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Notice
On April 10, 2020, a change in the atwiki used by this wiki resulted in the insertion of large banner ads in the middle of the page. I am not involved at all, including other banner ads. Dear users, please do not misunderstand. If AtWiki continues to increase advertising unreasonably, we will consider moving to another wiki service. Of course, I have to put up with it because it's free, but this is too bad.
Introduction
Unlike other companies, Falcom has its own policy that does not disclose individual composer/arranger credits for their music. So in principle, all Falcom songs are simply attributed to "Sound Team jdk", and the real artists are left ambiguous.
However, some credits have come to light through files on game discs, declarations from ex-Falcom staff, leaks, and so on. Based on these sources, the purpose of this wiki is to thoroughly elucidate the remaining soundtracks (Zwei series, Gurumin, Xanadu Next, Trails of Cold Steel IV, Ys IX, etc) and arrange albums (Symphony Ys -21st Century-, Ys Healing, Zwei!! SAV, etc), and provide accurate credits for these.
Since it's only a guess, I can't really provide 100% confirmation. But I've been listening to Falcom music for a very long time, so it should be close to 100%. In fact, I checked my own guesses that I had made in the past against the leaked credits from January 2019, and about a 85% of my guesses (651 out of 791) turned out to be right, proving that the recognition and analysis methods used so far were not wrong. My guesses are based on factors such as the melody, the overall sound, the instruments used, the position of said instruments, the arrangement, the composer’s style/personality, their enrollment status, etc. So it's never a simple guesswork.
It might be useless because we will probably never get an official answer. Regardless, there should be some significance in writing down the thought process. Hopefully these will be answered in the future through some kind of leak. I would also like to help people who are interested in Falcom music from a maniac perspective, just like myself.
What is Falcom Sound Team jdk?
After Yuzo Koshiro (who succeeded as a composer with Ys I&II and Sorcerian) left the company, Mieko Ishikawa (who debuted with the MSX version of Xanadu) became Falcom's sole composer, and worked alone on Sorcerian's additional scenarios, Star Trader and Ys III.
The first mention of “J.D.K.” appeared in Star Trader, released in March 1989. According to the official book Falcom Music Chronicle, this unit was founded in late 1988, and all activity by Falcom's sound staff since then has been attributed to this new alias. This same unit was rebranded as “Falcom Sound Team J.D.K.” in 1991, in order to distinguish it from “J.D.K. BAND” – a freelance band that specializes in arranging and performing Falcom music. With the release of Revival Xanadu in March 1995, both “J.D.K.” units were renamed to “Falcom Sound Team jdk” and "jdk BAND”. The meaning of “jdk” and the reasons behind its formation are still shrouded in mystery.
Since the formation of the sound team unit, all internal composition and arrangement activities are credited to “Falcom Sound Team jdk”. Its integrants are mentioned during the ending credits, but whoever is in charge of each song is not disclosed at all. In addition, all soundtracks produced prior to the formation of Sound Team jdk (before late-1988) has been retroactively credited as such, including all of Koshiro's Falcom work.
Similarly, “J.D.K. (jdk) BAND” also exists as an unit with the name J.D.K (jdk), but they are essentially a separate group specialized in live performances. The sound team is made up of internal employees, while the band consists of a group of freelance musicians who are not Falcom employees. The songs intended to be performed by jdk BAND are arranged by the band's leader/director.
· The first generation of J.D.K. BAND (1990~1996) was led by Tomohiko Kishimoto. Kishimoto was the band's leader, lead vocalist, lyricist, synthesizer/drum programmer and in charge of all their arrangements, and also performed guitar and bass at times.
· The second generation of jdk BAND (2007~2015) was directed by Yukihiro Jindo, who also composed and arranged music for Falcom as a contractor, along with drummer Toshiharu Okajima and keyboardist Noriyuki Kamikura.
· The third generation (2015~Present) is directed by Mitsuo Singa, who also provides compositions and arrangements for Falcom as a contractor. All performers from the second generation were replaced by newcomers.
Falcom Sound Team jdk rules
- Handles not only music composition and arrangement, but also everything else related to sound, such as SE production and voice editing as well.
- Since Falcom is a small company, it is not uncommon for employees to work concurrently in other tasks and duties. Sound Team jdk members are no exception.
- If an employee isn't enrolled in Falcom when a game is released, their name will be removed from the in-game credits, no matter how many songs they have composed.
- In recent years, Falcom has often used previously rejected songs made in the past in newer games, including by former composers after they leave.
- Contractors usually get an "Arrangement" credit on album booklets. Sometimes this is true, but others is not and the "arrangers" are actually "composers".
- However, ever since Tokyo Xanadu (or more specifically: since Mitsuo Singa appeared), the "Arrangement" (Composition) credit for independent contractors has been lost (except for vocal songs).
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