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Merregnon
Series of albums and concerts From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Merregnon is a narrative orchestral music series created and produced by Thomas Böcker through his company, Merregnon Studios.[1][2] Combining symphonic compositions with fantasy storytelling, the project launched in 1999 and has since produced several albums and live concert performances.[3][4][5] The most recent works, Merregnon: Land of Silence (2021) and Merregnon: Heart of Ice (2024), premiered with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, respectively.[6][7] Aimed at families and younger audiences, the series follows in the tradition of orchestral works such as The Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns and Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf.[7][8]
The Merregnon series features contributions from composers known for their work in the video game industry, including Nobuo Uematsu, Yoko Shimomura, Chris Hülsbeck, and Yuzo Koshiro.[9]
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Merregnon: Heart of Ice
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Merregnon: Heart of Ice features an original score by Nobuo Uematsu, with a story by children’s author Frauke Angel.[7] In an interview with Die Zeit, Uematsu stated that he wanted to dedicate his remaining creative time to projects he personally cares about, such as Merregnon: Heart of Ice.[7] It premiered on 29 February 2024 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, performed by the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, conducted by Eckehard Stier.
It is Uematsu’s first orchestral work written specifically for the concert hall.[10] His aim, he said, was “to write music that makes children happy.”[7] The next performance is scheduled for 25 June 2026 at the Philharmonie de Paris, with the Orchestre national d’Île-de-France.[11]
Story
The story is set in the frozen world of Merregnon. It follows Kjugo, a cheerful wooden robot, and the dog Beru on their quest to find Kjugo’s creator, Nuobi, in a realm of eternal frost ruled by the Ice Wind Dancer, Goyakai. As they journey through the icy landscape, Kjugo and Beru must overcome numerous obstacles before confronting Goyakai. In the decisive encounter, Kjugo breaks the magical grip keeping the land frozen. Nuobi is found, and warmth returns to the world.[12]
Reception
Merregnon: Heart of Ice was described as "a thrilling adventure with high drama and a fulminant battle for humanity" by the German newspaper Die Rheinpfalz. Writer Ulrike Dansauer, who attended the premiere, highlighted the project's broad appeal, noting, "The story is very popular with young audiences: devout listening from even the youngest children, closed eyes from adults, completely absorbed in the tale."[13]
Thomas Nickel, a writer for the German gaming magazine M!Games, echoed this sentiment, stating: "Despite the late hour, the younger visitors are just as fascinated as the older ones." He compared the musical style of Merregnon: Heart of Ice to early Final Fantasy soundtracks, but found it "fresh and original." Nickel further commented on the expressiveness of the compositions, saying that "the joy of the music and composition is very evident" and "the compositions speak for themselves" without needing to support graphics or gameplay, allowing them to "convey drama and characters" independently.[14]
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Merregnon: Land of Silence
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Merregnon: Land of Silence features original music by Yoko Shimomura and a story by children's author Frauke Angel.[3] This project marks Shimomura's first concert work.[15] It was first performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Andreas Hanson, and filmed at the Stockholm Concert Hall in June 2021. The video was made freely available on the orchestra's website, premiering on September 10, 2021.[16][6]
Since 2022, Merregnon: Land of Silence has been performed by orchestras worldwide.[3]
Story
In the grey landscape of Merregnon live Miru and her dog Mako. One day they discover a wounded bird named Ikari, who sings of a colourful region far to the north. Together with her friend Hikito and the bird Ikari, they embark on a journey. They encounter the warrior Skissor, who has imprisoned the dragon Yamakito at a massive wall separating the vibrant north from the bleak south. Forced by Skissor to guard this region, Yamakito preserves the only remaining beauty in Merregnon. With Ikari’s help, the group frees the dragon, whose song defeats Skissor, causing the wall to crumble.[16]
Reception
Merregnon: Land of Silence was described by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as a “symphonic anime”.[6] Klassik Radio referred to the concert as a “symphonic anime fairy tale for the whole family” that introduces children to the world of orchestral music in a playful way.[17] A Deutschlandfunk report highlighted the collaboration with a video game composer in the context of music education.[18]
For Gramophone magazine, Böcker wrote a guest article on the importance of family concerts, emphasizing the value of an entertaining and engaging approach to orchestral music.[2] Wired called Merregnon: Land of Silence “a welcome hand for struggling concert halls.”[8] In a webinar hosted by the German Embassy in Tokyo, Yoko Shimomura, Frauke Angel, and Thomas Böcker spoke about the creation of the project.[19]
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Performances
Merregnon: Heart of Ice
Merregnon: Land of Silence
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Early Productions: Merregnon Vol. 1 and 2
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In 1999, producer and artistic director Thomas Böcker launched the Merregnon project by inviting international composers to contribute to an original music production inspired by video game soundtracks.[8][20] Merregnon, Volume 1 was released in 2000, distributed by synSoniq Records and featured orchestral-style music with narration, accompanied by a booklet containing story and illustrations.[21]
A medley featuring music from Merregnon, Volume 2 premiered in 2003 at the first Symphonic Game Music Concert held in Leipzig, Germany, and also produced by Böcker.[22][23] The full album followed in 2004, released by Totentanz Records and distributed by SoulFood / Sony Music.[24] A Japanese edition was published in 2005 by Dex Entertainment.[25] Unlike the first volume, which was primarily produced using synthesized and sampled sounds, Volume 2 featured recordings by a live orchestra under the direction of music director Andy Brick.[26] The principal composer for both volumes was Fabian Del Priore, who developed the core musical themes.[27]
Reception
Merregnon, Volume 1 received positive reviews upon release. The German magazine Amiga Plus noted that its orchestral style was particularly appealing to younger audiences, while the website Epic Sound highlighted the collaboration of emerging international composers. Music4Games described the album as setting “new standards in the world of videogame music.” The German outlet Krawall praised its ability to evoke vivid imagery, and PC Joker called it “a hit.”[28]
Merregnon, Volume 2 was also well received. The gaming site DemoNews described it as “breathtaking,” while the magazine Nautilus emphasized its cinematic quality, appealing to fans of epic film scores. MacLife referred to the music as comparable to “Hollywood quality,” and publications like Astan and MangasZene praised both the musical content and the high production values of the accompanying booklet.[29]
The German website 4Players published a multi-part special on the project, including several interviews with Böcker and the participating composers.[30] According to Böcker, working on the two Merregnon albums laid the foundation for his later Game Concerts series.[8]
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Composers
- Andy Brick (United States)[9]
- Allister Brimble (United Kingdom)[31]
- Jason Chong (Australia)[31]
- Fabian Del Priore (Germany)[31]
- Gustaf Grefberg (Sweden)[31]
- Olof Gustafsson (Sweden)[31]
- Markus Holler (Germany)[31]
- Chris Hülsbeck (Germany)[9]
- Yuzo Koshiro (Japan)[9]
- Jogeir Liljedahl (Norway)[31]
- Yoko Shimomura (Japan)[3]
- Rudolf Stember (Germany)[31]
- Nobuo Uematsu (Japan)[3]
- Jonne Valtonen (Finland)[31]
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References
External links
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