“Blue Skies Over Guardia,” from Chrono Symphonic, released in 2006 and remixing “Guardia’s Millenial Fair” from the Chrono Trigger OST by Yasunori Mitsuda
There some things in life that make me profoundly happy: Oreo ice cream, pleasant surprises, when the Winnipeg Jets win a nail-biter of a game and finally, music in odd metre.
“Blue Skies Over Guardia” is a 7/8 remix of “Millenial Fair,” so we feel the beat in subdivisions of 2 and 3 in every bar. Some metres are simple (groups of 2, or 1-and 2-and etc.), compound (groups of 3, 1-trip-let, 2-trip-let, etc.) or a combination of both. We call that type grouping “odd metre” (among other things).
The style of drumbeat also emulates one of my FAVOURITE drummers of all-time. Paul Wertico was the drummer on Pat Metheny’s “The First Circle” recording, which employs some driving (and subdividing) ride cymbal and some super cool rhythmic clapping. That drum pattern influenced some of my own ride-cymbal-subdividing/odd-metre/clapping music of my own too…
It starts off as a 2+2+3, with the subdivision being set by the piano. At about 0:29, the pattern changes to 3+2+2 and is really set by the horn melody. THEN (and this is the craziest part) at 0:48, they converge so that the piano is doing the 2+2+3 while the rest of the ensemble is doing 3+2+2! CRAZY!
But it all works out because every measure still only has seven “small beats” (or subdivided beats) in it. Incredible 🙂 DarkeSword really did a great job on this tune.
I love this album. It’s from OverClocked ReMix and they are awesome – not much more needs to be said about that. Go check them out, seriously.
As another aside, Chrono Symphonic’s “To Far Away Times” (the ending theme of Chrono Trigger) rocks my socks. Just piano and vocals by the lovely Jillian Aversa and the late Reuben Kee. So subtle, but so delicate. Definitely check that out too.
Until next time,
Kenley
Yeah! I’m digging that 7. I’m going to have to check out the other tracks in Chrono Symphonic–I had no idea it existed.
One other thing: Lyle Mays is the Pat Metheny Group’s piano player/co-composer, if you will, not the drummer. I looked up who the drummer was on that recording an it’s Paul Wertico. Do you have that group’s live album, “The Road to You”? It’s so sick. “First Circle” is the second track on the disc and it is unbelievable (I haven’t heard the studio version, actually).
Check it out here:
Hey man, good to know. I totally thought that Lyle Mays was the drummer, but I’ll make the change in the post right away. I don’t have the album, but this version is beautiful. I want to say that I love Pat Metheny, but it’s really hit and miss with me. Even just on “First Circle” album, I only really liked “First Circle” and “If I Could,” but then I also love “Minuano (Six-Eight) and most of “Imaginary Day…”
But what I love, I LOVE. I could listen to this track all day 🙂 Thanks for the comment and post!
Also, my podcast is now up in the “Voice Acting” section, let me know what you think, if you decide to check it out. No pressure, though 🙂