[Jormungand]

BREATH OF FIRE III ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

(AK) / Akari Kaida
(YA) / Yoshino Aoki

Generalizations--don't take this as gospel, just some observations from myself:
- Kaida is clearly the more experienced composer at the time of this soundtrack's production. Considering her confirmed tracks, she seems to have a tighter arrangement style with more ornamented melodies and more complex percussion
- Kaida's harmony and arrangement style tends to be more jazz/pop oriented
- Aoki's harmony style, though not as defined in 1996, seems less predictable and her chord progressions are more likely to make unexpected harmonic leaps.

DISC ONE

1) Opening -Opening the Gate- (AK) CONFIRMED
In an interview, Yoshino Aoki mentions Kaida concerning BoF3:

Akari Kaida, who was the lead-composer of this title... At that time, the lead composer usually took care of the main title and last battle music.

2) Prologue (AK)
A relatively simplistic keyboard arrangement of the main theme. Due to the harmony and right hand ostinato in the opening bars, I would attribute this to Kaida.

3) Escape (AK)
The bass figure heard in the piano is employed almost verbatim in Kaida's "A Risky Situation" from Luminous Arc.

4) Healing (AK) CONFIRMED
Another keyboard solo; see my comments for 1.02 "Prologue". [update: confirmed via BoF Box liner notes]

5) Without A Care (AK) CONFIRMED
Though it is no longer available, this piece was used as a sample on Kaida's official website.

6) Half Done Is Not Done (AK)
Taking into account the rhythm section and vibraphone, the arrangement style closely resembles "Without A Care".

7) Country Living (AK) CONFIRMED
Once again, the arrangement style suggests this is Kaida's work. The main theme appears briefly in the electric piano. [update: confirmed via 2014 interview w/ Kaida]

8) Falling Green (AK)
There is a vague similarity between this forest theme and Kaida's "You Can Wander the Forest" from Luminous Arc, at least in the opening bars. This one is a bit of a stretch. Still, the style matches Kaida's tendency for jazz-inflected melodies and harmony.

9) Keen pack (AK)

10) Revolution (AK)

11) Do Your Best! (AK) CONFIRMED
Again, this is clearly Kaida's arrangement style. [update: confirmed via 2014 interview w/ Kaida]

12) Victory Dance (AK)
See above. Makes use of the main theme.

13) Like A Loser (AK)

14) Eden (AK)
As with many tracks listed above, this can only be Kaida.

15) Heavy Echo (AK)

16) Corpse (YA)
A simple keyboard arrangement. The harmony, to me, seems more like something a younger Aoki would come up with.

17) Struggling on the Way (AK)
It becomes clear that this is Kaida's work when you pay attention to the synth pad instrument.

18) Chase (AK) CONFIRMED
This is a tricky one. Definitely looking forward to some input. [update: confirmed via BoF Box liner notes]

19) Can't you see clearly now (AK) CONFIRMED
The pop reference and subsequent rhythm makes me think of Kaida. *Update: confirmed via email.

20) Thief (YA)

21) Take it and Run (AK)

22) Chickens in the Night (AK) CONFIRMED
[update: I was wrong. Confirmed via 2014 interview w/ Kaida]

23) Half Asleep (AK)

24) House of Worry (AK)
The second half references the final boss theme.

25) Conglomerate (AK)

26) Tons of Money (YA)

27) The Game Continues (AK)

28) Something Lost (AK)

29) Regret Comes from Relying on Others (AK)
The harmony says it all. Uses main theme.

30) An Unfulfilled Walk (AK)

31) Transformation (AK)
Shares arrangement details with "An Unfulfilled Walk".

32) Cutting Edge (AK)

33) DONDEN (AK)

34) The Weather and Mood is Great on This Day (YA)
The countermelodies in the flute are very Aoki-like.

35) Backlash (AK)

36) Catch! (AK)


DISC TWO


1) An Offering to the Dragon (AK)
An arrangement of "Prologue".

2) My Favorite Trick (YA) CONFIRMED
The chromatic melody in the second part reminds me of Aoki. *Update: see Don's post below.

3) A-Go (YA)
Again, the flute countermelody is a staple of Ms. Aoki's music.

4) Technology (AK)

5) Termination (AK)
Thoroughly Kaida's arrangement style. Uses main theme.

6) Island (YA) CONFIRMED
Confirmed via email. This probably means she did all the tracks that use the "Island" melody, and that's a lot!

7) Nothing Left to Say (YA)
In my opinion, the harmony here suggests Aoki.

8) Hack scene (AK)

9) ODORO (YA)
One of two battle themes in the soundtrack that I feel belong to Aoki. The unusual movement of the melody is a big factor in this.

10) Avoiding Death (YA)
An arrangment of "Island".

11) The Insane Warriors (YA + AK)
My feeling here is that Kaida arranged Aoki's "Island". The sampled guitar along with vibraphone definitely points to Kaida as the arranger.

12) Stupidity (YA)
Uses a fragment of Kaida's final boss theme.

13) Fighting Man (AK)
This one was really hard. The melody in the brass and unusual rhythmic pacing just seems so much like Aoki's style, but ultimately I have to give this one to Kaida due to the arrangement.

14) Last man standing (AK)
Uses fragment of the final boss theme.

15) The Town Loved by the Wind (AK)
Was there ever any doubt?

16) Wyndia (AK)
Familiarity with the Luminous Arc scores will be most useful here, as the harmonies and orchestration are reminiscent of Kaida's work there.

17) Magic (N/A)
Since this is just a CD-based harp sample repeating over and over, it is impossible to determine the composer based on style alone. It probably belongs to Kaida since she was the lead composer and thus was in charge of how things were going to be done--including little "jingles" like this.

18) Interlude (AK)

19) Still A Chrysalis (YA) CONFIRMED
Appears on the BoF4 soundtrack, albeit in an arranged version.

20) Tail of a shark (AK)

21) Anti-historical (AK)

22) Angels and Dragons (YA)
The second of only two battle themes which I attribute to Aoki. Uses main theme and a fragment of the final boss theme.

23) Waking Up in the Morning Leads to All the Encounters -Nina's Theme- (AK)
The bass figure is used almost verbatim in Kaida's "Hometown" from Megaman Battle Network.

24) Weretiger -Rei's Theme- (AK)

25) Peach Engine -Momo's Theme- (YA)
Yet another arrangement of "Island".

26) Fried Onion -Pecoros' Theme- (YA)

27) Deep Purple -Deis' Theme- (AK)

28) To A Distant Place (AK) CONFIRMED
Kaida's arrangement style, plain and simple. [update: confirmed via 2014 interview w/ Kaida]

29) Stone of the Death Dragon (YA)
Uses main theme.

30) Breath of the Decaying Dragon (YA)

31) A Light (AK)

32) People, Cats, Birds and Sea Lice (AK)

33) Seemingly Idle (AK)
Another obvious one.

34) Clumsy March (YA) CONFIRMED
It's got Aoki written all over it. *Update: confirmed via email.

35) The Last Scene is a Setting Sun on the Ocean (AK)
See my comments about 2.16 "Wyndia".


DISC THREE


1) Steam Locomotion (YA) CONFIRMED
Appears on the BoF4 soundtrack.

2) Enjoying the Flavor (AK)

3) Guild (YA)

4) 604800sec. (YA)
Just how many tracks can they pull out of "Island"?

5) The Touch of Danger (AK)

6) Without Knowing Anything (N/A)
Composer is indeterminate due to sparse musical content. If I had to guess, it would again be Kaida due to her role as lead composer.

7) Encounter (AK)

8) Battle in the Coming Days (AK)

9) Atomic Energy (AK)

10) Intermission (AK)

11) An Offering to the Dragon -Main Theme- (AK)
The first proper exposition of the main theme.

12) Sanctuary (N/A)
Composer is indeterminate due to sparse musical content. If I had to guess, it would again be Kaida due to her role as lead composer.

13) Sandy sound (AK)

14) Breaking the Mould (YA + AK)
This arrangement of Aoki's "Just A Chrysalis" is likely Kaida's doing.

15) Turning Point (AK)
Kaida's style. Uses main theme.

16) Dragon asymmetry (AK)

17) Bad ending (N/A)
Composer is indeterminate due to sparse musical content. If I had to guess, it would again be Kaida due to her role as lead composer.

18) An Uncertain Millenium (AK)
An arrangement of the final boss theme.

19) Castle in the Sky (AK)
Uses fragment of the final boss theme.

20) Maternal Zone (AK)
Uses fragment of the final boss theme.

21) Self-determination -Last Battle- (AK) CONFIRMED
In an interview, Yoshino Aoki mentions Kaida concerning BoF3:

Akari Kaida, who was the lead-composer of this title... At that time, the lead composer usually took care of the main title and last battle music.

Briefly features the main theme.

22) Stairs -Ending- (AK)
See my comments on 2.16 "Wyndia". Uses main theme.

23) Sprouts Over the Sand (AK)

24) Pure Again -Staff Roll- (AK) CONFIRMED
Featured on Kaida's official website. Both Kaida and Aoki sing on this track.


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To reiterate, unless otherwise stated, none of the above is confirmed. It is all speculation on my part. My only credentials are that I'm a big fan of both composers and am a composer myself.

As I stated earlier, I've revised my position on these tracks numerous times. Many of them are easy. Some, not so much. In fact, with this most recent revision, I feel like I've shortchanged Aoki... but, Kaida definitely handled the majority of the score, with Aoki filling in the gaps.

I look forward to discussing this with other fans. Don't be afraid to contribute your thoughts!