The Banner Saga, by Austin Wintory

The Banner Saga by Austin Wintory, released 14 January 2014 1. We Will Not Be Forgotten 2. How did it come to This? 3. No Tree Grows to the Sky 4. Only the Sun has Stopped 5. Cut with a Keen-Edged Sword 6. Huddled in the Shadows 7. There is no Bad Weather 8. Teach us Luck 9. No Life Goes Forever Unbroken 10. Little Did They Sleep 11. An Unblinking Eye 12. Thunder before Lightning 13. Embers in the Wind 14. A Long Walk Stills Our Hearts 15. The Egg Cracks 16. Three Days to Cross 17. Walls no Man has Seen 18. Strewn Across a Bridge 19. Weary the Weight of the Sun 20. An Uncertain Path 21. Into Dust 22. On the Hides of Wild Beasts 23. From the Table to the Axe 24. A Sunken City 25. Our Heels Bleed from the Bites of Wolves 26. Long Past that Last Sigh 27. Of Our Bones, The Hills 28. We are all Guests upon the Land 29. Onward This was a very special project to be a part of. THE BANNER SAGA was my first real experience with Kickstarter, and there is something very different about being "hired" by 20,042 backers instead of a single team. The sense of responsibility with this score felt hugely magnified by that. So I hope I have delivered something worthy because not one day passed in the year and a half of work that I didn't think about that trust. With that said, I LOVE this game and the wonderful Stoic team. So unlike anything I've ever worked on, and probably the most challenging score I've ever written. One couldn't have dreamt up something better to follow the surreal experience of JOURNEY. Certain people need singling out for praise. Kim Campbell and Jerry Junkin are at the top of that list. To collaborate with the illustrious Dallas Winds on this game was a dream come true. Jerry completely changed my life via his commission of John Corigliano's 3rd Symphony, "Circus Maximus," (GO LISTEN TO IT if you haven't!) and so to work directly with him, and with these musicians, was beyond blissful. As Executive Director of the Dallas Winds, Kim worked long and hard to make this project happen and it simply wouldn't have without him. Also, if you remotely enjoy this album, credit rests overwhelmingly with the musicians performing it. The Dallas Winds played with both force and nuance. It was breathtaking to record. Thanks as always to my wonderful team (all credited below) for their invaluable contributions. Thereafter the bizarre and beautiful prepared electric guitar work of Mike Niemietz, and didgeridoo playing of Randin Graves brought something beyond what I'd hoped for. Next were the singers. What more can be said of Peter Hollens and Malukah? They're among the best I've ever known; glorious talents and the finest human begins. It's a humbling privilege to have worked with them, and to call them dear friends. Add to that Johann Sigurdarson, whose voice I can't imagine the score without. Finally, Taylor Davis, who sits at the heart of it all. Her violin solos are already known everywhere for the covers she's done, but to write for her and so closely collaborate was an honor. No amount of thanks will cover it. One final word about lyrics. For the tracks containing vocals, I have added the lyrics on those specific pages. In most cases I adapted the lyrics from Norse proverbs and poetry; in others I used Alex Thomas' writing from within the game itself. Both the Icelandic and English are provided. Ok, enough of my rambling! LINKS to stuff: http://stoicstudio.com/ https://twitter.com/awintory http://austinwintory.com/