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Album Information Reviewer Rank
Dragon Quest Brass Suite: Music from Dragon Quest
Published by: Telarc
Release Date: October 06th 1993

Composed by: Koichi Sugiyama
Arranged by: J. Samuel Pilafian

1 Disc, 22 Tracks
Catalog: PHCT-211
80

Reviewed by: Ersatz Sobriquet

First, I must say that there are WAY too many Dragon Quest albums out there. The sheer number of albums you can obtain reaches into the forties, and this is only off of SEVEN games! But with that said, I tried my hand with another set of Dragon Quest tunes with Dragon Quest Brass Suite.

Of course good old' Koichi Sugiyama is the one headlining this set as well. The music, as was stated earlier, is of the brass section, the horn variety. And that's the only thing you'll find on this album, albeit the drum roll. So, if you want to hear a sweeping string ensemble, you might want to look elsewhere.

Basically, if you've heard any of the Dragon Quest tunes, then you know what you’re getting yourself into. This is straight classical music with the same tunes that's been done to death already done over once more.

Overture is the main melody, intro theme to many of the Dragon Quest games, and it's done mightily finely here as well, as it's expected to. It does sound a whole lot different with just the brass section and no strings behind it, but I managed. It sounds almost empty without the strings.

Intermezzo is the "fun" Dragon Quest piece I've become used to over the course of Dragon Quest's fame. Too bad it's so short, 30 seconds long, but it's fun while it lasts.

Wagon's Wheel March is pretty boring and hearing that same drum line being repeated over and over again gets annoying as well. Having the brass section play the slow songs is brave, but not necessary to show that you have skill, which we already know Sugiyama-san has in abundance.

Minx Princess March is pretty dull as well and could be done a lot better, but again, I don't think you can do much when trying to keep to a classical theme with nothing but a brass section. The section that keeps the melody is somewhat annoying at times as well.

Mixed feelings abound throughout listening to this whole album. Hearing these rehashed songs over and over again on all these various albums gets old and tiring quick. Since this Brass CD offered nothing new but the prospect of making all the songs sound... brass, I can't really offer too much praise for slight originality. If you like brass and you like Dragon Quest, I say go for it. This is heaven for you. The rest can just go and buy a normal Dragon Quest CD and be happy.

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