Welcome back to Friday Fortissimo! After a lengthy hiatus, we’re bringing back our weekly music column. Join us each Friday, as we celebrate the best video game music tracks—so you can kick off the weekend in style.
It’s been several weeks since the release of Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. While I had a blast navigating the galaxy with Cal Kestis and crew, there’s no question the game has some steep competition in the Game of the Year race. From heartwarming indies like Season: A Letter to the Future and Coffee Talk Episode 2, to AAA titans like Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Tears of the Kingdom, the hits are coming left and right. My backlog has never looked worse—and that’s saying something.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor may fail to topple the Zeldas and Diablos of 2023, but it deserves celebration all the same. Case in point: this week’s Friday Fortissimo, which features an incredible instrumental off the Jedi: Survivor soundtrack.
The Whimsical Allure of “Fields of Dusk”
Today’s selection is TATRAN’s “Fields of Dusk”—specifically the orchestral composition.
Unlike the rest of the Jedi: Survivor soundtrack, which was composed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, “Fields of Dusk – Orchestral Version” is based on a cantina song played in Pyloon’s Saloon. The original “Fields of Dusk” is a vaporwave-flavored bop, conjuring feelings of melancholy and nostalgia.
The original’s good on its own. And yet, somehow, the orchestral version’s even better.
I’m not sure exactly who to credit for this rendition. It’s unclear whether TATRAN or Barton/Haab headed up the arrangement, but whoever did, they did a marvelous job. (Note: I’ve reached out to Barton’s team, and will update the piece if I get a response.)
“Fields of Dusk – Orchestral Version” plays as Cal and Merrin ride a “spamel” (a space camel? I donno) through the planet Jedha. As an ominous sandstorm approaches, the pair hurries to find shelter—but not before swapping stories, sharing hints of affection, and taking in the wonderous sites around them. It’s a tender moment in an already emotional narrative, and a large part of its gravitas is due to this track.
The song opens with a haunting mix of strings, horns, and percussion. A thumping drum sets the pace, while a xylophone creates a sense of intrigue. Tubas and strings create a sense of tension, only for some lighter woodwinds to come in and provide relief.
Then, at the 0:45 mark, a lone trumpet croons the melody, backed by violins. As the instruments settle in, there’s a march-like quality to the piece. There are hints of darkness—marked by swelling strings—but the melody always returns, undeterred. The track culminates at 3:32 with a sweeping build-up of horns, strings, and drums, before the song ends on the unified hum of octave notes.
“Fields of Dusk – Orchestral Version” seems to personify Cal’s ever-forward mindset, despite the looming temptation of the Dark Side. It’s a track that, unique as it is, feels unapologetically Star Wars. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Check out the full Jedi: Survivor soundtrack (as well as the full cantina album!) below. Happy Friday, y’all.
