Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (Dark Souls) on two pianos
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- Опубликовано: 5 дек 2011
- Update (5/25/2015)
Sheets have been transcribed by VirtualHarmonies and can be downloaded from the infobox of this video:
• Gwyn, Lord of Cinder (...
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This is "Gwyn, Lord of Cinder" from Dark Souls. The game was made by From Software, the music composed by Motoi Sakuraba, arranged and performed by myself. In the first half, I try to play the original track while attempting to be as close to the original as possible. In the second half, I then make some changes and additions.
So here is my first ever piano self-duet. I never thought that I would actually do something like this, but when a few people showed me this piece a couple of months back, I was immediately immersed by it. Several things quickly made it one of my favorite VGM compositions. The original track that you hear in the game is a piano duet to begin with, and it's a real recording. Its sound is breathtaking and it took me a while to realize just what made it so special: It must have been performed on a grand that has an expanded range. I realized that only when I tried to actually arrange and play this piece, as I couldn't play some notes because the normal pianos I was playing on were missing those keys -- playing the nearest, different notes just didn't create the same sound, and the only alternative would have been to insert them via midi manipulation into a digital recording, but I wanted to avoid that if possible. As far as I know, only a handful of piano models exist that have additional keys below the normal ones. So I asked around and was ultimately given the opportunity to record on a Boesendorfer grand piano which has the expanded range that I needed. I am very grateful for this and I sincerely thank the people who made this possible.
Another thing that intrigued me is that this piece is actually a final boss battle music. I was very surprised when I found that out. Rarely have I heard a track like this being used in such a way, the atmosphere it creates is unique. This is a great example of music being used to convey a message that couldn't have been put into words or conveyed in any other way, and it makes for a very special moment for the player when he reaches the end of the game.
Rarely has a piece moved me like this, and rarely have I spent as much time arranging and trying to do recording attempts for a single video. I also had to make a lot of changes to my first arrangements after I thought that I was finished, as soon as I realized the two parts didn't work together as I had hoped. Having to design two parts that work together was a new experience for me, and in the end, I feel that it was really worth it and that it gave me a lot.
Fan artwork of "Gwyn, Lord of Cinder" by Anderson, thanks for allowing me to use it:
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Видеоклипы
This was no boss battle.
This was a work of art.
***** even the fight was. he wasn't supposed to be a final boss... more like a final far well to all that was.
You simply murder what was known to be a great man..
***** Pretty much.
hobnobs1550 He was a typical patriarch. Stubborn and reckless, only focused on his own glory. Just look at what he did to Gwyndolin and how he defended Seath.
He brought this missery above himself and his allies in selfishness.
I would never call Gwyn a great man and never a hero, but his sacrifice was a selfless act, but was it to gain glory or to protect something or someone? Nevertheless he "reaped what he sowed" indeed.
***** parry riposte parry riposte parry riposte parry riposte VICTORY ACHIEVED
had me in tears
This was absolutely fantastic. Thank you.
Wow. Didn't expect to see you here.
bro what
i'm listening to this on my 27th birthday rn, the funny thing is; this song pretty much takes me back to a period of my life you know? it was so memorable and unique that to this day it's still has impact.
also, i've sent this to friends who are into "classical" and 75% think it's something out of the last couple of centuries composers, which is funny but also speaks to how well it is done.
@@mt-9320 happy biethday - 8 months late but idk
He must have a high dex level
swadextra no, he must have a high faith, cause this performance is a miracle :')
I was responding to the vile dex accusation.
he must have 3 arms
This game.
This absolute masterpiece of a game.
IKR
This game. Unmatched , unparalleled
This game... that... fuck it, I can't be romantic even if I try.
***** But after you know what to do, this game just give you truth of "gameplay", and I think not only of the difficult, but its totally skillful gameplay style.
And the storyline goes deep into all items, all npc dialogue, and even the background music in game. This kind of idea just driving you want to know more the story by your curiosity, not to reading so many word of books with not so interesting.
Dark souls 1 really a masterpiece in every place, specially in storyline it really impressed me, i not go to talk about the story inside, i suggest you play twice and if you really don't know what happen, go to forum seek the post the people what they thought about what they found in story, and you'll find that everyone may not thinking with a same story!
This is what Dark Souls 2 make me not so agree it doing well in DS2 storyline ... I think Ds1 was "fantastic" that made the huge different to DS2.
The Japanese are the RPG kings. I adore all of the souls games, especially Dark Souls.
I also thought this was a very unique choice for a final boss theme. For so many RPGs, the final boss is a great, powerful lord of darkness, or some such. In Dark Souls, it wasn't like that; it was just putting an old man out of his misery.
There is just one thing: Gwyn may be old and dying but he was once a god. He is still able to destroy chosen undead if given a chance to attack his opponent directly. I believe that if Gwyn was as powerfull as when he destryed dragons then he would be a lot more powerfull than Gough, Ciaran, Ornstein and Artorias together. They were his servants after all. It's more like you are killing a fallen god to take his place.
*****
That's totally true, in his soul descripcion it says that his power was bequeathed by giving his soul to the gods (Seath and The four kings), and then it was burned when he linked the fire. And still his soul "stores a great power", and he is a pretty hard boss.
carlos faurby not if you know how to parry. But yes I had a hard time on my first playthrough as well^^
Holzkohlen "no parry" shield was interesting in this battle :D
>mfw this is the last piano piece verdegrand uploaded before his hand injury
it's so fitting it's just cruel
+ykOni the guy had a hand injury and can't play anymore. Pretty sure that he posted a video about it on an alt channel, but I can't seem to find it anymore.
+Ulcar He was already dealing with his hand problems at least a year before he uploaded this. This was just the last video he posted before taking a real break from the piano to start working on his rehabilitation. You're absolutely right that this piece is perfectly fitting though.
He has an alternate channel, TheUrbanOrb, where he uploads gaming content. He did a SL1 NG+7 run of Dark Souls 1 in which he used no shield, and put a whole bunch of other restrictions on himself. It was crazy, funny, and beautiful, considering the situation he's in. He even posted a video of himself playing the character creation theme from Dark Souls 1 on the piano recently (relatively speaking), and I think it really shows how much of an impact the game's had on him.
And he played the game BECAUSE of this music, as far as I know. I've read an interview with him somewhere. He streams a lot on twitch, by the way.
This has got to be my favourite iteration of Gwyn's theme, the first half is similar enough to the game's version. When the second half kicks off, it feels even more grander as if we're hearing Gwyn's peak moments in the Age of Fire, but the notes eventually starts fumbling such as how Gwyn's age eventually comes down tumbling. In the end it feels more somber and nostalgic, Gwyn's life finally coming to an end at your hands.
Groxworld1 glad I'm not the only one who was visualizing this
I get kinda twisted up when people ask me what song this is. I usually say its just from a video game but I really think its so much more than that. Its a song that tells the tale of a king who would do anything to save his kingdom, his people. He sacrificed everything he had to hold back the darkness, his greatest knight, his best friend, and his eldest son. When it became clear the darkness was imminent he set out alone to turn the tide and gave his soul to the light. Lord Gwyn, I salute you,
Well said.
Didn't Gwyn create the dark sign? Thats not noble at all.
@@Phoebe_Bea im not sure if he did, but the dark sign made undead's humanity linked to the first flame.
So i guess the intention was to use them as kindling for the flame, except it doesnt make sense when you realize the undead would have to absorb the souls of so many others to he able to be worth linking the flame snd keeping it going.
And if they were meant to be used as kindling, why didnt the knights force them to be used instead of putting them in undead asylum?
I guess the best conclusion you can make is that whoever made up the tale or fate of the chosen undead knew eventually one undead would absorb enough souls to be able to link the flame.
You're wrong, gwyn linked the first flame creating the dark sign and making humanity cursed, while the humans were the true lords of the world, the true lords of dark.
What you said is the ilussion that the gods created, making gwyn look like a hero, while he was just a desperate king.
"A lie will remain a lie."
-Aldia, schoolar of the first sin.
Gwyn was nothing but greedy liar
>This is the last piece that Verdegrand performed for youtube
>This song plays when you're fighting what's essentially a decaying god
OH MY GOD HELP ME I'M CRYING
+Esper MY GOD
Why is it the last piece?
CJ00014
hand condition/injuries etc
A true fucking legend that guy is
As of a week or two ago he posted on facebook that he doesn't really know what will happen in regards to his condition but he wants to recover, and until then he's making a living streaming gaming content. I don't know this youtuber at all but he was mentioned off hand in a cover I was listening to and I dug a little bit. Thought you'd might like to know :o.
I can’t believe it’s been 10yrs, I so love this piece by you!
Such a great atmosphere with such a simple key.
+Marl Boro Agreed, after I learned this, people have been complaining about me improvising in A-minor so much. That little conflict has been resolved tho hahaha
More surprisingly;
>major key
>sounds sad as shit
>???
It’s E phrygian which is similar to minor, but with a flat 2nd.
@@toprak3479 bruh it's in A minor
@@theboy-rq2bk clearly resolves to an A but okay
This song is beyond beautiful, BEST GAME EVER MADE.
Easily the best cover I've heard
I think this music matches the fight perfectly. The music paints this lore to it all, that you're fighting an entity that was once a powerful legend. It also paints a tragic picture of a God that once was, now a mere hollow shell of an insane lord is all that's left. Gwyn is an old relic when the chosen reaches him and must be removed. As someone below said, it's time to put him out of his misery.
Gwyn is still my favorite boss/fight in the entire Souls series.
*And "Soul of Cinder" too :v*
+Henrique Fabrício (エンリケ) soul of cinder becomes gwyn in 2nd phase right?
+Jake Villaruel Not really. The Soul of Cinder is the living memory of every single linked soul to the first flame. The Gwyn theme added in the 2d phase its to enfatize that Gwyn is the one that started this linking tradition.
+Typical Otaku Nah, I think if you count only the big-human-with-sword bosses, Knight Artorias wins in everything, except of soundtrack
+Coffee Desghostler The 2nd Phase is Gwyn's Soul living on and Fighting once again as a Last Resort to beat the Ashen One
I heard this open and Knew it was sakuraba immediately. The dark essence in this song is just breath taking, leave it to motoi to take my heart again.
This is gorgeous, I love what you did with the second half of it as well. Beautiful emotional playing. well done.
Please put this on iTunes or bandcamp or something, its one of the most amazing things I have had the pleasure of listening to.
From a theme for a God's reversion to a mindless Pigmy, to the theme of Verdegrand's obituary in the eyes of his time as a RUclips pianist. Fitting coincidence.
I have to say, I really love what you did with the last half of this(not that the first half wasn't done well), particularly the ending. Beautiful.
Chills, every time I revisit this... Chills through my entire body. A beautiful piece, performed perfectly. Thank you so much, truly.
I keep rewatching this every now and then, thank you for making this.
@docnanomusic thank you, and yeah it's easy to miss out on those pianos because they aren't too common. i think it's 97 keys, as lukkysama said.
What a beautiful piece.
Thank you for your contributions to the world.
It's people like you that make this world a better place.
2024 and I'm still coming back for this masterpiece
It is so very good to have you back Verdegrand! When I heard that you were doing a peice from Dark Souls I hoped that it was this. Welcome back!
I think the feeling I got when I killed Gwyn was similar to beating a collosuss in SotC.
"VICTORY! YES, I DID IT! I'M SO HAP- aw, I feel a bit bad for him now."
If played on a regular piano, I wouldn't even have noticed these 4-5 notes were wrong if I didn't know... You're great!
your second to last paragraph says it all...dark souls is truly unique
Hands down the best boss music in any souls game. Some people say its somewhat anti-climatic, but I completely disagree. This piece is epic and emotional, and the subtlety of it only emphasizes that even more. To be quite honest, I'm not really crazy about a majority of the boss music in these games. They definitely work and serve their purpose within the game, but as standalone pieces they're somewhat bland and pretty similar to one another, especially in Dark Souls 2.
I remember the first time I crossed the fog and the music started to play, just stood there watching Gwyn run after me. I gave a big breath and with an smile on my face said, This is it! One of my best moments in gaming ever!
jonah jackson When I faced him I did not knew that you could parry him, I think I died twice to him the first time. But later on I would parry him and then hit with low damage weapon just to hear the song for longer time.
farrex0 or just hit him with a low damage weapon....
STOP PARRYING!!!!
Angel di Soufre But it is easier to parry and then riposte with a longsword, that way I would enjoy the moment and listen to the music. Dodging and then hitting requires focus, even though I always play the dodging type and I have always find the blocking builds boring.
Christian L I started asking my female friends about the element this music might represent - most girls have answered "water" but one said that it is a fading sparkling fire. The only person I know which hasn't played the game and gave me the right answer.
That was just god damn beautiful. Well done, you perfectly captured the essence of this song. And the second half was perfect too!
good god, I always come back to this... Your arrangement in the second half was amazing. I especially love the resignation in the last minute or so.
I don't recall the last time a piece of music made me cry, but your own changes and additions in the second half did it. This cover is incredible.
I don't think I've ever heard a piece of music with as much meaning behind it as this.
I actually came again to hear, and I must again comment on how unreal you've really made this.
You've captured a very, very, very hard perfected feeling to express and convey in music, and implemented it gracefully and beautifully in this peace.
That feeling is the feeling of unknown. The whole game leads up killing everything in sight, and then you finish by fighting an incredibly powerful king. It sparks wonder and question. A spiral of death, for no reason. You've shown that feeling here.
Wow oh my.... just wow. You have an unparalleled sense of talent, the level of emotion I felt during this video; watching such a beautiful masterpiece, from one of my favorite games of all time being played before my eyes, truly breathtaking. This was amazing beyond word's descriptive abilities.
One of the most epic pieces, so breathtaking one'd wish to get hold of a Boesendorfer and have a go at this masterpiece. But also the saddest to listen to back in the day...
This piece from the game is the strongest form of tragedy one can encompass in sound. No words, no overwhelming sound, just simple storytelling by music. Bravo, my friend. Bravo.
This was so good. Great feel and execution
One of your best works yet. I'm amazed. And this indeed really cool music for a boss battle.
This is truly amazing. I keep coming back to this and it keeps blowing me away.
This is spot on. Excellent work
This music has so much feeling to it and you captured it perfectly!
This is so grand. I have to check out more of your videos.
and your performance is flawless. Well done!
"Oh that's right. There is not one, but TWO Lord's of Cinder."
Every single second more I hear of your composition makes it constantly better. Holy shit, this is amazing. Thank you for this.
This is a beautiful rendition of an amazing song. Thank you very much for this amazing piece!
absolutely amazingly beautiful, piano pieces, especially ones like this one, have always held a special place in my heart, and i love what you did with Gwyn's theme
You have an amazing talent for beautiful description. May that skill serve you well for all your days.
your second half interpretation is godlike, i have goosebumps all over. incredible.
Praise the sun :')
You must do this masterpiece again!! Love it
great cover man. i really like it when somebody puts so much work into doing a single person duet and succeed in this great of a matter. Thumbs up
A fantastic cover and a fine tribute piece. I listened to it in the winter of 2011 and I'm still listening to it today.
I adore the personal touches you added to piece; the song in and of itself is a masterpiece and a stunning soundtrack, but the little touches you added in were absolutely amazing. Nice work!!
Amazing work, battling Gwyn for the first time blew me away and your composition of his theme sent shivers down my spine all over again; thank you so much for doing this!
Outstanding work. I think this captured the emotion of the original well. I also loved the added parts.
I also really want that piano.
this made me cry...
Absolute legend. Returning to this video from year to year. I can't describe how grateful I am. I dream about hearing this live one day.
don't give up on anything stay strong! Thanks for this masterpiece
One of the most incredible piano pieces i've had the luck to experience. I truly hope we get to hear more from the great Verdegrand
Thank you for your work. I come back every few months to listen to you. I hope you're doing well.
This is flippin' amazing!!! It is a very moving composition and extremely well played.
Wow, I just realized all of the stuff you added. This is a truly beautiful rendition of a fantastic piece. Amazing work
This is... this is just beautiful.
Absolutely gorgeous. Sakuraba is a fantastic arranger, and this is my favorite piece he's arranged in any medium. I cannot fathom the skill it requires to do this in the first place, let alone after re-producing the work presumably by ear. I also really love how you mentioned that the piece implies some emotion to the fight that words cannot convey.
Completely breathtaking. You are amazing.
never got to hear this song for that long, thx for this.
very well done thanks for doing/sharing this! Dark Souls music is such an amazing thing for a kick ass game.
Your videos NEVER fail to please me. :)
well done sir. and well written description. much appreciated
amazing really. because i finished the game and i can tell you how hard and difficult this moment is. with the music it feels like your powerless against his fire. Its really a nice video. and has always it's really well played. I'm glad that you can still have fun while playing music and learn new things like piano duets and all. i also like the sotry behind
Found this through that lovely Kotaku article about you! Seriously a chilling piece, well done!
My first time hearing ur rendition of the song and… wow. Absolutely incredible. Can’t describe my reaction when I heard your tweaks and how natural but also unnatural it sounded.. the additions were subtle and then took over in such a beautiful and satisfying way! Thank you so much for this. The original already took so many tears from me, and this piece, some more.
This song grows on me the more I listen to it. Great work!
Now THAT enticed me to listen to the original. Wow, great job. I'm glad you could communicate and share this with us as I now appreciate this piece greatly
i love the concept of this game they made it so hard that you have to help each other and work together by placing messages and summoning others and beat the game all together
Fantastic piece, great performance and I love your modifications towards the end. That part would play very well over ending credits.
Thanks for the link :) I'm already loving it. I'm actually gonna' watch the entire playthrough now :3
Can't get enough of this.
That cover was SUPERB!
I never survived the battle long enough to hear out the full song...
Fantastic! Absolutely fantastic. Very impressed. I am almost finished with my first run through of Dark Souls and I find your piece to be very illuminating and relaxing in a dark brooding way which is why I love the game so much,
Beautiful, I love that song.
One of the best songs I have heard on the piano and one of the most epic boss fights I've seen in a game.
amazing work with the second half, i hope that you are making the best ou of your skills :3
This is so beautiful, every now and then i return to this masterful execution. i can't stress enough how this should have more exposure. But nevertheless, i come listen to it every now and then when i'm feeling down, and it fills me with hope. Thank you Verdegrand.
I love your additions as much as the original piece!
wow i didn't except that! this is awesome! thanks for this one!
I put off listening to this for days because I wanted to wait for just the right time to experience this beautiful performance. You played this fantastically. I'm happy that you put this much effort into a Dark Souls piece, probably because I think the game is just amazing, but also because the passion and dedication makes the performance that much better. When I finally fight Gwyn for the first time, I'm going to be imagining you playing this in the background =)
This game change my way of thinking, as i learned more about the lore it was a perennial quest that ever gamer/ person must take.
Play it..and beat it. You'll see
A perfection. This is truly a perfection.
Wonderful! Splendid performance!
I briefly played the game but didn't find it alluring enough to keep playing it. The music is nice and gloomy and fits the whole theme perfectly.
Congrats! I see that your therapy has been slow but sure and we're all glad.
Cheers!
This is just stunningly beautiful. When it hits peak intensity around the 3:40 mark, I get chills every time, all other renditions of this piece can't compare.
this is my absolute favorite
Such an amazing piece of music from an equally great game. The music in the game creates such an atmosphere, in a way no other game has for me. They took a real unorthodox approach to it, and I think it paid off
Never have I heard final boss music like it. Just hearing the music alone you might think it wouldn't work, but in the context of the game, the world they created, the long arduous journey up to that point, and knowing what must happen next...it melds beautifully.
Amazing job Verde
Very nice cover! Keep up the good work!
Amazing composition ahead