Right. I guess this forum is more interested in Japanese composer/singers than western or other eastern artists. Naturally :)
I was going to do Noriyuki Iwadare but I chose Yasunori Mitsuda:
From Wikipedia:
Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典 Mitsuda Yasunori?, born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer, musician, and sound producer noted for his score work for video games. He has composed music for or worked on over 40 games, and has contributed to many other projects. He is best known for his compositions for the video games Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Mario Party, Chrono Cross, Xenosaga Episode I, Soma Bringer, Shadow Hearts, Inazuma Eleven, and Soul Sacrifice.
Hands down Chrono Trigger, Xenogears and Xenosaga I soundtracks are on the top. Chants, celtic music, action-based orchestral music(synth or real) are his forte. Although there is some decline to the quality of his music these days (imo), undeniably he is one of the best video game music composers out there. In fact, before Kajiura, there was Mitsuda for me. (one didn't replace the other though!)
A few of my favs:
Chrono Trigger Wind Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELte7HgL2Y
Chrono Trigger Battle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNkqEOQ15I
Chrono Cross Time's Scar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daUUX6gPRt4
Xenogears Creid Melkaba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpZHhUdHrE
Xenogears Creid Balto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwnNVOl4fxg
Xenogears Flight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijFBH1BkXvQ
Xenogears Light from the Netherworld http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA6HpFfsFxY
Xenogears One Who Bares Fangs at God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijFBH1BkXvQ
Xenosaga I Zarathustra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7p3u5UJpw
Xenosaga I Escape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw5eQ5FvPtI
Xenosaga I Omega http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHpvQlYswrA
Xenosaga I The Miracle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmomOKUM4TU
I highly recommend Chrono Trigger Symphony Volumes as well. There are many fan arrangements and many of them are well done.
The reason I chose him is that I had a chance to listen to Kuroshitsuji Book of Circus. Some of the tracks are really nice and pleasant to listen to but is not even close to his earlier works in terms of greatness. His baroque and chanty spirit seems to be on the rise in this soundtrack. Wish for more!
I was going to do Noriyuki Iwadare but I chose Yasunori Mitsuda:
From Wikipedia:
Yasunori Mitsuda (光田 康典 Mitsuda Yasunori?, born January 21, 1972) is a Japanese composer, musician, and sound producer noted for his score work for video games. He has composed music for or worked on over 40 games, and has contributed to many other projects. He is best known for his compositions for the video games Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Mario Party, Chrono Cross, Xenosaga Episode I, Soma Bringer, Shadow Hearts, Inazuma Eleven, and Soul Sacrifice.
Hands down Chrono Trigger, Xenogears and Xenosaga I soundtracks are on the top. Chants, celtic music, action-based orchestral music(synth or real) are his forte. Although there is some decline to the quality of his music these days (imo), undeniably he is one of the best video game music composers out there. In fact, before Kajiura, there was Mitsuda for me. (one didn't replace the other though!)
A few of my favs:
Chrono Trigger Wind Theme http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELte7HgL2Y
Chrono Trigger Battle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeNkqEOQ15I
Chrono Cross Time's Scar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daUUX6gPRt4
Xenogears Creid Melkaba http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqpZHhUdHrE
Xenogears Creid Balto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwnNVOl4fxg
Xenogears Flight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijFBH1BkXvQ
Xenogears Light from the Netherworld http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA6HpFfsFxY
Xenogears One Who Bares Fangs at God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijFBH1BkXvQ
Xenosaga I Zarathustra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc7p3u5UJpw
Xenosaga I Escape http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw5eQ5FvPtI
Xenosaga I Omega http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHpvQlYswrA
Xenosaga I The Miracle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmomOKUM4TU
I highly recommend Chrono Trigger Symphony Volumes as well. There are many fan arrangements and many of them are well done.
The reason I chose him is that I had a chance to listen to Kuroshitsuji Book of Circus. Some of the tracks are really nice and pleasant to listen to but is not even close to his earlier works in terms of greatness. His baroque and chanty spirit seems to be on the rise in this soundtrack. Wish for more!