Big-Bean Vine (theme)
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"Big-Bean Vine", named "Theme from Big-Bean Vine" in the British English version, is the piece that plays in the stage with the same name in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn. It was composed by Tomoya Tomita.[1]
Composition[edit]
"Big-Bean Vine" bears many similarities with "Grass Land". They both play in E major, and the harmonies of "Big-Bean Vine" correspond to those in "Grass Land". This is further accentuated by the former's "Weird Woods" version, which uses "Grass Land"'s descending melodic phrases within "Big-Bean Vine"'s structure. Additionally, said structure shares several traits with "Melody Town" (and "Flower Fields" by extension).
"Big-Bean Vine" is played in E major in 12/8 (or 4/4 with triplets) by a piano with light percussion. It has two introductory segments: the first is a short sequence of chords and a rapid descent down an E major scale and includes the triangle, while the second appears to have its own melodic line resembling that of "Grass Land", albeit while regularly rising rather than consistently descending. The melody is high-pitched and has a tendency to rise, sticking to the higher third of the tonic triad (G sharp and B) and jumping between registers in the second section. The third section primarily features rising inversions of said triad that resolve with a slight descent. This section utilizes strings, much like analogous sections in other tracks such as "Melody Town", and plays twice. The final section has a more electronic sound and transitions to G sharp major. The melody's movement briefly stops. It plays again an octave higher, eventually returning to the dominant of E major, and repeats the first introductory segment, at which point the track loops.
"Weird Woods" is similar to "Big-Bean Vine" in many ways: key, time signature, instrumentation. Its melody is short, descending for the most part and returning to where it started at the end. There is a C major section similar to the third of the original piece. "Weird Woods" has slightly sharper rhythm and omits the main melody of "Big-Bean Vine", which makes it more reminiscent of "Grass Land".
While very contrasting, "Lava Landing" has "Big-Bean Vine"'s bass' melody. It can be seen as a descending counterpart of the latter, which matches the themes of the stages they are meant for: rising into the clouds and descending into a volcano. True to this idea, "Lava Landing" is played at the very bottom of the keyboard in D major and has dramatic descending chords. Its middle section has a virtuosic high-pitched passage at the same time as the bass hits its lowest point.
Game appearances[edit]
Kirby's Epic Yarn / Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn[edit]
"Big-Bean Vine" and its variations appears in several stages and levels in Kirby's Epic Yarn and Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn:
In addition, several themes in the game resemble "Big-Bean Vine" in some way or another:
Other appearances[edit]
"Big-Bean Vine" was rearranged in Kirby Memorial Arrangements album as part of the "Epic Yarn" medley, alongside "Fountain Gardens", "Snowy Fields" and "Dream Land". This medley was done by Megumi Ohara.
Names in other languages[edit]
Big-Bean Vine[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | おおきなまめのき Ōkina mame no ki |
Big beanstalk |
| Canadian French | Fèves grimpantes | Climbing beans |
| European French | Haricot grimpant | Climbing bean |
| German | Kletterbohningen | Beanstalk climb |
| Italian | Giungla di legumi | Legumes Jungle |
| Korean | 커다란 궁 나무 keodalan gung namu |
Big tree palace |
| Latin American Spanish | Rama de habichuelas | Bean vine |
| European Spanish | Planta de Judías | Bean Plant |
Weird Woods[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ペラペラのもり Perapera no mori |
Flimsy forest |
| French | Forêt étrange | Strange forest |
| German | Seltsamer Wald | Strange Forest |
| Italian | Foresta misteriosa | Mysterious forest |
| Korean | 기괴한 숲 gigoehan sup |
Bizarre forest |
| Latin American Spanish | Bosque nocturno | Nocturnal forest |
| European Spanish | Bosque Encantado | Enchanted Forest |
Lava Landing[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | あっちっちやま Achichi yama |
Hot-hot mountain |
| French | Base du volcan | Volcano's base |
| German | Lavawüste | Lava desert |
| Italian | Fiume di Lava | Lava Flow |
| Korean | 아뜨뜨 산 atteutteu san |
Hot-Hot Mountain |
| Latin American Spanish | Base del volcán | Volcano's base |
| European Spanish | Gruta Volcánica | Volcanic Cave |
References
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