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Liner notes from Mr. Uematsu
Translated by Tomo
There is one thing common in all the Final Fantasy games. None of them are complete. All of the games are the result of staff from all around the world putting in 200% effort and ambition. Too much ideas are packed in, but the game becomes blurred and unfocused. New ideas are being incorporated, but only dry and arid works come out. I think that is what we need to focus on to improve right now. Still, as a staff member of SQUARE, I really don't think it is a big problem in the long run. If I were to compare it with a plant, FF will be a plant given premium nutrition, water, and light without the care of a gardener. The branches will just extend in their own way, in any direction. A spring clean-up is necessary. The Final Fantasy series is nearing its spring clean-up. The flower might blossom in the next work, or maybe later. Though we are confident that we will someday present to you a COMPLETE work.
Well, speaking about the incompleteness of Final Fantasy, the music in it is no exception. Still, I have put out everything I have right now, so I began to see what I really need to work on in the new environment. I think that was the greatest harvest this time. Let me thank every staff member, every SQUARE member, my family, and friends. I am also grateful to you fans, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you very much.
Lyrics and background of "One-Winged Angel"
By Patrick D. Ashmore (pda @ procyon . com)
Webmistress' note: The following explanation was taken from a post on Soundtrack Central, with a few additions from the lyrics at the Opera House. The Latin lyrics are from Patrick Ashmore; the Japanese (the sopranos' part) is from the Opera House. I don't know where else this may have been posted or if it is available on another site. If you are the original author of this work and would like me to remove this from my site, please e-mail me and I will do so.
WARNING! For those who have not played the game, this song may contain spoilers. Read on at your own risk!
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
Sephiroth!
Sephiroth!
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
Sephiroth!
Sephiroth!
| Sors--immanis | Fate--monstrous |
| Et inanis | And empty |
| Sors--immanis | Fate--monstrous |
| And empty | With violent anger |
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
| Estuans interius | Burning inside |
| Ira vehementi | With violent anger |
Sephiroth!
Sephiroth!
| Veni, veni, venias | Come, come, O come |
| Ne me mori facias | Do not let me die |
| Veni, veni, venias | Come, come, O come |
| Ne me mori facias | Do not let me die |
| Veni, veni, venias | Come, come, O come |
| Ne me mori facias | Do not let me die |
| Veni, veni, venias | Come, come, O come |
| Ne me mori facias | Do not let me die |
(Sopranos:)
| Haryuu no | The winged one |
| hanekata | Of the lower reaches |
| Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa | Come, come, O come, glorious |
| Ne me mori facias Generosa | Do not let me die noble |
| Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa | Come, come, O come, glorious |
| Ne me mori facias Generosa | Do not let me die noble |
| Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa | Come, come, O come, glorious |
| Ne me mori facias Generosa | Do not let me die noble |
| Veni, veni, venias, Gloriosa | Come, come, O come, glorious |
| Ne me mori facias Generosa | Do not let me die noble |
Sephiroth!
Sephiroth!
A brief history of the lyrics' source
The lyrics to "A One-Winged Angel" are taken directly from "Carmina Burana," which is an opera written by Carl Orff in the 1930s. Orff based his opera on poems from the manuscript "Benediktbeuern." The title "Carmina Burana" literally means "songs of Beuren" and was given by Johann Andreas Schmeller to his complete edition (1847) of the poems contained in an early 13th-century German manuscript (found in 1803) from the Benedictine abbey of Benediktbeuern, south of Munich in the Bavarian region.
Since then, the manuscript has been known by that title even though it is now generally agreed that it probably did not originate in Benediktbeuern and may have come rather from Seckau. There are some poems in German, and several of the poems have music written in unheighted neumes -- a relatively rare style of notation at the time. In total, the manuscript contains approximately 250 poems.
Estuans interius (Burning inside)The first "verse" is the first two lines of "Estuans interius" (Burning Inside). This is the opening song to the second part of Carmina Burana, "In Taberna" (In the Tavern).
Ira vehementi (With violent anger)
Estuans interius
Ira vehementi
Sors--immanis (Fate--monstrous)These lines are the first two in the second verse of "O Fortuna" (O Fortune), which is the opening prologue of Carmina Burana, "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" (Fortune, Empress of the World). This song has been used for many things, ranging from Oliver Stone's "The Doors" and "Excalibur" to commercials for Nescafe instant coffee and Old Spice. Of course, there are tonnes of horror flicks and movie trailers out there that love to use this piece.
Et inanis (And empty)
Sors--immanis
Et inanis
Veni, veni, venias (Come, come, O come)The second "verse" is the first two lines from "Veni, veni, venias (Come, come, O come). This is the sixth song from the third section of Carmina Burana, "Cour d'amours" (The Court of Love).
Ne me mori facias (Do not let me die)
Veni, veni, venias
Ne me mori facias
Gloriosa (Glorious)The last verse comes from "Ave formosissma" (Hail, most beautiful one). This song precedes the finale of Carmina Burana, "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" in a subsection entitled "Blanziflor et Helena" (Blanchefleur and Helen). However, they do not appear together, as the first two verses did:
Generosa (Noble)
Ave formosissma (Hail, most beautiful one)Many people wrongfully attribute the lyrics to Haydn's Creation because of a reference in the closing credits. Haydn's Creation, however, contains no lyrics. It is played in President Shinra's office as the city of Midgar collapses around him, and the excerpt is purely instrumental.
gemma pretiosa (precious jewel)
ave decus virginum (Hail, pride among virgins)
virgo gloriosa (glorious virgin)
ave mundi luminar (Hail, light of the world)
ave mundi rosa(Hail, rose of the world)
Blanziflor et Helena (Blanchefleur and Helen)
Venus generosa! (noble Venus!)
Liner notes translation by Tomo
"One-Winged Angel" info by Patrick D. Ashmore
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Last revised September 03, 2007