The Symphony of the Goddesses: Then, Now, and Later
Posted on June 02 2015 by Jon Lett
I just got back home from Montreal, and between seeing the sights and eating smoked meat sandwiches, I had the chance to see a performance at the Master Quest edition of the Symphony of the Goddesses. Things have certainly changed a fair bit since I last saw it in 2012, and I thought I’d give my two cents on what was, is, and could be done with the show, for anyone still on the fence about grabbing some tickets.
Hit the jump for my memories, current experience, and future hopes for this amazing concert series!
My first time seeing the show was also in Montreal back in 2012, during the first season tour. I recall being so very hyped up to hear that a Zelda symphony show was actually happening, and that it was going to be close to my home. I was lucky enough to get tickets, and we headed out to Montreal. Before my dad (a non-gamer) and I even entered the Place des Arts where the show was playing, I was excited. I was criticized as a kid for playing video games all the time, and now, I was seeing loads of happy people walking into a famous building that was now featuring a huge Zelda-based show. After getting in, the first thing I thought was that I was actually a bit disappointed at the lack of cosplayers. Looking back, I can understand that the Montreal shows will not be as big as others in bigger cities, and that’s ok. Still, I saw some Skyward Sword costumes, as that was the newest game at the time, and a very impressive Skull Kid. It was cool standing next to familiar game characters while waiting in line for posters and t-shirts.
Finally, we started entering the show, and I distinctly remember my dad leaning over and pointing out all the lit screens from people getting out their 3DS, and I had to laugh, telling him about StreetPass. I still regret not using my own Street Pass for more tags that day.
After that, the show started, and I was just floored. The big screen showing off memories of my favorite games, while a huge orchestra belted out the accompanying music – needless to say, I had never seen anything like it. I should also note that I even liked the intermission. I had fun naming the The Wind Waker tracks playing on the intercom while we waited, 3DS’ being pulled out all around us. They graced us with the song from the original 2011 E3 orchestra, tracks from the 25th anniversary CD, and a few special movements, mainly in the encores. Yes, plural. There were three. “How many times are they gonna keep playing?”, my dad asks. “WHO CARES?”, I eagerly reply. Coming out of it all, I remember saying I would GLADLY go again. My dad also quite enjoyed himself. He said a lot of it reminded him of the old western movies he likes so much. I assumed the Twilight Princess movement probably pushed him in that direction. Personally, I was still coming down from the nostalgia trip I was sent on after seeing an real orchestra play my favorite tune in the series.
“It’s all got something really old-fashioned about it. The first thing I thought of was the music in The Magnificent Seven.” – My Dad, 2012
And now, going into a 2015 show with experienced eyes, I am so glad I got to see it all again. Yes, I’ve missed a season or so, but that helps to see just how much the show has evolved. As a writer, looking to see the finer details of the show this time, rather than just the music itself, I was happy to see so much bigger of a turnout than three years ago. One theory of mine is that the recent release of Majora’s Mask 3D may have made more people interested in the older zelda games, and just the series in general, and therefor interested in things like the symphony, which highlight mostly the older games’ content. Cosplays alone were much more plentiful. At the end of this article, you can see many of the great costumes we saw. As for the tunes themselves, some less popular movements have been dropped since season one, like Kakariko Village, the dungeon medley, and the Ballad of the Wind Fish, but that did leave room for awesome new movements. Again, Majora’s Mask 3D was the big thing, so there were two pieces for that, including a beautifully melancholy initial movement. Also, there was a now longer Skyward Sword movement (all hail Fi’s Farewell), as well as one for A Link Between Worlds, as those have been out for awhile now. I was actually intigued at hearing a boss theme medley near the start of the show, with a couple of rather unpopular tunes, which was cool.
This time, I went alongside my older sister, also not much of a gamer, but young enough to understand the genre and its community. I was happy to get her “outsider” thoughts, for lack of a better term, on the show and its rather excited audience. Just before the music started, the crowd showed off its heavy enthusiasm, and she thought it was interesting:
“I’ve never heard so much applause for a symphony. Usually everyone’s so quiet.” – My Sister, 2015
Indeed, she has seen a few symphonies, and they are certainly anything but loud. She said she is always questioning when it is okay to clap, but for this show, heavy applause is encouraged. As we hit the intermission, she had heard some Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, along with some A Link Between Worlds. She said:
“I’m surprised at the range of songs. I didn’t know every game had such different music.”
I can imagine that inexperienced people would be skeptical about a single series having that much different music, but Zelda’s composers have always put in the effort to make every adventure feel familiar, yet new, through their masterful soundtracks. That’s why Zelda is perfect for a show like this. Finally, the show came to an end, after yet another three-round encore and a whoooooole lot of applause, and we head out. I’m glad that my sister seemed to have enjoyed herself:
“The audience was so enthusiastic. No other symphony I’ve seen had so much applause, especially not actual cheering.”
Sitting here now, I am well past satisfied. I was still hit hard by A Link to the Past‘s credits theme, and after all this time, I still actually smiled wide the moment the lead violinist started playing the series’ main theme. Even more than that, though, I am so glad to now be able to report on such a great event in video gaming. But what about now? What comes next?
The show will not last forever. Nothing great ever does. I imagine they might even stop touring by the time Zelda Wii U comes out in 2016. They had a fantastic run, but unless they use more new songs for a new edition of the tour, there are only so many more places you can go before everyone has seen what they want to see. I would, of course, love to see them play some pieces that are not as popular, and get people more involved in the better uncommon songs, but it is unlikely. And it is not like they will drop some Hyrule Warriors tracks in the show. The last big thing they might do is to release a new CD with all the tracks they have added to the show since 2012. They would easily make a killing, and I know I would buy it in a heartbeat, if only to sit back and recall my time in that balcony looking around at a show room full of fellow fans. In the end, it will certainly be a show we’ll all remember fondly, as it brought new fans to the series, and reminded long-time players of their childhoods, and of legends of a princess, an evil king, and a familiar boy garbed in green.
Will you be attending any of the upcoming shows? If so, let me tell you, you will not be disappointed. The show is quite the unique experience, and you will enjoy it from start to finish.
And remember, you’ll see awesome cosplays like these when you go! Thanks to everyone who offered us photos!
Shoutouts to this Hilda cosplayer, Erica, a member of our Facebook team!
