Prelude (theme)

The "Prelude" , also known as the "Crystal Theme", is a recurring piece of music that appears in most Final Fantasy games. It is often considered one of the most important themes in the series, as it is often heard on the file select screen, especially in the Finest Fantasy for Advance releases.
Nobuo Uematsu composed the "Prelude" as a last minute addition to the original Final Fantasy, and took all of 10 minutes to create it, never expecting it to become the signature tune of a long-standing series.
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy===
The "Prelude" plays in the opening, formation and world map screens. This original version is also found on the fourth disc of the Final Fantasy Vinyls collector's album set.
The theme is also included in the Final Fantasy XV music player. It is available since the beginning as part of the Memories of FF album.
===Final Fantasy II===
The "Prelude" plays in houses with healing Statues and at the Main Screen.
===Final Fantasy III===
"The Prelude" plays in the New Game screen.
"The Prelude" is also part of the "The Evil Power of the Underworld" track on the Final Fantasy III: Eternal Legend of the Wind album.
===Final Fantasy IV===
"The Prelude" plays in the New Game screen, in the crystal rooms and during The End screen. In the 3D version, it also plays during the Rosa's Measured Meditations minigame when training the Eidolon Whyt. Edward describes it as "a very difficult piece" in the Music Box section of the 3D version.
====Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-====
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen.
====Final Fantasy IV: The After Years====
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen and in the crystal rooms.
===Final Fantasy V===
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen (GBA and mobile releases only) and in the crystal rooms.
===Final Fantasy VI===
The "Prelude" plays in the New Game screen, in the Beginner's House and during the "The End" screen.
===Final Fantasy VII===
"The Prelude" plays at the last part of the Game Over tune, in the opening credits, and after the credits in a space background. In the demo version, a remix of the theme plays in the menu screen.
The theme is found on the Final Fantasy VII: Original Soundtrack and the compilation limited edition album Final Fantasy VII Vinyl Limited Edition. Both the original and Remake versions are included on the Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Vinyl.
"The Prelude" motif is also played on the harp in "Anxiety"
==== Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis ====
"The Prelude - FFVII EVER CRISIS -" is an arrangement made for the game, revealed first on the official social media accounts.https://twitter.com/FFVII_EC_EN/status/1690182061863096320https://twitter.com/FFVII_EC_JP/status/1690181310793519104
===Final Fantasy VII Remake===
"The Prelude (Jukebox Ver.)" is a music disc playable on jukeboxes bought from the Sector 7 slums item shop for 50 gil. "The Prelude" is also arranged as part of the "Good Night, Until Tomorrow" music disc.
Additionally, "The Prelude - Reunion" is an arrangement by Yoshitaka Suzuki and is the first track of disc 1 of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Original Soundtrack and plays at the game's title screen.
Once again, "The Prelude" motif returns on the harp in "Anxiety".
===Final Fantasy VII Rebirth===
"The Prelude - Reunion" returns to play on the title screen.
===Final Fantasy VIII===
The "Prelude" plays during the Game Over screen and also in the last parts of the ending theme. A variation very similar to the one from the Final Fantasy VII demo can be heard during the menu screen of the demo, although it uses slightly different samples and is a bit higher-pitched.
===Final Fantasy IX===
The "Prelude" plays during the game over screen and at the end (Blackjack game). An arrangement of it makes the Crystal World's theme.
===Final Fantasy X===
An upbeat mix of the "Prelude" plays at the start of the game, when the player is introduced to Tidus in Dream Zanarkand. It also plays when the player first learns about the Sphere Grid. This version of the "Prelude" is meant to make players feel like they are in Zanarkand, whose background music is sharply different from the more ethereal and less city-like feeling of Spira.
"I remember this arrangement was the result of being inspired by the visualization of the game scenes," music director Keiji Kawamori has said. "A radio DJ appears right after the first scene where this song is played."Spira Unplugged: Behind Final Fantasy 10 HD's remastered soundtrack at Polygon.com
===Final Fantasy XI===
The music is present on the Play page of PlayOnline and appears in the end of the opening movie. It also plays during the main theme, "Vana'diel March", and during various mission cutscenes.
===Final Fantasy XII===
The Prelude, with vocals, is played during the first part of the opening scene. It is similar to its appearance in Final Fantasy VII. It is titled "Demo Movie" on the original soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings====
The Prelude plays on the main title screen, when deciding to select to continue or start a new game.
===Final Fantasy XIII===
Although not played on the intro or outro of the game, a portion of short and fast piano variation can be heard, mixed within the track named "The Sunleth Waterscape". A very different theme called "Prelude to Final Fantasy XIII" plays during the introductory movie, which has an almost military-like sound to it.
====Final Fantasy XIII-2====
"Eclipse" contains an arrangement of the "Prelude".
====Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII====
A brief arrangement of "Prelude" can be heard at the end of the track "Ending Credits".
===Final Fantasy XIV (version 1.0)===
"Prelude - Remembrance" plays in the title screen of the legacy version.
It is the 1st track of Before Meteor: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack and is a choral arrangement of the Prelude.
====Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn====
"Prelude - Rebirth" plays in the A Realm Reborn title screen. Another version called "Prelude - Discoveries" plays in the game launcher and the character login screen.
"Prelude - Rebirth" is the 1st track and "Prelude - Discoveries" is the 3rd track of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward====
"A Cold Wind" plays in the title screen if Heavensward has been installed. An arrangement of the track can also be heard briefly in "Heroes Never Die".
"A Cold Wind" is the 2nd track and "Heroes Never Die" is the 52nd track on the Heavensward: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood====
"Prelude - Long March Home" plays in the title screen if Stormblood has been installed. The second half of the track also plays during cinematics when the camera pans across a map of the world.
"Prelude - Long March Home" is the 2nd track in Stormblood: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers====
"Four-fold Knowing" plays in the title screen if Shadowbringers has been installed. It is an arrangement of "Shadowbringers" and the "Prelude".
The tune of the "Prelude" is also mixed within the theme of the Crystarium, "The Dark Which Illuminates the World", and the final boss theme of the Copied Factory, "Weight of the World - Prelude Version".
"Four-fold Knowing" is the 38th track in Shadowbringers: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack and "Weight of the World - Prelude Version" is the 18th track in Death Unto Dawn: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
====Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker====
"Prelude - Tales" plays in the title screen if Endwalker has been installed. It begins with the line "Tales of loss and fire and faith" from "Endwalker" before segueing into the "Prelude".
"Prelude - Tales" is the 2nd track in Endwalker: Final Fantasy XIV Original Soundtrack.
The Prelude leitmotif plays at ~2:05 of the track "Of Countless Stars", at ~2:40 of "Flow", and at ~0:20 of "Endwalker (Chiptune Version)".
===Final Fantasy XV===
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During the Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV event, Square Enix showed a trailer of the game's environments with a version of the "Prelude" called "Prelude (for World of Wonder)".https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypa4udEsS5Q This vocal version also plays in the final game in the full credits played from the title screen after the game has been completed following "Too Much Is Never Enough" and "Somnus".
The menu theme, "Crystalline Chill", is a remix of the "Prelude". "Disquiet" is a dreamlike rendition of the "Prelude" that plays in Noctis's nightmare, as well as in a section of Zegnautus Keep and Pitioss Ruins and the beginning of Chapter 13 verse 2. "In the Light of the Crystal" is an eerie rendition of the "Prelude" that plays in the vicinity of the Crystal.
Elements of the "Prelude" are also included in the theme song "Stand By Me", the Leide battle theme "Stand Your Ground", the Duscae battle theme "The Fight Is On!", the final notes of the imperial base battle theme "Veiled in Black (Arrangement)", in the giant creature boss theme "Omnis Lacrima", the daemon/dungeon boss theme "Horrors of the Night", the game over theme "End of the Road", the climax of the boss theme "Hellfire", the ending theme "Somnus Ultima", and in the final notes of the penultimate track "Dewdrops at Dawn". In a patch the track "Departure" was replaced with a variation of the "Prelude", however, "Departure" has been patched back in since.
"Prelude" from the original Final Fantasy is included in the music player. It is available since the beginning as part of the Memories of FF album. "The Prelude" from Final Fantasy VII on the Memories of FFVII album is another default track in the player. Memories of DISSIDIA FF is an album purchased from Old Lestallum for 500 gil, containing "Prelude -menu-" as the second track.
====Final Fantasy XV: Comrades====
"Prelude" plays in the final notes of the Lestallum background theme "Choosing Hope - City of Light" and elements of the "Prelude" are also heard in one of the battle themes as well in the second phase of the final boss theme "A Clash of Swords".
===Final Fantasy Type-0===
"Crystal Guide Us" is an arrangement of the original "Prelude". It plays in Akademeia. The HD Remaster version also features vocals, similar to the Final Fantasy XII "Prelude".
Elements of "Prelude" are heard within the track named "Time of Tranquility". It has similar instrumental beats from Dissidia and Dissidia 012 as it was composed by Takeharu Ishimoto.
The theme can also be briefly heard in the opening of the track "Your History and Fate."
===Final Fantasy Tactics===
The "Prelude" appears in two tracks; the intro and outro of the track "Trailer", and at the end of "Victory", the victory fanfare.
When attacking with a harp, the Bard will briefly play the beginning of the "Prelude" before damaging the enemy.
===Final Fantasy Tactics Advance===
A short version of the "Prelude" is played when St. Ivalice transforms into the world of Ivalice, after a formation of Undeniable Anxiety is played. The music is absent from the Original Soundtrack, though.
===Final Fantasy: Unlimited===
A portion of the intro is played in the track "Top Title". The track can be found in Final Fantasy: Unlimited - Music Adventure Verse 1.
===Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)===
The "Prelude" is called "Prelude - menu -" that plays in the new game menu. The "Prelude" also plays at the start and the end of "DISSIDIA - opening -" which plays in the Opening FMV.
"DISSIDIA - opening -" is the first track and "Prelude - menu -" is the second track on the first disc of Dissidia Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack.
====Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy====
The "Prelude" plays as the intro to "DISSIDIA -opening-/Edit".
It is the first track on the second disc of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack.
====Dissidia Final Fantasy NT====
The "Prelude" is called "Prelude - arrange -". The theme plays briefly during the title's opening video and plays at the title screen. Another version of the "Prelude" called "Title - Struggle of the Gods -" plays in the "Struggle of the Gods" DLC.
"Prelude - arrange -" is the second track on the first disc of Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade- Original Soundtrack and "Title - Struggle of the Gods -" is the first track on the first disc of Dissidia Final Fantasy -Arcade- Original Soundtrack Vol. 2.
===Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light===
A remix of the theme can be heard in the background of the ocean theme.
===Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call===
An arrangement of the Prelude plays on the title screen.
This track is included in the Best of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call album.
====Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival====
====Theatrhythm Final Bar Line====
===World of Final Fantasy===
"Regretful Melody", which plays during the Game Over screen, contains an arrangement of the "Prelude". It can be heard very subtly in the beginning, becoming more noticeable as it goes on. It is the 15th track on the fourth disc of World of Final Fantasy Original Soundtrack.
====World of Final Fantasy: Meli-Melo====
The main theme has portions of the "Prelude" mixed with the melody of "World of Beauty" from World of Final Fantasy.
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
"Prelude" is included as part of the 7th anniversary medley.
===Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin===
There are two arrangements of "Prelude" which appear in the game. "The Dark Crystals - Motif from "Prelude"" is an arrangement which plays on the title screen and during scenes focused on the Dark Crystals. It was arranged by Naoshi Mizuta with additional composition.
"Battle: Breaking Crystal - Motif from "Prelude"" is an arrangement which plays as the boss theme against the Dimensional Crystal Matrix. It was co-composed and arranged by Ryo Yamazaki.
They are track 15 of disc 1 and track 18 of disc 4 on the Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Original Soundtrack.
==Vocal arrangements==
Vocal arrangements of the "Prelude" are featured in the music albums Final Fantasy: Pray, Final Fantasy: Love Will Grow, and A New Story.
===Pray===
The version that appears in Pray is a multilayered vocalization of Prelude's central melody, arranged by Risa Ohki.
===Love Will Grow===
The lyrics were written by Kazuko Sancha and it was arranged by Kiyoshi Kobayashi. The vocals were performed by Risa Ohki and Ikuko Noguchi.
====Lyrics====
The official lyrics were released on the album.
:(The) Dream in your heart
:I feel in asleep night
:But there is only stars
:Like tears of the moon
:Like silent moon
:And on and on
:So (the) sad will fall and fall
:But I think all the dream
:Is true anyday
:For anyone
:(The) Love in your eyes
:I feel in clear sky
:But there is only winds
:Like sighs of the earth
:Like weeping earth
:Still on and on
:So (the) pain will blow and blow
:But I wish all the love
:Is free anyday
:For anyone
===A New Story===
The lyrics were written by Kanon and it was arranged by Yoshitaka Suzuki and Kanon.
====Lyrics====
:Come take my hand
:Let me hold you now,
:Take my hand
:There will be no more sadness or sorrow
:So come with me now
:Open the gate
:Come take my hand
:Let me hold you now,
:Take my hand
:There will be no more sadness or sorrow
:So come with me now
:Open the gate
:Take me to the promised land
:Where there will be no more darkness
:Take me to the promised land
:I will love you more than ever
:Come take my hand
:Let me hold you now,
:Take my hand
:There will be no more sadness or sorrow
:So come with me now
:Open the gate
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy IV: Celtic Moon===
"Prelude" is arranged and performed in the style of Irish Celtic music on this album.
===Final Fantasy IV: Minimum Album===
The album contains a remix of the Prelude, called "The Prelude (Crystal Mix)".
===Piano Collections: Final Fantasy IV===
This album contains a piano arrangement of the theme performed by Reiko Nomura.
===Piano Opera Final Fantasy I/II/III===
This album contains a piano arrangement of the "Prelude" theme from the original Final Fantasy, titled "Prelude ~ Opening".
===Guitar Solo Final Fantasy Official Best Collection===
"Prelude" is the second track on the album, which consists entirely of solo classical guitar arrangements of tracks from the Final Fantasy main series, performed by Yuji Sekiguchi.
===Final Fantasy Remix===
A remix of the song by DJ duo Ante is included on this album.
===20020220 music from Final Fantasy===
"Prelude" is part of the "FINAL FANTASY" Final Fantasy-Final Fantasy III Medley", performed by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
===Distant Worlds II: more music from Final Fantasy===
"Prelude" is included in this live recording of an orchestral concert, performed by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.
===Tour de Japon: Music from Final Fantasy===
The original "Prelude" from the original Final Fantasy was part of the "Final Fantasy Medley I-III 2004", a piece performed during a concert tour featuring music from the Final Fantasy series that toured Japan from March 12th to April 16th, 2004.
===SQ Chips===
The song appears in the SQ Chips VILLAGE/VANGUARD Customer Bonus edition of the 8-bit arrangement album featuring tracks from several Square Enix games. It is the first track in the bonus CD.
===Beer SQ===
The song appears in the pub-theme style arrangement album as its eighth and last track.
===Chocobo Racing===
Titled "Crystal Legend", composed by Kenji Ito, it is a synthesized child version played before the last race in the Story mode.
===Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales===
The Prelude that can be heard is supposed to be the from the original Final Fantasy, but has a second melody that started to sound in the the Final Fantasy VII Prelude. It sounds in the minigames' preludes and endings.
===Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon===
"A Memory Returned" is an arranged version of the Final Fantasy XI "Prelude". It was arranged by Yuko Takahashi.
===Final Fantasy VII Remake Orchestral Arrangement Album===
"The Prelude - Reunion" was arranged by Guy Bernfeld and performed by the Shinra Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
==Compilation album appearances==
===Final Fantasy Series 35th Anniversary Orchestral Compilation Vinyl===
"Prelude -The Definitive Orchestral Arrangement-" is an arrangement of the theme that first appears on this compilation album celebrating Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary, orchestrated by Sachiko Miyano. It is track 2 of side A on disc 1 on the album.
==Non-Final Fantasy guest appearances==
===Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring===
There are two versions, depending on the soundtrack selected, played at the Reactor arena.
===Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars===
While Yoko Shimomura composed most of the soundtrack, the theme still appears. The track is named "Conversation with Culex" and plays after Mario defeats Culex, a hidden Easter Egg character.
===Kingdom Hearts series===
A sample of the "Prelude" can be heard in the track "March Caprice". In , in the song titled "Naminé", part of the "Prelude" can be heard in the background, although the final part of the sample has a slightly faster pace than the rest of it.
===Japan Self-Defense Forces Marching Festival 2012===
J.S.D.F. (Japan Self-Defense Forces) performed "Prelude" and "Final Fantasy" during the marching festival in November 17 2012 alongside the U.S.M.C. 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Band and U.S. Army Pacific Ocean Band.
===Toyota commercial===
A piano arrangement of "Prelude" appears in a TV commercial for the car manufacturer Toyota. This appears to be a new arrangement made specifically for the advert. Watch the commercial on YouTube.
===Genshin Impact===
A motif piece of the "Prelude" theme is present in the track "Statue of the Seven" for miHoYo's game, Genshin Impact.
==Merchandise==
thumb|The music box.
A music box that plays the "Prelude" has been released by Square in 2002, known as Final Fantasy XI Music Box. The music boxes were made in limited numbers and only available in Japan. Unlike the music box for Final Fantasy V and the "Aerith's Theme" music box, this one is not made of wood but of clear plastic, with the text "Final Fantasy XI" on the cover.
==Etymology==
==Citations==
de:Prelude
es:Preludio
ru:Прелюдия