This episode is best experienced on YouTube where you can follow the score analysis and audio examples — youtube.com/@emigiaquinta

How do you compose music for a Thief who is hiding a heart of pure gold? In this episode of our Final Fantasy IX music analysis series, we dive into the upbeat, adventurous anthem of our protagonist, Zidane Tribal! We explore how Nobuo Uematsu used an ABAC musical structure to score a character defined by the Japanese keyword Shintei (Virtue).From the military snare drum swagger of his public persona, to the darker, complex chords hinting at his hidden origins, we break down every layer of this track. We even uncover a legendary classical music secret hidden inside the beautiful flute solo—Pachelbel's Canon!If you love video game music theory and OST deep dives, let me know in the comments: Do you consider this track to be Zidane's true theme, or does "A Place to Call Home" fit him better?📌 CHAPTERS: 0:00 - How do you score a Thief? 1:30 - Shintei: The Meaning of Virtue 2:44 - Song Structure & Intro5:20 - Section A: The Adventurous Swagger 6:50 - Section B: Dark Chords & Inner Turmoil 11:00 - Section C: The Classical Flute Solo 14:25 - The Hidden Pachelbel's Canon 19:50 - Wrap up

🎮 FOR GAME DEVELOPERS & PRODUCERS: Are you an indie dev or studio looking for a dedicated composer? I am currently available for freelance work and would love to collaborate! Coming from a rock band background as a frontman/guitarist, I blend the raw energy of rock with the immersive scale of orchestral scoring. Whether your project needs an epic JRPG battle theme, a moody cinematic score, or an adventurous character anthem like this one, I craft music to hit the exact emotional beats your story requires.

📩 Let's connect: • Instagram: @emigiaquinta • Website: emigiaquinta.com/contact

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