sweet as its accompanying love story?

[@Danielxt34]

This is how I imagine this exact same scene. Awesome work.

[@ianlarsen3920]

Thank you!

[@ahappyjackolantern]

Aw hell yeah, I love Tress of the Emerald Sea! You can really hear the similarities in vibes to the Princess Bride soundtrack in this, which is fitting given what inspired this book in the first place. Well done!

[@ianlarsen3920]

Sigh... Oh, dear. 😂The Princess Bride soundtrack was exactly what I was worried it would sound similar to. 😛Everyone in my family I played it for came to the same conclusion. I mean, it was intentional since Princess Bride did indeed inspire this book, but I wonder if it sounds... too derivative? Thanks for the feedback!

[@ahappyjackolantern]

@@ianlarsen3920 nah it’s clearly a distinct tune, but the vibes are preserved. It’s not derivative, it’s inspired!

[@ianlarsen3920]

​@@ahappyjackolantern I'm glad you think so!

[@gideonpedari9881]

THIS IS JUST!!!!! SO CUTE!!!!!

[@ianlarsen3920]

THANK YOU!!! That is EXACTLY the vibe I was going for! 😊

[@ElijahStormblessed]

So lovely 🥰

[@ianlarsen3920]

Thank you! 🥰

[@everettwhitaker7829]

It has been a long time since a single book captured my mind and heart so much that loving said book became a personality trait. (Notice via this definition, I disqualify the Cosmere as a whole) Tress of the Emerald Sea has become that book for me, and I look forward to seeing what more you produce for it. There are scenes from this book that I cannot wait to hear music designed around.

[@ianlarsen3920]

I have select scenes in mind, but I'd love to know yours if I need any additional inspiration! I kind of agree with you about this book. I think it's become one of my top favorite Sanderson books.