
Ypx here—today we’re going to be listening to “Departure” from Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.
A spin-off of the main Final Fantasy series, Crystal Chronicles was released in 2003 in Japan, and elsewhere the following year. It was also the first to be released on a Nintendo console since VI in 1994. Kumi Tanioka, as mentioned on a previous Soundtrack Saturday makes extensive use of medieval/renaissance instrumentation throughout the score.
Over a strummed instrument and percussion, we can hear a very Final Fantasy esque melody in a woodwind, likely a recorder. This melody continues as the strumming turns to arpeggiation of the chords instead and loops back before being replaced by bagpipes. The percussion consisting of tambourine, a small drum, and woodblocks stays static throughout.