The fourth and final of the Dragon Quest “in Brass” series of albums, Dragon Quest VI in Brass was printed in 1996 by Sony Records. The album is recorded with a standard “high school band” setup: that is, full symphony orchestra minus the strings. The result is unsurprisingly similar to the Symphonic Suites, but if you want to experience the music without having all those pesky violins and cellos in your ear, then this is the album for you.
Brass is generally loud, in your face, booming. But a soft, subtle brass arrangement is something that I really appreciate. In this case, the French Horn is important. On track 6, the first half (“Pegasus”) uses brass as backup while woodwinds take care of the melody. The slow, lingering tempo and the dynamic range of the brass makes this performance a memorable one.
Another decent performance that makes good use of dynamic range is “Ocean Waves.” On the Symphonic Suites, I generally don’t notice this song as one that stands out. But on this album, “Ocean Waves” is a strong contender for best performance on the album.
Though the Symphonic Suite is the arrangement of choice, Dragon Quest VI in Brass is a decent album. If you can find it for a cheap price, it may be worth picking up. Otherwise, stick with the full symphony orchestra.
