Fast-Flowing Waterworks (theme)
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"Fast-Flowing Waterworks" is a theme from Kirby and the Forgotten Land that plays in the stage with the same name. It was composed by Yuki Shimooka.[1]
Composition[edit]
"Fast-Flowing Waterworks" is a melancholic theme in A minor and 4/4. It starts off with a percussive intro remarkably similar to that of "Steel Beat". The melody is played by an instrument with percussive and plucked string properties with a supporting breezy synth. Backed by marimba broken chords, it retains the character from the intro. Its motif consists of two simple phrases: the first opens with a rising fifth and circles down to the melodic minor subdominant, while the second mirrors the motion and returns to tonic. After it plays twice with subtle harmonic variations, a viola bridges to a repetition of this first section by woodwinds, where the marimba now provides a counterpoint based on the motif and a mandolin joins the accompaniment. While not significantly varying the rhythm and melody itself, the following second section introduces true (F) major notes, as well as lead violins and later accordion and accompanying piano. It repeats, brighter than before but less tonally stable.
As the music seems to resolve the instability through F major's dominant, it suddenly shifts back to A minor, with the nostalgic atmosphere striking fully from the lead accordion and responses from the violin. The accompaniment gains new harmonic minor properties. Brass comes in a low rising passage, followed by a dominant string response readying a climax. The brass takes the lead with a sad and powerful variation of the main motif, seconded by the strings and backed by virtuosic piano accompaniment. The brass passage from prior repeats, and its latter section is replaced by a resolution based on the main motif. The marimba continues alone, eventually joined by chords with inverted attacks. The track then loops from the melody.
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | 地下水道に流されて Chika Suidō ni Nagasarete |
Washed Away in the Underground Waterworks |
| Traditional Chinese | 順流地下水道 Shùnliú Dìxiàshuǐdào |
Downstream Underground Waterways |
| Simplified Chinese | 顺流地下水道 Shùnliú Dìxiàshuǐdào | |
| Dutch | Wildwaterleiding | Wild water pipeline |
| French | Tourbillons d'épuration | Treatment whirlpools |
| German | Stromschnellen-Wasserwerk | Rapids-Waterworks |
| Italian | Rapide nell'acquedotto | Rapids in the waterworks |
| Korean | 지하 수도에 휩쓸려서 Jiha Sudoe Hwipsseullyeoseo |
Swept Away in the Underground Waterworks |
| Spanish | Depuradora de Aguas Rápidas | Treatment Plant of Rapid Waters |
