Super Mario RPG "Beware the Forest's Mushrooms" Brass Ensemble

“Beware the Forest's Mushrooms” from Super Mario RPG, composed by Yoko Shimomura (下村陽子) and arranged for brass and percussion by Thomas Kresge.
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Featuring...
The Game Brass:
🎵 John Robert Matz: Trumpet
[www.johnrobertm...]
🎵 Avery Yonehiro: Trumpet
[‪@jazzthatbrass3484‬]
🎵 Robby Duguay: Trumpet
[www.robbyduguay...]
🎵 JohnStacy: French Horn
‪@TheJohnStacy‬]
🎵 Alana Yee: French Horn
[‪@AlanaBeDootin‬ ]
🎵 Jordan Moore: French Horn
[‪@JordanMooreMusic‬ ]
🎵 Jackie Fazekas: French Horn
[jackiefazekas.com/]
🎵 Daniel Romberger (DannyMusic): Trombone, Video
[‪@dannymusic‬]
🎵 Eric L.: Trombone
[‪@EricLTrombone‬
🎵 Allison Martin: Trombone
[‪@AllisonMartin‬]
🎵 Alex Hill (WarTubaFox): Tuba
[ / @wartubafox ]
🎵 Rahul Vanamali: Marimba
[‪@RahulVanamali‬]
🎵 Yusuf Rashid: Tambourine, Triangle
[‪@YusufRoshd‬]
🎵 Thomas Kresge: Arrangement, Mix, Video
[www.kresgemusi...]
🎵 Henry Faber: Logo Design
[ / henryfaber ]
Watch more game soundtrack covers performed on brass here: • Game Music on Brass In...
Notes from Thomas about the arrangement:
Much like our heroes entering the Forest Maze, it is with great trepidation and anxiety that I approached the arrangement of one of the most iconic standards in the VGM canon. “Beware the Forest’s Mushrooms” ranks up there alongside “The Moon” from DuckTales or “Wily Fortress” from Mega Man 2 as a staple of VGM covers - a piece perhaps so well-known as to potentially be overdone. So I felt going in that our cover needed to possess a certain gravitas and originality in order to justify its existence.
To accomplish this, I’ve resorted to a reliable formula to squeeze some theme and variation out of this track while still remaining true to the spirit of the original. This formula involves a slow, relaxed opening with fragmented statements of the main theme; a relatively direct orchestration of the original track as a complete statement; a softer, mysterious middle section; and then a build to a big climactic version of the music that introduces new textures and develops the piece into something bold and brassy. (Side note: the original tune starts out in C#, a rather annoying key even for the most accomplished brass musician, so I’ve taken the liberty of transposing our version down a step.)
The original composition has a relatively “classical” or even “stodgy” feel with its straight, scalar melodies and typical bass-offbeat background textures. I decided to fully embrace these Holstian stylings in the second half, going for an overall more stately feel, which we get into with the stateliest of musical forms: the fugue. The initial idea for this fugue segment had just four players repeating the B melody as a basic canon with little variation, but after it was suggested I develop this concept more, I expanded the music out by several more bars and allowed the entire band to contribute to the counterpoint, ultimately resulting in a more creative and interesting rendition. (Incidentally, this is now The Game Brass’s 3rd fugue, after “Spirit of Hospitality” and “It’s Pizza Time.” It’s possible I’ve missed another fugue in some other track… arrangers like to write these a lot for some reason.)
The attempt at stateliness continues with a heavy 1-2 pattern that emphasizes the downbeats, and melody on the stateliest of instruments: the piccolo trumpet. (This latter statement of the melody actually takes inspiration from Shiro Hamaguchi’s orchestration of Ronfaure from Final Fantasy XI, with very similar textures and percussion writing.) This all builds to a climactic statement of the piece’s B section, as we fade towards an ending that extends the original piece’s Picardy-style cadence. Very stately.
I don’t want to spoil anything (though it shouldn’t be a spoiler to say The Game Brass is always working on new projects), but this track was arranged all the way back in March of 2023 and planned for a certain something we haven’t announced for next year. It was fast tracked to you today in honor of the release of the Super Mario RPG remake!

[@benbriggsmusic]

Arrangement on this one goes CRAAAAAZY, chills chills chills

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks Ben, you’re the best!

[@iamthelobo]

This last week has been like a Mario RPG renaissance

[@theGameBrass]

It’s well deserved, and I’d argue long overdue!

[@andreasmartin7942]

This is probably what you see (and hear) after eating those mushrooms.

[@felipegcs]

This arrangement is so good that i've already listened this song like 8 times....and i've never played Mario RPG lol youtube recommended it

[@theGameBrass]

Awesome, glad you’re enjoying it! Wow RUclips really coming through for us this time

[@andiayers2011]

Please, good sirs, may we have some Rose Town next? 🥺

[@Devmon52]

What a wonderful cover! Following the description and arrangement notes, I think that you all did the song justice and added something different than the other remixes and takes I've heard on it. This was a thoroughly enjoyable cover and I love the variety. Thank you for including the marimba and piccolo trumpet because they really added depth that I love in this version. It is amazing that this was arranged back in March, but you couldn't have picked a better time to unveil it. Wonderful work, as always!

[@thomaskresge]

Thank you! That means a lot to hear. Fun fact: the marimba was kind of a last-minute addition haha, glad it worked out

[@EbuBax]

You clever bunch knowing that the remake is this week! 😏

[@theGameBrass]

Gotta be timely on occasion! Haha

[@kpmusic8533]

Thanks!

[@theGameBrass]

Thank you!

[@kpmusic8533]

@@theGameBrass you're welcome

[@Winterbay]

French Horn supremacy :)

[@gamingartbeasts]

Brass supremacy :)

[@Francois_Dupont]

piccollo trumpet guys is the king.

[@NicoMendozaMusic]

Love this tune from Mario RPG! The low marimba textures really give it that forest-y feel too

[@You-ul8qw]

0:00-0:47 sounds a lot like salvation army brass band music, love it!

[@peridotstan8997]

Very nice rendition. I am a big fannof the game. Playing first time on switch version. Love the personality and charm thank you for bringing this video to the public and gave a good evening. I am now glib

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks for listening! We are huge fans of the game too

[@RahulVanamali]

wahoo

[@theGameBrass]

What did you call me

[@Geffro]

Good stuff, you guys have really given me an appreciation for brass instruments over the years

[@theGameBrass]

Really? Love to hear that

[@Gamertags]

Absolutely lovely 💖

[@neptunite5973]

OOo! I'm so glad yt recommended a vid of yours! I love this!!

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks! Welcome to the channel

[@mega_mixtape]

Amazing arrangement and performance! Loved the variations. Can't wait to hear more about that project for next year.

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks so much! We're super excited to share more soon!

[@Chuckplaysthetrombone]

Great cover!

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks!

[@MindWipe]

i would love to hear a cover by The Game Brass of FRONTIER: ELITE 2 in your own arrangement version (not to be confused with the official UNCLE ART version "trust me i want to hear your arrangement" and i know Dave Lowe would approve.. And especially since that iconic game this year is celebrating its 30th birthday

[@theGameBrass]

Wow, deep cut! We’ll have to add that to our list of options for Brass Effect 2

[@gaker19sc]

The sound is amazing! Really nice

[@theGameBrass]

Thank you so much!

[@KevinFarias-rh1sl]

Masterpiece!

[@Westonnator]

Well done guys

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks very much 👍

[@ElsweyrDiego]

you NEED to make a version of some songs from Genshin Impact!

[@arbitraryletters3442]

Amazing! I was happy to see that you covered that song and I didn't expect any less!

[@theGameBrass]

It’s a classic! We’ve wanted to play it forever

[@joepower777]

This is perfection! Dictionary definitions should reference this video as their example of perfection.

[@theGameBrass]

Hi Joe! Thanks a lot, you're very kind!

[@chfgn]

OMG. Absolutely astounding work. How can you take something that's already perfect and make it even better?
❤🎮🎺
BRB gotta go listen to this on repeat for the rest of my life.

[@theGameBrass]

Ah that’s so kind, thanks! Please enjoy!!

[@Duhemsounds]

Beautiful groovy rendition with a magical touch

[@theGameBrass]

Thank you ✨ always hard to approach a classic like this

[@Jono00o]

Amazing

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks

[@mackrauser]

Q locura!!

[@BenElliottSound]

Gorgeous!

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks Ben

[@witr]

excellent work as always 👍

[@theGameBrass]

Thanks a lot, glad you enjoy what we do!

[@WhiteOrb]

Awesome!

[@theGameBrass]

ORB! Thanks!

[@Idazmi7]

Marvelllous!

[@theGameBrass]

Thank you, glad you enjoy!

[@nc_skier2326]

Beautiful!

[@theGameBrass]

Thank you!