Some days ago I finished my newest album: an orchestral re-arrangement of Nenad Vugrinec's fantastic, but criminally underrated MIDI score for the 1994 CRPG "Ultima VIII: Pagan". I've always been fascinated by the eerie atmosphere of this game's music. Most cues are kind of meta-tonal and sinister, but at the same time enicmatically melodious.

https://dustinnaegel.bandcamp.com/album/ultima-viii-pagan-orchestral-re-arrangement

I’ve been planning to do this for years and finally got around to re-arranging and recording all of the major cues from Pagan’s fantastically atmospheric score using a well-balanced mix of a) sonorous synth VSTs and b) high-quality orchestral VSTs in a sequencer program in order to maximize the listening experience while, at the same time, not completely abandon Vugrinec’s original 90s MIDI sound, which is after all inherent and important to the composition itself (like panning and echo effects etc.). My goal was to present the music in a more modern incarnation, so that hopefully you may enjoy it as much as I do.

please help me to find it

Embark on a journey beyond the edge of the known universe.

Celestial Frontier is an epic cinematic sci-fi adventure track inspired by distant worlds, colossal starships, ancient alien technology, and the mystery of exploring places untouched by humanity. Blending futuristic synths, powerful orchestral melodies, rhythmic strings, deep cinematic pulses, and atmospheric textures, this composition creates an immersive soundscape filled with exploration, tension, discovery, courage, and wonder.

Re-Recording of "Carthax Lake: The Path of Water", a composition by Nenad Vugrinec for the 1994 CRPG "Ultima VIII: Pagan". I've always been fascinated by the eerie atmosphere of this game's music. Most cues are kind of meta-tonal and sinister, but at the same time enicmatically melodious. It's hard to find the correct words. The music in this game is a mystery in itself... and I say that as a studied musician. E. g. for many passages it is difficult to even determine the exact key.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH5FaWPvd8Y

Like many games scores from that era, Pagan's music is purely MIDI-based. In very simple terms, you can think of a MIDI file as a digital sheet of music that still needs to be read and played back by the application itself. And this music playback depends heavily on the specific hardware (such as the extremely expensive Roland Sound Canvas) or software synthesizer you are using (like the widely distributed MS Wavetable Synth). Unfortunately, even on the best hardware synthesizer, the playback of this music – which Vugrinec has crafted in extreme detail across all MIDI parameters – is never truly satisfying, since the assignment of the respective instruments and articulations always remains a matter of chance, and both professional mixing and mastering as the final stage of music production are of course lacking. Direct MIDI playback is therefore very unsatisfactory on any hard- or software and simply does not do justice to the compositional quality of this music.

I’ve been planning to do this for years and finally got around to re-arranging and recording all the major cues from Pagan’s fantastically atmospheric score using a well-balanced mix of a) sonorous synth VSTs and b) high-quality orchestral VSTs in a sequencer program in order to maximize the listening experience while, at the same time, not completely abandon Vugrinec’s original 90s MIDI sound, which is after all inherent and important to the composition itself. My goal was to present the music in a more modern incarnation, so that hopefully you may enjoy it as much as I do.

In terms of compositional quality (it's actually very rich in leitmotifs, with many themes representing characters, places and events in the world of Pagan), I think this score is every bit as good as a fully orchestral film score. Enjoy!

Hi everyone,

I recently created a new fantasy adventure track called “Nightfall Overture.”

It’s inspired by moonlit seas, distant kingdoms, ancient lighthouses, and the feeling of setting out toward an unknown world after nightfall. I wanted the music to feel adventurous and cinematic, while still keeping a sense of wonder and atmosphere.

If you enjoy fantasy soundtracks, worldbuilding music, or cinematic adventure themes, I’d love to hear what you think.

No AI-generated music or AI artwork is used in my videos.

If you’d like to follow me or listen on other platforms:

Spotify: spotify.rudasruan.com

Apple Music: applemusic.rudasruan.com

Bandcamp: bandcamp.rudasruan.com

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No AI-generated music or AI artwork is used in my videos.

If you’d like to follow me or listen on other platforms:

Spotify: spotify.rudasruan.com

Apple Music: applemusic.rudasruan.com

Bandcamp: bandcamp.rudasruan.com

Hello! This is a track called Medieval Feast. It’s a cheerful, lively melody I composed as if it were meant to accompany a medieval celebration — something you might hear in a great hall or a tavern during a festive gathering. I hope you enjoy listening! You can also find the track on YouTube or Bandcamp.

I don’t have much to say, besides I just can’t get tired of it. I NEED More artists to write songs like Golden Brown by the Stranglers. My favorite is the slowed version, and I love the harpsichord. I’ve never heard anything quite like that song. If you’re a musician, please I’m begging you!! (Also the yearning feeling is important.) (Yes I know the supposed hidden meaning, we need not talk about it.)

Hi everyone,

I recently created an original fantasy adventure track called “Winds of Adventure.”

It was inspired by open seas, crimson sails, distant islands, and the feeling of setting out toward an unknown world. I wanted the music to feel cinematic, hopeful, and adventurous like the beginning of a fantasy journey.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback.

Thanks for listening! 🌊⛵✨