Majora's Mask Opera

[Berlioz]

Hi. I'm M. Bulteau (Berlioz, around here). I'm a composer/writer, and I have my work online:

www.mbulteau.com

Far from being here to spam you, take that as a portfolio for your reference towards what I would like an opinion on from the community.

I have long delved into the depths of Majora's Mask dramatic possibilities, and being a composer/writer I am currently considering (after having enough material to start) creating a stage work of Majora's Mask, something big, serious (as in, professional), powerful and with one or two modifications that I assure change nothing of the story's core concepts at all. In fact they bring out the drama in full and allow for a stable adaptation to stage, instead of the many flaws that arise from taking a game structure into a dramatic set without the necessary reconstruction.

Musically speaking it would also avoid reducing itself to medley form. I would try my best to develop on every theme, taking them as bases to be grown on and to make a complete and organic work, instead of a patched-up musical track.

I would need to gather up all the available resources to write a score that would please me and all the other Zelda fans.

The hardest part would obviously be, afterwards, attempting to contact the actual composer, showing the product, and asking for his approval, perhaps his support, in having the work built and brought to life, for we all know an artist trying to climb always needs help from above, especially if they are using the work of those above as a vital basis. It is always a win-win situation, since artistic reinterpretations of any established medium always validate its existence further (a.k.a. mutual advertisement et al.).

I have my original work, both writings and compositions, as evidence of what I can do, and I am usually not one to make these kinds of adapted projects, but Zelda is something that has always fascinated me, and Majora's Mask is the one that always dug deepest.

I would like to know if the community would be interested in seeing such a project built.

Cheers,

M. Bulteau

[Berlioz]

I come to show signs of activity and inform you that I have completed the first half-hour of the opera, and that you should expect samples with actual vocals somewhere in January.

For now, I give you instrumental samples from several parts of the still unfinished Act I.

Keep in mind that they're mostly just orchestrations of original themes because the real development usually happens with the singers (which is usually where I cut between the themes here, because there is no actual voice sound but a digital instrument emulating it, and we all know how those suck).

The only thing mildly "developed" in this sample is the superimposition of a modified Kafei and Anju's marriage theme (will be used as the leitmotif for their hope) on the Astral Observatory theme, along with some quotes from the Song of Healing (leitmotif for promisekeeping and obviously the Happy Mask Salesman).

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzvtayc0y9w" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzvtayc0y9w</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FFcstV8gs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7FFcstV8gs</a>

By the way, for those who enjoyed my website's music, I only recently noticed my media players in the site's Works section were all down. I've put in new ones and there's much more music to listen to in that section than the 9 sample tracks on the home page.

[Berlioz]

Here's an instrumental for a dance sequence. It's a battle that happens between the Deku and Odolwa. It might sound strange, yes, but all I can say so far is that in the story it is a consequence of giving Kafei a boost in his search for the Sun Mask.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgVAt2en6Ek" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgVAt2en6Ek</a>

[Berlioz]

Here's an instrumental for the short celebration after Odolwa falls to the Deku, interrupted by the appearance of the Giant that is freed as a consequence.

Everything that follows is the background instrumental for the Giant's aria, so pardon the repetitiveness, since there are words to be sung over it.

It develops into other harmonies past the middle.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW4h4EQLUic" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW4h4EQLUic</a>

[Berlioz]

Just informing that the vocal samples will be late. I had said they would appear somewhere in January.

Well, it seems the date we managed to set up for ONE (hopefully two) of the recordings is two Sundays from now.

So... sorry about the wrong prediction.

[Berlioz]

Just to let you know, the Clock Town choir vocal sample was recorded today. I will probably only have access to the WAVs on Wednesday.

The choir is split in half by Kafei's recitativo, which, along with the Mayor's Council Room fugato, is intended to be recorded in two weeks.

I'm rehearsing the latter tomorrow morning.

[Berlioz]

To the explanation-mobile!

As you remember, samples were promised some time ago. Well, they were recorded. It was the Clock Town Choir. There were some setbacks that made the recordings unusable, so other methods had to be used (live and learn).

It became faster to skip ahead to the next sample while the first was being redone, so here it is:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mle6z8kx428" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mle6z8kx428</a>

This is a demo, and as such the singers who kindly helped with its making are not professional opera singers. If you like what you hear, imagine what a real opera could do with it!

Other demos will follow. Faster, this time. Stay tuned. I will soon open a blog to organize all of this.

P.S: Mind the accents. xD

[Berlioz]

Alright people, I've set up a blog and a facebook page. Like and share to the four winds!

https://www.facebook.com/majoraopera

http://majoraopera.wordpress.com/

[Berlioz]

Demo #2 is up!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuioESqeZvg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuioESqeZvg</a>

[Berlioz]

Stone Tower instrumental test

[Berlioz]

Demo #3 is up!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNP6KdSKlQc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNP6KdSKlQc</a>

[GamePunk429]

Hey man great job and keep up the good work. I am a little disappointed that I am the first to post here, but best of luck with way you are doing. Keep posting updates I am really enjoying them.

[Berlioz]

Song of Storms Poll:

Please read the top post and vote!

http://majoraopera.wordpress.com/

[Berlioz]

Demo #4 is up!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FWGKCqjXqM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FWGKCqjXqM</a>

[Berlioz]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg0cYhE5WVc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg0cYhE5WVc</a>

[Berlioz]

I hope you've been following the blog as all updates, all major news articles and interviews about this project have been posted (and linked to from) there. I am currently out of time to update every Zelda forum manually.

[Berlioz]

In 30 minutes, at 7 PM PST (3 AM GMT), you can hear me being interviewed about the opera at the Windmill Hut Spinning Stream!

Just click here and choose a player: http://s7.viastreaming.net/7030/

If you cannot connect, try Radio Hyrule: http://listen.radiohyrule.com:8000/listen.m3u

[Berlioz]

Demo #5 is up!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMv-sUrLIWs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMv-sUrLIWs</a>

[Berlioz]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6Twm0Mfoc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6Twm0Mfoc</a>

Just a little instrumental while I get stuff done.

[Berlioz]

Demo #6 is up!

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0WYoHMKVw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE0WYoHMKVw</a>