Hi

I am currently composing soundtracks for the RPG game I've programmed. I am having a problem getting started on composing Battle themes, hope you guys could give me an advice.

This attached music is for the scene where our main characters arrived at Asgard (heaven in Norse Myth). I hope my music would be able to describe the place for you.

The second one is intended to be a battle theme, but I'm sure you will be able to suggest improvement to it.

Please comment and suggest improvement

Thanks

KK

I'm guessing the first one is the opening selection menu? The second, sounds like something from a game like maple story. I gotta tell you though, the music themselves are really boring. I think I might get annoyed if I had to listen to that for hours. Also, percussion is something you must have for battle theme music, I mean MUST HAVE!! The second one does not sound like a battle theme for two reason. One: It is way too slow. Two: It's too pleasant. You need to add some form of accent or dissonance or something to bring about the tension of a battle.

the first song does have titlescreen qualities, and quite frankly I think its nice. you could make it more interesting by adding some more instruments like a violoncello mayhaps. the chords are great but the way you are playing them right now (mostly straight arpeggios) can be a bit boring.

The second song sounds like a montage of someone running.

Battle themes: an ordinary battle shouldnt contain too much dissonance, save that for the boss battles. think of what kind of monsters you will be facing. *DAAAA DAAAAA* oh Its the mightiest snail in the WORLD!!!.
a good battle theme should give you motivation to battle on and in the same time give you the *this might be a little though* feeling. A really good boss-battle theme should make you feel like *Oh damn, Im never going to make it*
just remember if you face a lesser boss dont let the music out-evil the last boss-song...

a lot of word there =)

just listen to the final fantasy battle music and take notes about the strukture of it.

Thank you, for your advice. I shall use percussion for my Battle theme. In addition, I also made some composition and finished recording today on my school piano.

Please comment on improvement and suggest.

Also, is there a technique for composing a lover's reunion theme?

The main characters had been assigned to seperate mission to defeat the enermy's army. And at the final battle, after they faught the great enermy army, they finally reunited. Note that despite many romantic occasion, they has not verbally express their true feelings to each other. This would be the first time the guy would confess his feeling to the girl. I really want to know how to compose song to bring this scene to life (it would be great if it could get some tears).

Thanks

KK

Beautiful, and un-predictable chord progressions is the key imo.

Liszt's Sonata in B Minor has a great section of banging chords that releases a very romantic emotion.

Try some anime music--though only some are original composers for anime actually. :\

Hmm, I tend to hear fast tempos and frequent syncopation in battle themes and they're usually in minor keys, as well.


Also, is there a technique for composing a lover's reunion theme?

The main characters had been assigned to seperate mission to defeat the enermy's army. And at the final battle, after they faught the great enermy army, they finally reunited. Note that despite many romantic occasion, they has not verbally express their true feelings to each other. This would be the first time the guy would confess his feeling to the girl. I really want to know how to compose song to bring this scene to life (it would be great if it could get some tears).

No, that is really a matter of inspiration rather than technique. However, there are some things to consider that may be helpful. Chromaticism is a big help here and you might want to look into some Romantic era works in that vein, such as Wagner's Tristan und Isolde prelude (though that may be a bit much at your level, it's certainly pretty perplexing to me still).