Music ID question

May 23, 2022 2:57 PM

Vocaroo link to my partner playing the melody through a keyboard with a synth strings patch. He says: "It was an orchestral song, this is the lead part which was played by one or two violins. No vocals. Sounded like either a modern classical piece from the early 1900s or maybe something by some weird niche industrial artist." (ed. note: this is a guy whose recollection of an "obscure shoegaze song" ended up being Enya's biggest hit)
posted by btfreek to Media & Arts (9 answers total)

Best answer: Reminds me a lot of Kraid’s Lair from Metroid, but I’m guessing that’s not what you’re looking for, given the description. (On mobile so that may not be the best link, but should still give the basic idea.)
posted by cellar door at 3:23 PM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

I have a reasonable grasp of early 20th c music and am going to be surprised if this is that.
posted by less-of-course at 4:39 PM on May 23, 2022

Best answer: I'm seconding Metroid. That's what I thought when I heard it. Original version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5l9twdrbxk
posted by ligerpants at 7:06 PM on May 23, 2022

Response by poster: I played both versions for him and he has begrudgingly admitted that his modern classical mystery was, in fact, Metroid.

Now trying to find an orchestral arrangement that could plausibly have been playing in a coffee shop in downtown San Jose around 4 years ago...
posted by btfreek at 7:23 PM on May 23, 2022 [1 favorite]

Kraid’s Waltz? “ Inspired by Schostakowitsch's Waltz no. 2.”
posted by Mizu at 9:39 PM on May 23, 2022

Metroid is modern classic(al). It's all true.
posted by away for regrooving at 10:27 PM on May 23, 2022

Ooh, that's a fun one, Mizu.

I played both versions for him and he has begrudgingly admitted that his modern classical mystery was, in fact, Metroid.

I'm so amused by this, but glad that I had it right! For what it's worth, Kraid has also been covered in Dwelling of Duels a quite a few times (only some of which will be easily recognizable by title), but neither my partner nor I were able to recall an orchestral/violin-centric one. I haven't played a ton of Metroid myself, so I'm not totally sure, but I would suspect that the theme shows up in at least one of the other games in the series. DoD doesn't tend to be orchestral-heavy though, so unfortunately I'm doubtful that you'd find what you're looking for there. (Unless you're ever just looking for good VGM covers, of course.)
posted by cellar door at 5:33 AM on May 24, 2022

Best answer: Aside from the many albums of orchestral recordings of videogame soundtracks, you could check out versions of the song at OCRemix; I have definitely heard stuff from there played in downtown San Jose cafes, particularly during Fanime weekend.
posted by wintersweet at 6:14 AM on May 24, 2022

Response by poster: OCRemix! I haven't thought about that site in literally decades!!

Me: going through the list of remixes, plays this one
Him: Oh! I think that's it!
Me: So, your early 20th c composition was from Metroid..
Him: Yes.
Me: And your orchestra was like, two violins and a guitar?
Him: ...yes.

Thanks all :)
posted by btfreek at 8:58 AM on May 24, 2022 [2 favorites]