Being an arab seeing all these traditional instruments like oud, ney, daf, darbuka which people here are losing interest in and they don't have a platform like they were before, being used with an orchestra sound is really a fascinating experience to listen again to these instruments in such a wonderful arrangement and I hope it is too for people who experienced these instruments for the first time. Genshin and Yu Peng Chen are really honoring traditions more than people of the respective nations!
perhaps maybe this can end up like the chinese opera, because it actually sparked a wave of interest in it in China after the divine damsel thing happened
I think its even more poetic that the exotic instruments didn't kick in until after the initial climactic opening because you are a traveler making your way to new lands and the sudden pop of unfamiliar and unusual sounds hits harder as a surprise and delight. Towards the middle you get tossed up into a whirlwind of sounds that come from all directions like you are getting caught up in all the chaos and interlacing stories of the land.
Ohh, I didn't even consider that, the start of the cultural instrument definitely had a huge impact when they jumped in and I was like "Oh, okay... OKAY WE ARE DOING THIS NOW I AM AWAKE". Haha
My question is: how in hell do you write music like this? Each region is very diverse, very creative, and works perfectly together. I've never heard anything like it... every single time. I really think Yu Peng Chen will be remember as one of the great visionaires. He is truly setting course for the modern evolution of classical music and I'm so excited to be here for it!
In the livestream, following after this performance they talked a bit about how Hoyo-MIX did a lot of discussions with London Phil and folk musicians to really nail the feel of the music.
It's a collaborative effort between musicians, while Yu Peng Chen sets down the main leitmotif others will arrange the composition and decide how each instrument will be used to add to the harmony.
they mentioned in the livestream that there will be a behind the scenes video for Sumeru's OST (really looking forward to that whenever it comes out :D) but if you want an idea of what they do when working with the different orchestras, they have a behind the scenes video for Inazuma's OST that shows some of their discussions (it's titled "Travelers' Musings" - Behind the Scenes of the Music of Inazuma if you want to check it out)
That aggressive pianissimo is felt by all musicians 😂 it's like you're on the verge of slapping someone with the sheet music, pointing at it and screaming "LOOK AT ALL THESE P'S. THERE'S 3 OF THEM!" 😂
As someone from India, Sumeru was a really nice surprise. When Genshin came out and I learned that Sumeru was supposed to be based on the middle east (Egypt, India, Saudi, etc.), I imagined jungles, cliffs, and waterfalls all surrounding this large city raised up on a mountain with golden roofs. The actual Sumeru we have now is pretty much exactly how I imagined it, except for the roofs being blue tiles instead of gold. The music is amazing too. It respects tradition but keeps some familiarity for western cultures. It's also really calming and yes, it does feel like you're floating through the wind during battle. You feel like your attacks have more flow and elegance than they usually do.
I think that comes from a lot of the middle eastern mosques and ancient architectures such as the Shah Mosque. Overall super pleased with their implementation of Sumeru, borrowing from different ethnic cultures!
The interesting part of the music is that it doesn't actually try to "represent" the music of the middle east, rather it's trying to filter it through the perspective of a foreigner looking into the culture. It reminds me of old hollywood epic movies that feature the middle east, like Lawrence of Arabia or the Ten Commandments or the Prince of Egypt. I think this is because the score was written with the regular modern western scales in mind while trying to emulate arabian scales. Which is hard to do because chords and harmonies are different for each of those scales.
@@MarcoMeatball that's actually why it's interesting because for the first 3 regions they weren't trying to exoticize the music as much as modernize them. Liyue's music for example wouldn't be out of place in a chinese movie, while Inazuma's themes especially Raiden Shogun's was adapted from an actual japanese folk song. Moon in one's cup (the sung version) would fit in with other love ballads being played on the radio while driving around mainland China (though my experience is mostly from Southern China and Hongkong). So the pivot towards a different mode, makes Sumeru's theme pop out more compared to the first 3, also if you take the whole Teyvat story and divide it into the traditional 3 act structure, Sumeru is basically when Act 2 starts to ramp up so a sudden change in thematic representation makes sense here.
@@kyoken8691 In monstadt and Liyue they use mostly minor and major scales. In Inazuma they use the Sakura scale as well, which uniquely only uses 6 notes instead of 7. In Sumeru however, they use the Persian scale. The Persian scale sounds very different from any other musical scale in the world and you can almost immediately tell that it’s from the Middle East. The minor second and sixth (comparing to major ionic scale) makes the scale very unique. You can basically divide the 6 first notes into two major triads where the 3 notes of the first chord ascend chromatically into the next chord. This is why the scale is also called the double harmonic scale. So from a musical perspective it’s no wonder this sound vastly different from the other regions :D
I think one of the reasons why they decided to use exoticism is because they couldn't communicate with an actually Middle Eastern orchestra. That's what I was worried about before as well. I'm sure they did the best they could during this pandemic, but it could've been better if they worked with a Middle Eastern orchestra.
Coincidentally, Genshin Impact just released three volumes of a new soundtrack called The Shimmering Voyage. It’s music from various story related cutscenes and events. Honestly amazing how they would dedicate an entire album for tracks that only play once
@@MarcoMeatball whats the chance that the vod for this will be uploaded (if it hasnt already happened) Cant really catch lives because of studies and timezones
The second song "Swirls of Shamshir" is the region battle theme. With this song I think I will just start fighting everything I see just to hear it in game 😂
Music was the deal breaker for Tower Of Fantasy for me. Genshin's music has so much story and guidance embedded into it, the exploration feels like a breeze with this rich music.
@@limmy1931 this maybe true but hearing the same theme over and over again that doesn't even necessarily fit the vibe you are going for really gets tiresome. It's really telling that I muted the music after the 2nd zone due to exhaustion.
@@RafidW9 As a soundtrack aficionado, I couldn't possibly agree more. I've listened to many soundtracks, and I'm not just talking about video games, and Genshin's soundtrack is without a doubt in my mind among the absolute greats. ToF has good gameplay ideas and a few interesting quirks here and there, but the story is mid at best and on the lower end of mediocre at worst, the worldbuilding is lacking and uninteresting, and the ost is so forgettable that I cannot remember a single theme I heard while playing when it first came out. ToF couldn't have come out at a worst time. Right now, Genshin is arguably at its most intriguing story-wise and lore-wise. Even unvoiced world quests are absolutely killing it right now (Aranyaka and Golden Slumber got me a lot more invested than I thought they would upon starting them). And, of course, the soundtrack fucking slays. When I first walked into Port Ormos and Hustle and Bustle started playing I genuinely stopped dead on my tracks to listen to it, something that hadn't happened since I heard Moonlike Smile back when Dragonspine was released in 1.2 (1.0 player right here). And the release of Dendro too, which is a huge shake-up in the meta and a breath of fresh air gameplay-wise. For ToF, releasing right when Sumeru was about to drop was almost like an up and coming mmorpg trying to release days before World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade level of bad timing. It really suffers from the comparison.
Never imagine I would be so into Arabic music, but what I like the most is how traditional & modern, culture from different countries blend so well together beautifully and powerful, I think this show important we have different races & culture in the world, otherwise it will be boring.
@@mariuspuiu9555 And when you've listened to the modernised version, you can easily dive into the original genre with ease. I actually like that GI is trying to expand people's mind with music of different genres.
@@sirgrem2988i am egyptian so im familiar with egyptian and arabic music in general, and one thing i can say that even the modernized genshin ver of isn't that far off from what i hear everyday, its beautiful yet feels sooo familiar to me at the same time. It will be so easy to get into the real genre, but the composer NAILED THIS. I was kinda scared at first when i first got the news that sumeru was gonna be inspired by parts of my culture, for the music part i thought it was gonna be some stereotypical egypt music that you hear in different kinds of media but this was a lot more accurate than i thought. they really listened to actual egyptian and other arabic music to create something that fits the vibes of sumeru.
Beautiful stuff. Can't wait to hear more and visit when I get to it in game. Side note: Disregard the one bead of liquid on my beard. I do in fact shower and that bead just decided it wanted to hitch a ride.
I'm really glad you were able to watch the Sumeru symphony. I watched the 3.0 update for Genshin and personally what truly drew my attention was this very music. It's unique and I feel it actually helps to draw in its listeners and tells the story of life in Sumeru. Another great video, thanks Marco.
I love how they use national instruments in their music. I can't wait till Snezhnaya, cause i play one of the Russian-Belarusian national instrument, domra, and i wonder if they use it somehow for Snezhnaya ost. Also would like to see use of such russian( as well as belarusian and ukranian) instruments as tsymbaly, bayan or gusli. But well, Snezhnaya is the last region, so i will be waiting for a long time
Genshin is not just a game. It's a game that revitalizes all kinds of cultures from around the world! We've seen German / Swiss, Chinese, and Japanese cultures and now we're experiencing Arab - Egyptian culture. I have no doubt a lot of players had no idea such instruments or sounds even existed. And no we all get to experience its worldwide together. It's phenomenal what one game and the people behind it can do! I'm very curious about the future cultures which we will experience - French, Russian etc. Thank you for your analysis, Marco! As always! 🙏
I used to play the Sitar when I was younger. Never expected to hear it in Genshin Impact. As always, the way Yu Peng Chen mixes different musical cultures and creates such magnificent compositions amazes me. Edit - The instrument on the left of the Sitar is called the Tanpura.
I must agree this music is not just introducing traditional instruments but it also respects them and puts them forward as main actors of the show. Yet it all sounds organic and natural like they were always meant to put together like such. I love that on Genshin music. And the other thing I live on it is that they hire live orchestra to record and play it and even organize live concerts which a gaming company would never be expected to do. It makes the difference between entertainment industry and art.
Port Ormos music is perhaps one of the best Music in Sumeru. The addition of Tabla really made me so happy in both of them as an Indian! Perhaps you can give it a try.
Sumeru is definitely gonna be my favourite nation. I thought so when i first heard its music in the Teyvat chapter trailer. I think Sumeru as a nation and its music are the most unique and different from anything we've seen yet. All of the nations are unique and special but Sumeru caught me especially. Dendro itself is a very special element as it is the last released and the mix in biomes (being tropical rainforest and arid desert) makes Sumeru feel like the most unique to me. Its world mechanics are also overhauled and more dynamic than Inazuma or any nation previously.
The second song is 100% a battle theme - I was sure as soon as I heard a variation of the Battle leitmotif starting at around 13:28. They've really nailed the sound and feeling, as usual, I can't wait to hear more of it!
What I love especially about that last track is that it makes use of two leitmotifs. The sumeru leitmotif they introduced just before and then those syncopated strings from all the other battle themes in the other regions. It’s binding all of those regions together beautifully. But then again I love a good use of leitmotifs.
Glad to see I was not the only noticing how well they blended them together there! I love how Yu-Peng Chen and the Hoyomix team tie in all the regions to really give everyone a sense of a united world with differing nations. They aren't all so removed from each other as we might think haha
One of Sumeru battle theme kind of resembles with Fugue, although things are not being played simultaneously like Fugue, there are notable subject-answer-countersubject relations. Also notice that next region will be Fontain, which is Franko-British themed region. So music here, is clearly intended
If Sumeru music sounds this good, then I can't wait for the other regions! Fontaine is based on France, Natlan is Spanish/Latin/Central America, and Snezhnaya is Russia and I'm over here already imagining how awesome their music will be.
Genshin is set to be the most expensive game ever made - or in the making. They have 14hours 48minutes worth of music alone with all the Genshin OSTs so far.
@@yharnamiyhill787 not sure if this amount has changed or not but there was articles back around the time the game first released where they mentioned the development cost for Genshin was estimated to be $200 million a year, so yeah expensive for sure (it's initial cost to make it was around $100 million if i remember correctly)
@@yharnamiyhill787 oh i i see. yeah not to mention they also hired more people in the company overall. don't know how big the Genshin development team is now (if i remember correctly when Genshin development started in 2017 it was 120 people at first, which grew to 400 later on; last i checked it increased to 700 since last year)
I'm new to this channel. I'm a huge fan of Genshin because of the quality of the ost, the animation and the story. Inazuma, Enkanomia and The Chasm have the best ost till now, but it seems Sumeru it's coming in hot. I had Sumeru's live symphony on repeat today :) Keep your good work Marco, I love your explications and the way you present your opinions 🥺😍
hey marco, love all your videos! trombonist from singapore here, but since i play in both wind band and orchestra settings i feel a need to defend the saxophone's role in the orchestra here: the sound and timbre of the saxophone is INCREDIBLY GOOD at blending, be it with the graceful nimble woodwinds or heavy majestic brasses, and its dynamic control and range is unlike any other wind instrument - maybe it's because it's kind of in between a brass and woodwind! some wind band arrangements of orchestral works even use the saxophone to mimic the sound of strings, and it is surprisingly effective at it! not to discount your research, but from what i've read, there were many composers who praised the saxophone's abilities, but saxophones not being as common in orchestra as they rightfully should is likely due to various factors, such as pushback from more traditionalist instrument makers, the lack of proficient instrumentalists when it was first created, and the prejudice against it in the classical world after being established as a jazz staple. hope this provides a new perspective that people might appreciate!
I certainly didn’t intend to discredit the saxophone! That’s just what Google said. I’m pretty sure Luciano Berio was also a huge fan of the sax! I personally love the saxophone :) I should have done a bit more digging. Sorry to sax players everywhere!
That sitar player literally the star he's shining bright among other musician on that video i can see him get all the melody and slayed this perfomance up ❤️
The easiest way to know that is a battle theme, is hearing this part 13:27 to 13:40. Variations of this motif are present in at least one battle theme of each region (e.g.: the end of Gallant Challenge in Liyue, or the start of Overload of the Thunderstorm in Inazuma)
I really appreciate how much they are pouring into their BGM's. Its an orchestra to boot not just plain computer editing software.. They found a way to incorporate musical instrument local to a nation and made it sound very good.. The song theme and hymn gives a deep message that relates to the in game story and lore of that (in game) nation..
As an Indian when I saw sitar in it I thought how they gonna use in this music they did a great job. And basuri(flute) is so nicely. They used traditional instrument into western beats.HoYo Mix did a great job 👏
one of the instruments that you couldn't recognize is called "Oud" and it's an Arabian instruments some articles say it is the father of guitar instrument. it has a heavy and calm sound full of wisdom and really calming to hear.
As a South Asian, I'm so excited to see how other Sumeru soundtracks will integrate Middle Eastern and South Asian instruments! It was such a delight to show the orchestra performance to my parents and see them excited about it too. I can't wait to do the same with other soundtracks from Sumeru!
There are so many indian, persian and arabian instruments in this and the way they all meld together seamlessly with western instruments is just....perfect! The people at hoyo music are truly amazing and Genshin Impact never seizes to amaze me with its music.
10:47 I get goosebumps everytime I hear the duduk (the vertical flute with the reed) sort of carrying us through the passage, having this valor of melody at 10:51, before passing our journey gently to the strings at 10:54. I love it.
THE LAST 3 INTRUMENT R SITAR SANTOOR AND TANPURA. tanpura is a form of base with 4 strings. its expensive so i use a electronic one while practicing Indian classical vocals
@@Agnisuriya they are kinda similar but sounds different. Veena has a more light and calm voice where sitar just slaps hard . Sitar has the cooler , punchy sounds. (Not a musician or anything, so this is only how I can explain)
I think I recognized some of those traditional Instruments. The names are: Oud: 12:22 Sitar: 12:25 Santur: 13:34 Tanbur: 13:41 Setar: 14:11 Daf (the big circular instrument in the back): 14:22 I might have not gotten them all right, but I do hope you check out more about these Instruments and listen to them, because they truly are amazing sounding. :)
13.41 is from what i know a turkish instrument called “saz” but it has many names and tanbur is one of them but tanburs shape is a little bit like a half apple so saz would make more sense
This music is just so EXCITING. Really makes you want to move. Dance, run, fight. Incredible. Hoyo-Mix literally never disappoints! And your enthusiasm for music is so wholesome. :) I'm sharing this video with all of my friends, haha!
I'm just glad to see that classical music will always be preserved and allowed to evolve through video games. Although not many listen to classical for leisure anymore, it sure looks like the game industry, as shown beautifully by Genshin, is keeping it alive. It's very insipiring to see what new composers are capable of. Even after thousands of years humans keep coming up with new melodies and even manage to mix instruments from different cultures to create previously unimaginable sound combinations. Hopefully this trend picks up and more contemporary composers begin playing with different instruments. It's a globalized society after all, music can clearly also benefit from it.
PIKACHAD!! ❤ Heres a heart my buddy. Its been a while since we last saw you :') But yeah when I heard this for the first time I was blown away like always with genshin music. Yu-Peng Chen is so talented. I dont think I've ever fell in love with so many songs in a game like this before. The game also gets to have osts for each region which are all based of real life regions and they have there own instruments. So Yu-Peng Chen gets to experiment and make songs with lots of different instruments from those regions. Just man I can imagine the fun Yu-Peng Chen gets to have with making the genshin ost.
Chen did absolutely a great job composing this music tightly along the narrative of Sumeru and some of the most appealing cultural elements. The first theme song, its beginning part with traditional orchestra really just establishes a grand and slow/still view of the region, like an establishing shot in films, it brings us to the place with a hoslistic peek like we're seeing all the landscape before our plane lands and starts to notice the exotic buildings and getting excited, then theme melody from saxophone comes in and it brings us down to a local and down to earth scene like we're on the streets, we're actually IN the spot now and we're slowly looking around our surroundings, we can see those dusts floating around and smell those exotic fragrances and feel the bright sunlight shining down, and all of these above are all static views because the music is relatively slow and repetitive, then suddenly these traditional instruments came in with a strong hint of theme and progression and it's like we made a turn at a corner and voila we're at the main city and people are out on the streets cuz these instruments are calling on the humanity and culture part, and this is also the part where we feel our vision is starting to move, we are walking in the scenes, and then from here the music starts to lead us to find out the beauty of the people of the local life and hidden tension/crisis and most importantly the romance in all of these as if it's a dance. This is even more obvious in the battle theme song, we get a lot of contrasts between instruments that have an airy/windy/hollow sound to let our feelings float in the air and see the venue where the fights are taking place, and those that have a flat and compressed sound that send out the tension, and this flat characteristic in the sounds makes them travel ceaselessly with vector, it indicates those fleeting moments and fragments of views we see in this battle and keep pushing the battle to progress in both time and space. And then a very iconic sound is that buzzing (idk the name of the instrument) sound humming in the back in the later part of the song, it's perfect for this battle theme cuz it gives off this restless/dizzy/spinning/lost feeling we would have in ongoing fights as if we have enemies surrounding us and we have this swirling and circular view of them when we look around and trying to defend ourself. But above all these, the theme introduced by sometimes wind sometimes strings part defines the fight with not only a clear tension but a mounting and stretching dance-like beauty and romantic quality too and it reallly amazed me. Seriously these two pieces are so expressive they give me even more visions I can't possibly fit them all into a comment
Despite playing the game for over 2 yrs (since last week of October 2020) I've never felt bored or burnt out by neither gameplay/lore nor the soundtrack. Damn, I can't even stop listening to the OST in my free time or rewatching yours reaction videos lol. I wouldn't call myself a fan of classical music, however I'm familiar with it due to some other games (mostly strategies). But Genshin OST is on a different level. I think I wouldn't experience the game the way I did without the soundtrack. It makes the gaming experience so immersive. Every time I go visit Katheryne in Sumeru City, and "Silent starry night" kicks off, then I'm like: "Man I gotta stand still for like 80 seconds turning my camera for a perfect shot of my MC and the illustrious landscape of this world"
Funny enough the opening immediately struck me as a quote from Rimsky Korsakov's scheherazade - a very similar figure is used for the woodwind solos in mvt2, and the harp texture is similar to the iconic violin solo. But i wasn't even aware of ravel's piece, even though he's one of my favorites, thanks for the introduction :) Sax is underrated since a well trained classical saxophonist can blend seamlessly, but many orchestrators have too many old wind writing habits to fit it in. Glad to see Hoyo-mix can bring in instruments like this, and as always their writing for plucked strings is just excellent.
what makes areb music (middel eastern music) so good is the freedom the musicans have for exampel om kalthoum and the guy with the flute added some notes in the sond live that sounded amaizing and the croude loved it sooo much the singer asked him to do it again
Coming from a Muslim family growing up I played some of those middle eastern instruments, although here in my country they have different names but hearing them on sumeru's theme gives me a very nostalgic feeling.
the second piece feels like dancing, but also running away at the same time for me. i'm imagining a songtress dancing to avoid enemy's attacks/bullets without alerting her audience 😂
Funnily enough alot of arabian music is usually made to make you want to start dancing with its beats You can imagine how wild the weddings and parties get with that kind of music
btw the instrument besides the sitar player which looks similar to it is called a thamburu which is used to give the pitch which we call shruthi in traditional carnatic music and the other instrument which the musician is playing with two small stick like things are called santoor all three are traditional Indian instruments as you might already know
I've been looking to hear your reactions to this orchestra ever since it was shown on stream! I really enjoy learning more about music through getting introduced to them through games and new experiences as well as hearing your input from an opera tradition perspective ! It's fascinating hearing this harmony of both eastern and western musical influences through these tracks, an orchestra bringing all of these together to help paint a picture for Sumeru is exciting to experience! I was really happy to see input from musicians from the cultures being portrayed for the production of the music! It must feel exhilarating to be part of this team bringing classical music forward to new audiences through a popular game like Genshin Impact, to honor both the past and bring it forward into the present! Music really brings people together!
I wasn't sold on the music at first but after seeing and listening to the Symphony Live Performance I'm totally sold. This is incredible that classical music played by the orchestra can make you dance. There is so much melody and soul in it, again incredible. Glad you reacted to the vid, was waiting for it since yesterday. :) Sumeru is only a week away guys, we can make it!
What really gets me is that the composer is such a legendary film composer and a HUGE name in China, so much so that just his name in the credits would've been more than enough. He could literally have farted into the microphone and MiHoYo would've taken it just so they can put his name in the credits. Instead he got a gig offer for this random video game from this game studio he'd probably never heard of, completely unaware that it was about to become a worldwide phenomenon. And he not only took that gig, he took it and went "nah I'll just make them all bangers" and the results are so breathtaking
I love how you dive yourself so deep into the music; your corporal expression makes me feel like it was me who is feeling and enjoying this music in your position.
I grow up with those middle east instruments, because Islam's growth start there. and almost all year, I heard those instrument played on some events. birthday of Prophet Muhammad, Ramadhan, Ied, new year, wedding celebrations, reunion of old folks, and stuff. And yes most of them are celebrations and sacred events. But I have no idea the name or even how to play those instruments. Either its instruments from Arabian, Egypt, Persian, Indian, or other. All I can say is I am a fan of middle east instruments. And Sumeru's ost just give me a feel of come back to home, grandly. and I was looking forward for you to react this orchestra.. and thank you so much.. also I will look forward for your future videos..
They keychange or shift (I'm not too sure that to call it) at 16:53 during the battle music does something to me! it makes me feel swept up in moment and just makes my heart feel so light. I know it's fighting music, but it feels like dancing! Though I do suppose some could refer to combat as a form of "dance". Haha, honestly I'll never get over how expertly Yu-Peng Chen is able to layer his compositions so every moment of the song feels new and fresh and it just keeps drawing in. He pays such beautiful tribute to each of the cultural inspirations that represent each region of Teyvat. Each piece is honestly such a treat to listen to! Thank you for reviewing the music Marco! Always love seeing your reactions!
i think my favourite thing about these videos you make is your facial expressions while the music plays. its like youre absolutely ascending to the heavens with every little note played (exactly how i looked when i first heard this i should add!)
As a Syrian I always take a trip down memory lane when I hear some of Sumeru music and this orchersta, especially port ormos ost, I almost cried. Good times...
@@MarcoMeatball can't wait :) it's going to be a ride. Also btw are the instruments you were wondering about the Sitar? Unfortunately that's the only one I recognize
@@MarcoMeatball ok, also i just noticed I wrote the name of it wrong, sorry xd Edit: rewatching the video I also noticed you did mention it, I had the volume low since it's late and I'm watching without headphones and missed it...
This is the main reason i play genshin i rarely seen game with so many different music and genshin give us an opportunities to hear these and it's free! This is one of the game that literally representing different instrument from different region like europe, east asia,south asia/northeast africa (egypt),middle eastern. (And maybe murican instrument soon when natlan came out)
I think I'll never forget the moment they dropped this performance into the livestream. I listed to a minute of it, realized it was extraordinary, and jumped to Marco's discord. There was a channel for livestream discussion and everybody was like 'someone call Marco right now, quick!' Great analysis as always. I really appreciate how much effort you put into this (and also how quickly you did it, considering the livestream was on the 13th).
I really adore the music in this game, and i love the fact that at least one of tthe battle songs from each region shares a tune (The "Tun tun tun tuntuntun" part), really interesting how it tells you "you are in teyvat" but once you reach "underground" zones or special spots with special battle songs, they dont have it. Really looking forward for more music in sumeru.
Genshin music is something unique which will stay with me long after I finish the game... Something that I will be able to identify years later and say, hey that's a Genshin OST!
Doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, the Saxophone at 4:50 with the underlying strings never fails to give me chills. It honestly feels like I'm listening to it for the first time over and over again. Hoyo-Mix, and the London Symphony Orchestra are nothing short of amazing. Great reaction and break down, Marco! Always love learning about music from you! Keep it up!
Found your channel recently and I'm enjoying your reactions so much! It gave me such a happiness to see you playing Genshin because of its music. Still catching up with the Genshin streams, but the way you react to the music is so powerful and doesn't feel forced. Also, love how you explain and give examples for mortals like us who don't understand music theory. Thank you for your work here and hope you are having fun in this journey :)
Just came across this! What makes this video so comfortable to me is that you remind me of the classical teachers I've come to know over time. It's just nice to see someone who knows what they're talking about explain music with so much depth in a way that I understand. The music in Genshin really makes you feel like you're there playing as the traveler. I'm glad that lots of RPGs use orchestral music in their games because while a good experience at the theatre is unforgettable, not everyone spends their time there and I just really think they'd be missing out on beats like this.
This is what I am waiting for... when the live symphony was shown in the livestream, I immediately think that "I can't wait for Marco to see this!" and here we are! Genshin's Music never disappoints!
3:44 Having played Sumeru acts 1-4, I love the mention of "insecurity" and "curiosity", since both words very much apply to a certain character who shall not be named just yet because spoilers.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the symphony Marco. It’s amazing, and Hoyo-Mix never fails to disappoint. Makes you even so excited to go to sumeru, but that’s the same with every genshin region. 4:58 Hearing you talk about the saxophone made me happy as well! Just hearing this part in the concert made me excited because heading both alto and TENOR is like a dream. I’m a tenor saxophonist, and it honestly makes me so happy lol. Even tho it may not be common in orchestral settings, I think the saxophone is a very beautiful sounding instrument. Maybe I’m biased LOL! Thank you for the amazing video like always ❤️❤️
RUclips recommended me your analysis of La Vaguelette and I've been binge watching your content. I've been playing since launch and though I go in and out of playing, I relatively keep up with patch updates to play at least the main storyline. Watching your videos has been educational and entertaining, and as someone who has little knowledge on music, I find myself appreciating and falling in love with the music of the game again. Thank you so much, I'm glad you got cast as Dvorak! Keep up the great work
I really like your analysis and the way you feel each piece. It is inevitable not to move and feel how the notes and melodies go through us when listening to these works. It's really beautiful to know how music can connect us all. As if that which makes us different but at the same time part of the same tree awakens within us.
Hello there im an avid genshin player and an ameteur story writer. As a writer i am currently writing a world with traditional but with modernized technology. Imagine a roman city style skyscrapers, trains and etc. Ancient egypt with pyramids made out of metal, glass, marble, gold and etc. Genshin music for me feels like this a traditional sound with a modern twist.
I also recognised Arabian nights theme as well in inazuma with Sakura sakura song ah! And Green leaves in the dawn winery area. I think is cool Yu Peng uses inspo on well known music to helps us immerse in certain areas so we feel more familiar. Don't get me wrong, he's so talented and can create a TON of amazing music in such short amount of time and lots of genres, so I only consider he using these popular music as leif motifs
These videos always makes me feel that Marco is our concert/listening buddy and our hype man too! :DDD Thank you so much for explaining the creative genius in every piece and for sharing your reactions and expertise. It makes me feel more alive and inspired!! 😫✨
Hey Marco fellow former bass clarinetist here as well! I love coming into your comment section for these videos because of how much I learn from everyone in the musical community, especially the new instrumental knowledge! I don't have much to add here except that I enjoy very much how Yu Peng Chen and the Hoyomix team have blended the previous areas' motifs into their battle themes! I picked up a little of Inazuma especially around 13:50 or so and I find it so well executed! The nods and references to their own music while introducing a completely new style is fantastic. Can't wait to hear the rest of the sounds we are going to get out of Sumeru!
I love your deep dives into the music, as it's one of the parts I enjoy the most about the game but I don't know much about music theory. I learn a lot from you and you make my passion for music grow one video at a time! Keep up the good work and I hope you enjoy Sumeru. :)
You are so right. Genshin put such important on the showcase and preservation of unique cultural music instruments & design...I learned about the world of Chinese opera thanks to genshin now this beautiful music ...my only experience with that culture was Aladin and maybe some bollywood music videos at best. Now I'm introduced to so many things !! Hoyoverse is not just providing a game, it's providing so much more!!
I was waiting for your reaction as soon as the orchestra video was out. I don’t know much about music so I am always happy to know more about it with your commentary they’re always relevant.
absolutely love your reaction and commentary marco, you really display your passion and immersion when it comes to music. and this live symphony performance slaps
Just came across your channel last week and really enjoying all your music analysis! So thrilled to see you pump out this video so soon after the Sumeru OST came out as I was looking forward to hear you talk about it! I love how Genshin's OSTs highlights the traditional instruments from each new region and like you said, they really expand my personal soundscape. Also loving how Yu-Peng Chen always manages to fit in the battle leitmotif (13:29) so effortlessly in every single region's OST!!
Now you gave me an idea! Hahaha I was thinking of going by Liyue through the Chasm, but I guess, arriving by boat woth Beidou on the helm is an entrance. Hahaha
Two instruments in the Back are - Santoor (the one on the lap, its a string instrument Similar to the Japanese Koto - but its played with Hollow Wood mallet sticks) and then we have the classic Sitar which is a heavier version of the Sarod or a Veena- its like a difference between a Nylon Stringed Guitar and a Steel Stringer guitar.
"The God of Wisdom's enemy is Wisdom itself. And the oasis of knowledge is a mirage in the desert of ignorance. In the City of Scholars there is a push for folly. But the God of Wisdom makes no argument against it!" - Dainsleif, Teyvat Chapter Storyline Teaser Travail
The goddess of Wisdom didn't make an argument against it because it was a push for the return of the old archon and she somewhat agrees with the people pushing for folly.
@@RKNancy a theory is said that the previous dendro archon got wiped out with the same reason as the watatsumi omikami (they knew something about the truth of the world) Orobashi went for suicide (slashed by Ei) to protect Enkanomiyans from the Heavenly Principals
What a professional explanation! Tyvm. You ought to have a million subscribers. I can never explain my feelings with the music, but you help me put things into perspective!!
Thanks for the great analysis. Was an amazing experience playing the sitar part on this recoridng.
Jonathan! Wow! You were fantastic. Thank you for your soulful performances I’m sure for you it was a great pleasure. :)
You were astounding!
🌸
It is beyond beautiful good job
masterpiece
Being an arab seeing all these traditional instruments like oud, ney, daf, darbuka which people here are losing interest in and they don't have a platform like they were before, being used with an orchestra sound is really a fascinating experience to listen again to these instruments in such a wonderful arrangement and I hope it is too for people who experienced these instruments for the first time.
Genshin and Yu Peng Chen are really honoring traditions more than people of the respective nations!
I love the oud. I bought one and i loved it ever since and love all the arab middle eastern instruments
perhaps maybe this can end up like the chinese opera, because it actually sparked a wave of interest in it in China after the divine damsel thing happened
this has nothing to do with your comment but i am kinda confused as to why some people call it as indian music.
@@anapple6912 I think some early specualtions had sumeru based of india as well as middle east.
@@meepswag35but the music?
well i think sumeru is a combination between both southern asia and middle east anyways
I think its even more poetic that the exotic instruments didn't kick in until after the initial climactic opening because you are a traveler making your way to new lands and the sudden pop of unfamiliar and unusual sounds hits harder as a surprise and delight. Towards the middle you get tossed up into a whirlwind of sounds that come from all directions like you are getting caught up in all the chaos and interlacing stories of the land.
Great point!
Same thoughts here. I love how every single OST tells a story
Ohh, I didn't even consider that, the start of the cultural instrument definitely had a huge impact when they jumped in and I was like "Oh, okay... OKAY WE ARE DOING THIS NOW I AM AWAKE". Haha
Yas great points but are you a poet? Cuz it rhymes
U right! It does make me feel like the traveler in a new and unfamiliar land
My question is: how in hell do you write music like this?
Each region is very diverse, very creative, and works perfectly together. I've never heard anything like it... every single time.
I really think Yu Peng Chen will be remember as one of the great visionaires. He is truly setting course for the modern evolution of classical music and I'm so excited to be here for it!
In the livestream, following after this performance they talked a bit about how Hoyo-MIX did a lot of discussions with London Phil and folk musicians to really nail the feel of the music.
One name: Yu Peng Chen
It's a collaborative effort between musicians, while Yu Peng Chen sets down the main leitmotif others will arrange the composition and decide how each instrument will be used to add to the harmony.
It's a team effort, and a lot of trial and communication
they mentioned in the livestream that there will be a behind the scenes video for Sumeru's OST (really looking forward to that whenever it comes out :D) but if you want an idea of what they do when working with the different orchestras, they have a behind the scenes video for Inazuma's OST that shows some of their discussions (it's titled "Travelers' Musings" - Behind the Scenes of the Music of Inazuma if you want to check it out)
The most frustrating part of the livestream was people saying the beginning of the concert was quiet WHEN IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE QUIET. PIANISSIMOOOOOOOO
Lol 😂
That aggressive pianissimo is felt by all musicians 😂 it's like you're on the verge of slapping someone with the sheet music, pointing at it and screaming "LOOK AT ALL THESE P'S. THERE'S 3 OF THEM!" 😂
As someone from India, Sumeru was a really nice surprise.
When Genshin came out and I learned that Sumeru was supposed to be based on the middle east (Egypt, India, Saudi, etc.), I imagined jungles, cliffs, and waterfalls all surrounding this large city raised up on a mountain with golden roofs.
The actual Sumeru we have now is pretty much exactly how I imagined it, except for the roofs being blue tiles instead of gold.
The music is amazing too. It respects tradition but keeps some familiarity for western cultures. It's also really calming and yes, it does feel like you're floating through the wind during battle. You feel like your attacks have more flow and elegance than they usually do.
ummm India isn't middle eastern its south east asian
@@mikayuki666 It's also based on south asia.
You're leaker,right? Cause there is a building with golden-like roof in middle of desert
I think that comes from a lot of the middle eastern mosques and ancient architectures such as the Shah Mosque. Overall super pleased with their implementation of Sumeru, borrowing from different ethnic cultures!
@@mikayuki666 india is not south east asia, what ? open a geography book.
The interesting part of the music is that it doesn't actually try to "represent" the music of the middle east, rather it's trying to filter it through the perspective of a foreigner looking into the culture. It reminds me of old hollywood epic movies that feature the middle east, like Lawrence of Arabia or the Ten Commandments or the Prince of Egypt.
I think this is because the score was written with the regular modern western scales in mind while trying to emulate arabian scales. Which is hard to do because chords and harmonies are different for each of those scales.
That is what exoticism is!
@@MarcoMeatball that's actually why it's interesting because for the first 3 regions they weren't trying to exoticize the music as much as modernize them. Liyue's music for example wouldn't be out of place in a chinese movie, while Inazuma's themes especially Raiden Shogun's was adapted from an actual japanese folk song. Moon in one's cup (the sung version) would fit in with other love ballads being played on the radio while driving around mainland China (though my experience is mostly from Southern China and Hongkong).
So the pivot towards a different mode, makes Sumeru's theme pop out more compared to the first 3, also if you take the whole Teyvat story and divide it into the traditional 3 act structure, Sumeru is basically when Act 2 starts to ramp up so a sudden change in thematic representation makes sense here.
Prince of Egypt is perhaps one of the best soundtracks ever made. It’s so good. R.I.P Ofra Haza
@@kyoken8691 In monstadt and Liyue they use mostly minor and major scales. In Inazuma they use the Sakura scale as well, which uniquely only uses 6 notes instead of 7.
In Sumeru however, they use the Persian scale. The Persian scale sounds very different from any other musical scale in the world and you can almost immediately tell that it’s from the Middle East. The minor second and sixth (comparing to major ionic scale) makes the scale very unique. You can basically divide the 6 first notes into two major triads where the 3 notes of the first chord ascend chromatically into the next chord. This is why the scale is also called the double harmonic scale. So from a musical perspective it’s no wonder this sound vastly different from the other regions :D
I think one of the reasons why they decided to use exoticism is because they couldn't communicate with an actually Middle Eastern orchestra. That's what I was worried about before as well. I'm sure they did the best they could during this pandemic, but it could've been better if they worked with a Middle Eastern orchestra.
Coincidentally, Genshin Impact just released three volumes of a new soundtrack called The Shimmering Voyage. It’s music from various story related cutscenes and events. Honestly amazing how they would dedicate an entire album for tracks that only play once
We’re gonna listen to all of it
@@MarcoMeatball damn boy, that will be a long video 🤣
@@arifigo1006 it’ll be live 😂
@@MarcoMeatball whats the chance that the vod for this will be uploaded (if it hasnt already happened) Cant really catch lives because of studies and timezones
@@cilius7774 1,000,000%
The second song "Swirls of Shamshir" is the region battle theme. With this song I think I will just start fighting everything I see just to hear it in game 😂
Shamshir means sword in persian 🗡
@@white-bl5os And that's why anyone can rephrase the piece's title as "Witness how gracefully my blade dances".
I did this when enkanomya droped. Favorite place to farm
or let the dendro slime find you. its their region after all lol
that's what i kept saying when i watched it live on twitch lol
Music was the deal breaker for Tower Of Fantasy for me. Genshin's music has so much story and guidance embedded into it, the exploration feels like a breeze with this rich music.
That is true but genshin is more focused on open world and story while tof is more about co-op and combat since it is an mmorpg
@@limmy1931 this maybe true but hearing the same theme over and over again that doesn't even necessarily fit the vibe you are going for really gets tiresome. It's really telling that I muted the music after the 2nd zone due to exhaustion.
For me is Movement/animation, genshin is more fluid & smooth
Bringing up ToF's "music" is an insult to Genshin's OST.
@@RafidW9 As a soundtrack aficionado, I couldn't possibly agree more. I've listened to many soundtracks, and I'm not just talking about video games, and Genshin's soundtrack is without a doubt in my mind among the absolute greats.
ToF has good gameplay ideas and a few interesting quirks here and there, but the story is mid at best and on the lower end of mediocre at worst, the worldbuilding is lacking and uninteresting, and the ost is so forgettable that I cannot remember a single theme I heard while playing when it first came out.
ToF couldn't have come out at a worst time. Right now, Genshin is arguably at its most intriguing story-wise and lore-wise. Even unvoiced world quests are absolutely killing it right now (Aranyaka and Golden Slumber got me a lot more invested than I thought they would upon starting them).
And, of course, the soundtrack fucking slays. When I first walked into Port Ormos and Hustle and Bustle started playing I genuinely stopped dead on my tracks to listen to it, something that hadn't happened since I heard Moonlike Smile back when Dragonspine was released in 1.2 (1.0 player right here).
And the release of Dendro too, which is a huge shake-up in the meta and a breath of fresh air gameplay-wise. For ToF, releasing right when Sumeru was about to drop was almost like an up and coming mmorpg trying to release days before World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade level of bad timing. It really suffers from the comparison.
Never imagine I would be so into Arabic music, but what I like the most is how traditional & modern, culture from different countries blend so well together beautifully and powerful, I think this show important we have different races & culture in the world, otherwise it will be boring.
when it is modernised it can sound amazing. the same happened with the chinese opera, they gave it a modern spin that appeals to this new generation.
Indeed my friend
@@mariuspuiu9555 And when you've listened to the modernised version, you can easily dive into the original genre with ease. I actually like that GI is trying to expand people's mind with music of different genres.
@@sirgrem2988 Agree! i started listening to classical since genshin dropped their bangers
@@sirgrem2988i am egyptian so im familiar with egyptian and arabic music in general, and one thing i can say that even the modernized genshin ver of isn't that far off from what i hear everyday, its beautiful yet feels sooo familiar to me at the same time. It will be so easy to get into the real genre, but the composer NAILED THIS. I was kinda scared at first when i first got the news that sumeru was gonna be inspired by parts of my culture, for the music part i thought it was gonna be some stereotypical egypt music that you hear in different kinds of media but this was a lot more accurate than i thought. they really listened to actual egyptian and other arabic music to create something that fits the vibes of sumeru.
Beautiful stuff. Can't wait to hear more and visit when I get to it in game. Side note: Disregard the one bead of liquid on my beard. I do in fact shower and that bead just decided it wanted to hitch a ride.
as a person with a beard too I can confirm that my beard likes to hide the water and drop it on my feet when I am unexpecting of it
@@Lion632Tanks lmao thank you for validating me
As a person who takes showers too I can confirm that hair is not water-proof
@@SC-hk6bs 👀😂😂👀👀
I'm going to use ZhongLi to erect a shield and just stand there to listen to the battle music and watch the boss attack animations. :3
I'm really glad you were able to watch the Sumeru symphony. I watched the 3.0 update for Genshin and personally what truly drew my attention was this very music. It's unique and I feel it actually helps to draw in its listeners and tells the story of life in Sumeru. Another great video, thanks Marco.
❤️❤️❤️
Gracias.
I love how they use national instruments in their music. I can't wait till Snezhnaya, cause i play one of the Russian-Belarusian national instrument, domra, and i wonder if they use it somehow for Snezhnaya ost.
Also would like to see use of such russian( as well as belarusian and ukranian) instruments as tsymbaly, bayan or gusli.
But well, Snezhnaya is the last region, so i will be waiting for a long time
I hope there is a strong choral presence as well.
I hope Snezhnayan song represent the beauty of Russian Belarusian Ukrainian harmony.
YES. I can't wait for Snezhnaya. The architecture and the cold in the teaser already made me feel at home lol.
You can still get a little feel of the music from the travail trailer!
@@horizon146 Yeah, that music gives me chills. Though I hope we will hear some traditional motifs as well
Genshin is not just a game. It's a game that revitalizes all kinds of cultures from around the world!
We've seen German / Swiss, Chinese, and Japanese cultures and now we're experiencing Arab - Egyptian culture. I have no doubt a lot of players had no idea such instruments or sounds even existed. And no we all get to experience its worldwide together. It's phenomenal what one game and the people behind it can do! I'm very curious about the future cultures which we will experience - French, Russian etc.
Thank you for your analysis, Marco! As always! 🙏
My pleasure :)
As a frenchie, I sure hope they won't put any accordion when it comes to write musics for Fontaine. The cliche is so annoying.
@@Naestrith they will lol
@@MarcoMeatball Why so much hatred? Is it still about Napoleon? Or Marion Cotillard's death in Dark Knight Rises?
@@Naestrith 😀😀😀😀😀
I used to play the Sitar when I was younger. Never expected to hear it in Genshin Impact. As always, the way Yu Peng Chen mixes different musical cultures and creates such magnificent compositions amazes me.
Edit - The instrument on the left of the Sitar is called the Tanpura.
❤️
Bhai Indian instruments hit different really
@@blankswiftiegaming8998 absolutely agree, it was really a pleasant surprise
@@soumalyadatta I am a tabla player really wanna make me play among them .. can't tell this music is really wonderful...and Sitar is my fav part
They seem to use the tanpura as the lead on those parts while the sitar is accompaniment mostly
I love how the musicians just keep smiling.They enjoyed these pieces so much!
I must agree this music is not just introducing traditional instruments but it also respects them and puts them forward as main actors of the show. Yet it all sounds organic and natural like they were always meant to put together like such. I love that on Genshin music. And the other thing I live on it is that they hire live orchestra to record and play it and even organize live concerts which a gaming company would never be expected to do. It makes the difference between entertainment industry and art.
Port Ormos music is perhaps one of the best Music in Sumeru. The addition of Tabla really made me so happy in both of them as an Indian! Perhaps you can give it a try.
Oh yes! My favorite as well. It gives me chills everytime. I get lost in in music when I enter the port in game.
I was intrigued by bansuri more tho...nonetheless I love other musical instruments aswell
@@siddhantroy8969same people sleep on bansuri ,and sometimes mistake it for middle East flute
@aethernity8270 yep they are confusing it for ney
@@siddhantroy8969 also I hope they do justice with sumeru music in concert and actually pick better songs
Sumeru is definitely gonna be my favourite nation. I thought so when i first heard its music in the Teyvat chapter trailer. I think Sumeru as a nation and its music are the most unique and different from anything we've seen yet. All of the nations are unique and special but Sumeru caught me especially. Dendro itself is a very special element as it is the last released and the mix in biomes (being tropical rainforest and arid desert) makes Sumeru feel like the most unique to me. Its world mechanics are also overhauled and more dynamic than Inazuma or any nation previously.
Also how come this video has been unlisted? It only has 6 views and it's been out for an hour XD
It is missing a thumbnail ;) it goes public tomorrow.
@@MarcoMeatball i feel special to have seen it early XD
A classic, New region = Best region
@@afafila watch as people will say the same thing when the other regions become accessible
The second song is 100% a battle theme - I was sure as soon as I heard a variation of the Battle leitmotif starting at around 13:28. They've really nailed the sound and feeling, as usual, I can't wait to hear more of it!
What I love especially about that last track is that it makes use of two leitmotifs. The sumeru leitmotif they introduced just before and then those syncopated strings from all the other battle themes in the other regions. It’s binding all of those regions together beautifully.
But then again I love a good use of leitmotifs.
Glad to see I was not the only noticing how well they blended them together there! I love how Yu-Peng Chen and the Hoyomix team tie in all the regions to really give everyone a sense of a united world with differing nations. They aren't all so removed from each other as we might think haha
and there were poeple that said that sumeru had bad music. I was like, dafuq? I love those melodies
Who ever said that is wrong.
@@MarcoMeatball i agree, i like even more this than than inazuma ost which are awesome too
Bruh they are absolutely wrong. Sumeru music is objectively beautiful
every musics in this game are bop, genshin is one of the games that has best music score.
People on Twitter were legit calling the music lazy after a few seconds of music in a first look tease lol
This is also sort of a quiet declaration that all these instruments from different countries can still be connected musically.
One of Sumeru battle theme kind of resembles with Fugue, although things are not being played simultaneously like Fugue, there are notable subject-answer-countersubject relations.
Also notice that next region will be Fontain, which is Franko-British themed region.
So music here, is clearly intended
They deserve to win best soundtrack 2022, if not pc games then mobile games category.
Well, you forget about all Rhythm games that exist, Basically almost impossible to Defeat top Rhythm Games in term in Music ost
@@ZilverEchos don't think there has ever been any rhythm game winning best soundtrack before
If Sumeru music sounds this good, then I can't wait for the other regions! Fontaine is based on France, Natlan is Spanish/Latin/Central America, and Snezhnaya is Russia and I'm over here already imagining how awesome their music will be.
The French music is really curious to me!
Genshin is set to be the most expensive game ever made - or in the making.
They have 14hours 48minutes worth of music alone with all the Genshin OSTs so far.
@@yharnamiyhill787 not sure if this amount has changed or not but there was articles back around the time the game first released where they mentioned the development cost for Genshin was estimated to be $200 million a year, so yeah expensive for sure (it's initial cost to make it was around $100 million if i remember correctly)
@@Nameless422- Yea. I also read its approx $150million added per year due to further expansions in lore, character, land, voice acting, and music.
@@yharnamiyhill787 oh i i see. yeah not to mention they also hired more people in the company overall. don't know how big the Genshin development team is now (if i remember correctly when Genshin development started in 2017 it was 120 people at first, which grew to 400 later on; last i checked it increased to 700 since last year)
I'm new to this channel. I'm a huge fan of Genshin because of the quality of the ost, the animation and the story. Inazuma, Enkanomia and The Chasm have the best ost till now, but it seems Sumeru it's coming in hot. I had Sumeru's live symphony on repeat today :)
Keep your good work Marco, I love your explications and the way you present your opinions 🥺😍
hey marco, love all your videos! trombonist from singapore here, but since i play in both wind band and orchestra settings i feel a need to defend the saxophone's role in the orchestra here: the sound and timbre of the saxophone is INCREDIBLY GOOD at blending, be it with the graceful nimble woodwinds or heavy majestic brasses, and its dynamic control and range is unlike any other wind instrument - maybe it's because it's kind of in between a brass and woodwind! some wind band arrangements of orchestral works even use the saxophone to mimic the sound of strings, and it is surprisingly effective at it!
not to discount your research, but from what i've read, there were many composers who praised the saxophone's abilities, but saxophones not being as common in orchestra as they rightfully should is likely due to various factors, such as pushback from more traditionalist instrument makers, the lack of proficient instrumentalists when it was first created, and the prejudice against it in the classical world after being established as a jazz staple. hope this provides a new perspective that people might appreciate!
I certainly didn’t intend to discredit the saxophone! That’s just what Google said. I’m pretty sure Luciano Berio was also a huge fan of the sax! I personally love the saxophone :) I should have done a bit more digging. Sorry to sax players everywhere!
That sitar player literally the star he's shining bright among other musician on that video i can see him get all the melody and slayed this perfomance up ❤️
Yes he is amazing!
Ahhh thank you so so much 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙏
The easiest way to know that is a battle theme, is hearing this part 13:27 to 13:40. Variations of this motif are present in at least one battle theme of each region (e.g.: the end of Gallant Challenge in Liyue, or the start of Overload of the Thunderstorm in Inazuma)
and Photon of Fluctuation in Mondstadt
I really appreciate how much they are pouring into their BGM's. Its an orchestra to boot not just plain computer editing software..
They found a way to incorporate musical instrument local to a nation and made it sound very good..
The song theme and hymn gives a deep message that relates to the in game story and lore of that (in game) nation..
As an Indian when I saw sitar in it I thought how they gonna use in this music they did a great job. And basuri(flute) is so nicely. They used traditional instrument into western beats.HoYo Mix did a great job 👏
Bansuri ye two two live songs me use nahi hue haaa par official swirls of shamshir me hai bansuri ney(Egyptian)ke saat
one of the instruments that you couldn't recognize is called "Oud" and it's an Arabian instruments some articles say it is the father of guitar instrument. it has a heavy and calm sound full of wisdom and really calming to hear.
As a South Asian, I'm so excited to see how other Sumeru soundtracks will integrate Middle Eastern and South Asian instruments! It was such a delight to show the orchestra performance to my parents and see them excited about it too. I can't wait to do the same with other soundtracks from Sumeru!
There are so many indian, persian and arabian instruments in this and the way they all meld together seamlessly with western instruments is just....perfect! The people at hoyo music are truly amazing and Genshin Impact never seizes to amaze me with its music.
10:47 I get goosebumps everytime I hear the duduk (the vertical flute with the reed) sort of carrying us through the passage, having this valor of melody at 10:51, before passing our journey gently to the strings at 10:54. I love it.
HOLY SHIT YOU'RE FAST THANKS A LOT!
It's always been a blast seeing your deep-dive vid of music in all of your vids.
Don’t get used to it 😂😂 I try to keep my weekends sacred 😂😂😂 it’s my pleasure though!
THE LAST 3 INTRUMENT R SITAR SANTOOR AND TANPURA. tanpura is a form of base with 4 strings. its expensive so i use a electronic one while practicing Indian classical vocals
Sitar is veena or both are different?
@@Agnisuriya they are kinda similar but sounds different. Veena has a more light and calm voice where sitar just slaps hard . Sitar has the cooler , punchy sounds. (Not a musician or anything, so this is only how I can explain)
@@newbie4789 but it sounds the same to me I've heared many times deep sound and mild sound that's the only different i can see
@@Agnisuriya different
I think I recognized some of those traditional Instruments. The names are:
Oud: 12:22
Sitar: 12:25
Santur: 13:34
Tanbur: 13:41
Setar: 14:11
Daf (the big circular instrument in the back): 14:22
I might have not gotten them all right, but I do hope you check out more about these Instruments and listen to them, because they truly are amazing sounding. :)
Thank you for this!
13.41 is from what i know a turkish instrument called “saz” but it has many names and tanbur is one of them but tanburs shape is a little bit like a half apple so saz would make more sense
white lady is holding a tanpura
They're persian instruments
@@BlueSpaceDust I'm aware, I'm Persian myself.
This music is just so EXCITING. Really makes you want to move. Dance, run, fight. Incredible. Hoyo-Mix literally never disappoints!
And your enthusiasm for music is so wholesome. :) I'm sharing this video with all of my friends, haha!
I'm just glad to see that classical music will always be preserved and allowed to evolve through video games. Although not many listen to classical for leisure anymore, it sure looks like the game industry, as shown beautifully by Genshin, is keeping it alive. It's very insipiring to see what new composers are capable of. Even after thousands of years humans keep coming up with new melodies and even manage to mix instruments from different cultures to create previously unimaginable sound combinations. Hopefully this trend picks up and more contemporary composers begin playing with different instruments. It's a globalized society after all, music can clearly also benefit from it.
PIKACHAD!! ❤ Heres a heart my buddy. Its been a while since we last saw you :') But yeah when I heard this for the first time I was blown away like always with genshin music. Yu-Peng Chen is so talented. I dont think I've ever fell in love with so many songs in a game like this before. The game also gets to have osts for each region which are all based of real life regions and they have there own instruments. So Yu-Peng Chen gets to experiment and make songs with lots of different instruments from those regions. Just man I can imagine the fun Yu-Peng Chen gets to have with making the genshin ost.
He’s really astounding.
Chen did absolutely a great job composing this music tightly along the narrative of Sumeru and some of the most appealing cultural elements. The first theme song, its beginning part with traditional orchestra really just establishes a grand and slow/still view of the region, like an establishing shot in films, it brings us to the place with a hoslistic peek like we're seeing all the landscape before our plane lands and starts to notice the exotic buildings and getting excited, then theme melody from saxophone comes in and it brings us down to a local and down to earth scene like we're on the streets, we're actually IN the spot now and we're slowly looking around our surroundings, we can see those dusts floating around and smell those exotic fragrances and feel the bright sunlight shining down, and all of these above are all static views because the music is relatively slow and repetitive, then suddenly these traditional instruments came in with a strong hint of theme and progression and it's like we made a turn at a corner and voila we're at the main city and people are out on the streets cuz these instruments are calling on the humanity and culture part, and this is also the part where we feel our vision is starting to move, we are walking in the scenes, and then from here the music starts to lead us to find out the beauty of the people of the local life and hidden tension/crisis and most importantly the romance in all of these as if it's a dance. This is even more obvious in the battle theme song, we get a lot of contrasts between instruments that have an airy/windy/hollow sound to let our feelings float in the air and see the venue where the fights are taking place, and those that have a flat and compressed sound that send out the tension, and this flat characteristic in the sounds makes them travel ceaselessly with vector, it indicates those fleeting moments and fragments of views we see in this battle and keep pushing the battle to progress in both time and space. And then a very iconic sound is that buzzing (idk the name of the instrument) sound humming in the back in the later part of the song, it's perfect for this battle theme cuz it gives off this restless/dizzy/spinning/lost feeling we would have in ongoing fights as if we have enemies surrounding us and we have this swirling and circular view of them when we look around and trying to defend ourself. But above all these, the theme introduced by sometimes wind sometimes strings part defines the fight with not only a clear tension but a mounting and stretching dance-like beauty and romantic quality too and it reallly amazed me. Seriously these two pieces are so expressive they give me even more visions I can't possibly fit them all into a comment
Love this 😍 Genshin music is just perfect, it makes me happy to be alive 🥰
Despite playing the game for over 2 yrs (since last week of October 2020) I've never felt bored or burnt out by neither gameplay/lore nor the soundtrack. Damn, I can't even stop listening to the OST in my free time or rewatching yours reaction videos lol.
I wouldn't call myself a fan of classical music, however I'm familiar with it due to some other games (mostly strategies). But Genshin OST is on a different level. I think I wouldn't experience the game the way I did without the soundtrack. It makes the gaming experience so immersive. Every time I go visit Katheryne in Sumeru City, and "Silent starry night" kicks off, then I'm like: "Man I gotta stand still for like 80 seconds turning my camera for a perfect shot of my MC and the illustrious landscape of this world"
Funny enough the opening immediately struck me as a quote from Rimsky Korsakov's scheherazade - a very similar figure is used for the woodwind solos in mvt2, and the harp texture is similar to the iconic violin solo. But i wasn't even aware of ravel's piece, even though he's one of my favorites, thanks for the introduction :)
Sax is underrated since a well trained classical saxophonist can blend seamlessly, but many orchestrators have too many old wind writing habits to fit it in. Glad to see Hoyo-mix can bring in instruments like this, and as always their writing for plucked strings is just excellent.
It was the same thing when Yun Jin was introduced
Omg yeah the beginning does sound like sheherazade, how did I miss that. I love sheherazade. Great video as always!
I just happened to remember being taken aback by it otherwise I wouldn’t have known 😂
what makes areb music (middel eastern music) so good is the freedom the musicans have for exampel om kalthoum and the guy with the flute added some notes in the sond live that sounded amaizing and the croude loved it sooo much the singer asked him to do it again
Coming from a Muslim family growing up I played some of those middle eastern instruments, although here in my country they have different names but hearing them on sumeru's theme gives me a very nostalgic feeling.
the second piece feels like dancing, but also running away at the same time for me. i'm imagining a songtress dancing to avoid enemy's attacks/bullets without alerting her audience 😂
it gives me a mental image of sliding down a rockface and hopping onto rooptops with dust flying
Funnily enough alot of arabian music is usually made to make you want to start dancing with its beats
You can imagine how wild the weddings and parties get with that kind of music
How I like to call it, it‘s giving FRENZY
How I like to call it, it‘s giving FRENZY
Isn't that what Nilou was doing in the trailer? Dancing while everything was falling apart around her? I think that fits it
btw the instrument besides the sitar player which looks similar to it is called a thamburu which is used to give the pitch which we call shruthi in traditional carnatic music and the other instrument which the musician is playing with two small stick like things are called santoor all three are traditional Indian instruments as you might already know
The santur used in sumeru recording is Iranian(Persian)Santur
What really confirms that Swirls of Shamshir is a fight theme is the sped up "Photon of Fluctuation" leitmotif at 13:28
I've been looking to hear your reactions to this orchestra ever since it was shown on stream! I really enjoy learning more about music through getting introduced to them through games and new experiences as well as hearing your input from an opera tradition perspective ! It's fascinating hearing this harmony of both eastern and western musical influences through these tracks, an orchestra bringing all of these together to help paint a picture for Sumeru is exciting to experience! I was really happy to see input from musicians from the cultures being portrayed for the production of the music! It must feel exhilarating to be part of this team bringing classical music forward to new audiences through a popular game like Genshin Impact, to honor both the past and bring it forward into the present! Music really brings people together!
I wasn't sold on the music at first but after seeing and listening to the Symphony Live Performance I'm totally sold. This is incredible that classical music played by the orchestra can make you dance. There is so much melody and soul in it, again incredible. Glad you reacted to the vid, was waiting for it since yesterday. :) Sumeru is only a week away guys, we can make it!
What really gets me is that the composer is such a legendary film composer and a HUGE name in China, so much so that just his name in the credits would've been more than enough. He could literally have farted into the microphone and MiHoYo would've taken it just so they can put his name in the credits. Instead he got a gig offer for this random video game from this game studio he'd probably never heard of, completely unaware that it was about to become a worldwide phenomenon. And he not only took that gig, he took it and went "nah I'll just make them all bangers" and the results are so breathtaking
after the sumeru live got released i was just waiting for your reaction to it lmao, finally
Dori's hardstyle theme slaps!
I need more of it
Never have I been so bloody excited for a region ever since Inazuma.
I mean Inazuma was the only major region ever released since release
@@AJ-jy6jq I know. Well... technically Liyue was if you played the closed beta before the game got released.
what the heck are you doing here😊
I love how you dive yourself so deep into the music; your corporal expression makes me feel like it was me who is feeling and enjoying this music in your position.
That is a generous compliment thank you.
I grow up with those middle east instruments, because Islam's growth start there. and almost all year, I heard those instrument played on some events. birthday of Prophet Muhammad, Ramadhan, Ied, new year, wedding celebrations, reunion of old folks, and stuff. And yes most of them are celebrations and sacred events. But I have no idea the name or even how to play those instruments. Either its instruments from Arabian, Egypt, Persian, Indian, or other. All I can say is I am a fan of middle east instruments. And Sumeru's ost just give me a feel of come back to home, grandly.
and I was looking forward for you to react this orchestra.. and thank you so much.. also I will look forward for your future videos..
Yep all ethnic instrument are from those cultures u mentioned
They keychange or shift (I'm not too sure that to call it) at 16:53 during the battle music does something to me! it makes me feel swept up in moment and just makes my heart feel so light. I know it's fighting music, but it feels like dancing! Though I do suppose some could refer to combat as a form of "dance". Haha, honestly I'll never get over how expertly Yu-Peng Chen is able to layer his compositions so every moment of the song feels new and fresh and it just keeps drawing in. He pays such beautiful tribute to each of the cultural inspirations that represent each region of Teyvat. Each piece is honestly such a treat to listen to! Thank you for reviewing the music Marco! Always love seeing your reactions!
i think my favourite thing about these videos you make is your facial expressions while the music plays. its like youre absolutely ascending to the heavens with every little note played (exactly how i looked when i first heard this i should add!)
Once i stop the analyzation brain I really enjoy getting lost
As a Syrian I always take a trip down memory lane when I hear some of Sumeru music and this orchersta, especially port ormos ost, I almost cried. Good times...
Thank you for your reaction
We will be listening to them together down the road :)
@@MarcoMeatball can't wait :) it's going to be a ride. Also btw are the instruments you were wondering about the Sitar? Unfortunately that's the only one I recognize
@@5yenwishes590 nope! The other two and the flute :) some folks commented all good!
@@MarcoMeatball ok, also i just noticed I wrote the name of it wrong, sorry xd
Edit: rewatching the video I also noticed you did mention it, I had the volume low since it's late and I'm watching without headphones and missed it...
This is the main reason i play genshin i rarely seen game with so many different music and genshin give us an opportunities to hear these and it's free! This is one of the game that literally representing different instrument from different region like europe, east asia,south asia/northeast africa (egypt),middle eastern. (And maybe murican instrument soon when natlan came out)
I think I'll never forget the moment they dropped this performance into the livestream. I listed to a minute of it, realized it was extraordinary, and jumped to Marco's discord. There was a channel for livestream discussion and everybody was like 'someone call Marco right now, quick!'
Great analysis as always. I really appreciate how much effort you put into this (and also how quickly you did it, considering the livestream was on the 13th).
I always love to see you react and breaking down or rather explaining the music you reacted to...
Also, love the Gigachad pikachu
I really adore the music in this game, and i love the fact that at least one of tthe battle songs from each region shares a tune (The "Tun tun tun tuntuntun" part), really interesting how it tells you "you are in teyvat" but once you reach "underground" zones or special spots with special battle songs, they dont have it.
Really looking forward for more music in sumeru.
Genshin music is something unique which will stay with me long after I finish the game... Something that I will be able to identify years later and say, hey that's a Genshin OST!
When your battling something (winning or losing) always remember you have a hole orchestra playing for you 👍
Doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, the Saxophone at 4:50 with the underlying strings never fails to give me chills. It honestly feels like I'm listening to it for the first time over and over again. Hoyo-Mix, and the London Symphony Orchestra are nothing short of amazing. Great reaction and break down, Marco! Always love learning about music from you! Keep it up!
Found your channel recently and I'm enjoying your reactions so much! It gave me such a happiness to see you playing Genshin because of its music. Still catching up with the Genshin streams, but the way you react to the music is so powerful and doesn't feel forced. Also, love how you explain and give examples for mortals like us who don't understand music theory. Thank you for your work here and hope you are having fun in this journey :)
Thanks a ton Stephanie!
Just came across this! What makes this video so comfortable to me is that you remind me of the classical teachers I've come to know over time. It's just nice to see someone who knows what they're talking about explain music with so much depth in a way that I understand. The music in Genshin really makes you feel like you're there playing as the traveler. I'm glad that lots of RPGs use orchestral music in their games because while a good experience at the theatre is unforgettable, not everyone spends their time there and I just really think they'd be missing out on beats like this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is what I am waiting for... when the live symphony was shown in the livestream, I immediately think that "I can't wait for Marco to see this!" and here we are! Genshin's Music never disappoints!
❤️
Really I can watch you for studying of music, your knowledge was great
3:44 Having played Sumeru acts 1-4, I love the mention of "insecurity" and "curiosity", since both words very much apply to a certain character who shall not be named just yet because spoilers.
I’m so glad you enjoyed the symphony Marco. It’s amazing, and Hoyo-Mix never fails to disappoint. Makes you even so excited to go to sumeru, but that’s the same with every genshin region.
4:58
Hearing you talk about the saxophone made me happy as well! Just hearing this part in the concert made me excited because heading both alto and TENOR is like a dream. I’m a tenor saxophonist, and it honestly makes me so happy lol. Even tho it may not be common in orchestral settings, I think the saxophone is a very beautiful sounding instrument. Maybe I’m biased LOL!
Thank you for the amazing video like always ❤️❤️
babe wake up, Marco just uploaded Sumeru reaction
Lmfao
RUclips recommended me your analysis of La Vaguelette and I've been binge watching your content. I've been playing since launch and though I go in and out of playing, I relatively keep up with patch updates to play at least the main storyline.
Watching your videos has been educational and entertaining, and as someone who has little knowledge on music, I find myself appreciating and falling in love with the music of the game again. Thank you so much, I'm glad you got cast as Dvorak! Keep up the great work
Sumeru battle music is just so godly!
Omg, its make me goosebumps
ill stay here, dropping subs, and wait for the Port Ormos review coming
I love the way you really enjoyed the music with your heart, body and soul. 😂 i was literally moving my body a long with the music like you 😁
:)))))
I really like your analysis and the way you feel each piece. It is inevitable not to move and feel how the notes and melodies go through us when listening to these works. It's really beautiful to know how music can connect us all. As if that which makes us different but at the same time part of the same tree awakens within us.
❤️❤️
Excelent blend of traditional and modern instrument, definitely one of my fave music in Genshin. I enjoy your take in this, thank you.
Hello there im an avid genshin player and an ameteur story writer.
As a writer i am currently writing a world with traditional but with modernized technology. Imagine a roman city style skyscrapers, trains and etc. Ancient egypt with pyramids made out of metal, glass, marble, gold and etc.
Genshin music for me feels like this a traditional sound with a modern twist.
I also recognised Arabian nights theme as well in inazuma with Sakura sakura song ah! And Green leaves in the dawn winery area. I think is cool Yu Peng uses inspo on well known music to helps us immerse in certain areas so we feel more familiar. Don't get me wrong, he's so talented and can create a TON of amazing music in such short amount of time and lots of genres, so I only consider he using these popular music as leif motifs
These videos always makes me feel that Marco is our concert/listening buddy and our hype man too! :DDD
Thank you so much for explaining the creative genius in every piece and for sharing your reactions and expertise. It makes me feel more alive and inspired!! 😫✨
❤️❤️❤️ my pleasure. I’m just a guy who loves game music and happens to know that music can help us feel more deeply too.
Hey Marco fellow former bass clarinetist here as well! I love coming into your comment section for these videos because of how much I learn from everyone in the musical community, especially the new instrumental knowledge! I don't have much to add here except that I enjoy very much how Yu Peng Chen and the Hoyomix team have blended the previous areas' motifs into their battle themes! I picked up a little of Inazuma especially around 13:50 or so and I find it so well executed! The nods and references to their own music while introducing a completely new style is fantastic. Can't wait to hear the rest of the sounds we are going to get out of Sumeru!
Bass clarinetists unite 🙏❤️
I love your deep dives into the music, as it's one of the parts I enjoy the most about the game but I don't know much about music theory. I learn a lot from you and you make my passion for music grow one video at a time! Keep up the good work and I hope you enjoy Sumeru. :)
You are so right. Genshin put such important on the showcase and preservation of unique cultural music instruments & design...I learned about the world of Chinese opera thanks to genshin now this beautiful music ...my only experience with that culture was Aladin and maybe some bollywood music videos at best. Now I'm introduced to so many things !! Hoyoverse is not just providing a game, it's providing so much more!!
Since Sumeru has been released this morning, I can finally listen to your video. Thank you Marco, as usual
Yo we got saxophone lore right now? Let's go!
Lmaooooo I enjoyed finding out!
I was waiting for your reaction as soon as the orchestra video was out. I don’t know much about music so I am always happy to know more about it with your commentary they’re always relevant.
i love how you end the video like you're ending a phone call
Lololol
absolutely love your reaction and commentary marco, you really display your passion and immersion when it comes to music. and this live symphony performance slaps
Thank you so much ❤️
Archon of Musical Analysis reaction video?!?! LLEEEEZZZZZZ GOOOOOOOOOOO
Just came across your channel last week and really enjoying all your music analysis! So thrilled to see you pump out this video so soon after the Sumeru OST came out as I was looking forward to hear you talk about it! I love how Genshin's OSTs highlights the traditional instruments from each new region and like you said, they really expand my personal soundscape. Also loving how Yu-Peng Chen always manages to fit in the battle leitmotif (13:29) so effortlessly in every single region's OST!!
ITS COMING, ITS COMING!! IN 9 DAYSSSSS!!! (from the time of writing this comment). ill be going there with a boat from Watatsumi island because I can.
Now you gave me an idea! Hahaha I was thinking of going by Liyue through the Chasm, but I guess, arriving by boat woth Beidou on the helm is an entrance. Hahaha
Two instruments in the Back are - Santoor (the one on the lap, its a string instrument Similar to the Japanese Koto - but its played with Hollow Wood mallet sticks) and then we have the classic Sitar which is a heavier version of the Sarod or a Veena- its like a difference between a Nylon Stringed Guitar and a Steel Stringer guitar.
"The God of Wisdom's enemy is Wisdom itself. And the oasis of knowledge is a mirage in the desert of ignorance. In the City of Scholars there is a push for folly. But the God of Wisdom makes no argument against it!"
- Dainsleif, Teyvat Chapter Storyline Teaser Travail
The goddess of Wisdom didn't make an argument against it because it was a push for the return of the old archon and she somewhat agrees with the people pushing for folly.
@@RKNancy I know! Im just quoting Dain.
@@RKNancy a theory is said that the previous dendro archon got wiped out with the same reason as the watatsumi omikami (they knew something about the truth of the world)
Orobashi went for suicide (slashed by Ei) to protect Enkanomiyans from the Heavenly Principals
What a professional explanation! Tyvm. You ought to have a million subscribers. I can never explain my feelings with the music, but you help me put things into perspective!!