On the Wind Borne – The Rosarian Ducal Anthem

"On the Wind Borne – The Rosarian Ducal Anthem" is a theme in Final Fantasy XVI. It was composed and arranged by Masayoshi Soken, with lyrics written by Kazutoyo Maehiro and John Taylor.
It is the national anthem of the Grand Duchy of Rosaria.
==Lyrics==
The official English lyrics were released on the Final Fantasy XVI Original Soundtrack. The Japanese lyrics were not officially released and only the first verse was revealed in the game's Japanese subtitles.
===English===
:Follow me, boy, o'er the rolling green meadows!
:Follow the flames and arise from the shadows!
:Hear the Rosarian voices outring,
:Fanned by the firebird's life-giving wings!
:Oh, on the wind borne,
:O'er the great land of Storm!
:Turn up your eyes to the boundless blue heavens!
:See how the fire in the firmament beckons!
:Hear the Rosarian voices acclaim,
:Stirred by the firebird's life-giving flames!
:Oh, on the wind borne,
:O'er the great land of Storm!
===Japanese===
;Japanese
:緑の大地に想い馳せ
:我らを導く 紅蓮の炎
:さあ連なれ炎の民
:不死鳥の翼のもと
:悠久の風　風の大地に
;Rōmaji
:Midori no daichi ni omoi hase
:Warera o michibiku guren no honō
:Sā tsuranare honō no tami
:Fushichō no tsubasa no moto
:Yūkyū no kaze kaze no daichi ni
==Game appearances==
===Final Fantasy XVI===
"On the Wind Borne – The Rosarian Ducal Anthem" plays during the cutscene where the drunken ducal Shields and Archduke Elwin Rosfield sing the anthem at the feast at Phoenix Gate during the Night of Flames. It is track 11 of disc 1 on the Final Fantasy XVI Original Soundtrack.
The theme of the anthem is used in a number of tracks associated with Rosaria and its people, such as those below.
"A Rose Is a Rose" is an arrangement by Daiki Ishikawa that plays as the field theme in Rosaria in the past. It is track 5 of disc 1 on the original soundtrack.
"Return of the Archduke" is an arrangement by Ishikawa that plays during the cutscene when Elwin returns to Rosaria. It is track 6 of disc 1 on the original soundtrack.
"Forevermore – The Grand Duchy of Rosaria" is an arrangement by Saya Yasaki that plays as the field theme in most areas outside of towns in the Imperial Province of Rosaria. It is track 7 of disc 3 on the original soundtrack.
"Happier Times" is an arrangement by Ishikawa that plays during the cutscene of reuniting with Hanna Murdoch. It is track 9 of disc 3 on the original soundtrack. "An Unexpected Visit" is a similar arrangement by Ishikawa that plays during the cutscene of reuniting with Byron Rosfield. It is track 8 of disc 4 on the original soundtrack.
"Ghosts of the Past" is an arrangement by Justin Frieden that plays during the cutscene of reuniting with Wade. It is track 6 of disc 4 on the original soundtrack.
"Darkest before the Dawn – The Imperial Territory of Rosaria" is an arrangement by Keiko. It is track 10 of disc 6 on the original soundtrack.
"The Imperial Province of Rosaria – Unused" is an arrangement by Ishikawa that is unused in the game. It is track 12 of disc 8 on the original soundtrack.
==Behind the scenes==
Based on what Masayoshi Soken recalls, this track was the first one he finished and was made around 2020. Rosaria's melody was the first to be created due to the voice recording schedule. The song was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic and the English version was recorded first. At that time, remote recording was not in place and about 20 voice actors recorded and sang one by one, resulting in messy tempo and key, which Soken did his best to manage "using the power of science". The Japanese version was recorded later and sung by Square Enix's sound staff at their own homes.https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/interview/1515635.html
==Citations==
Category:Event themes from Final Fantasy XVI