As a fan of minimalism, I enjoy finding repeating patterns in pre-existing musical works.  Final Fantasy’s Chocobo Theme, a mainstay of the series, provided just such an opportunity to turn something bouncy and energetic into some erratic and chaotic.  Exploring techniques such as addition allowed me to disrupt the otherwise symmetrical piece.  However, within the minimalism, I wanted to highlight the simple yet elegant melody that composer Nobuo Uematsu crafted by inserting neo-romantic figuration into the musical accompaniment.  Taking inspiration from composer John Adams, I hope to have created something that challenges listeners grounded in the realm of western tonality while at the same time retaining the playful simplicity of the original. -Ian Martyn

Writing lyrics for non-lyrical bodies of music is a fun challenge and one that I enjoy very much. Through the musical cornerstone of Nobuo Uematsu’s Chocobo Theme, and the creative re- imagining of Ian Martyn’s composition, I was given the foundation to write a funny and exciting lyrical piece based on the original track. This simple story told through complex musical design will hopefully bring joy to those who hear it and perhaps help to inspire those who are curious about music to take the leap of faith to try writing for themselves. -Darby Cupit

Appears on Song Cycle: The History of Video Games