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Stella's Tale's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Composition | #1 | 4.737 | 4.737 |
| Overall | #5 | 4.358 | 4.358 |
| Quality | #6 | 4.474 | 4.474 |
| Impression | #10 | 4.158 | 4.158 |
| Correlation to theme | #12 | 4.316 | 4.316 |
| Creativity | #13 | 4.105 | 4.105 |
Ranked from 19 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
This is an instrumental small ensemble soundtrack for the puzzle platformer game, Stella's Tale!
This soundtrack is much shorter than I had aimed for, but I was preoccupied with holiday plans and travel, so it ended up being three tracks-- no issue there!
Stella's Tale is a puzzle platformer about searching coastal Italia for fallen stars. Every notte stellata, the sky is filled with beautiful stars-- but this year, no shooting stars can be found. It is up to Stella, with the help of her trusty (and talkative) sailboat, Barcavela, to sail the coast and harness the power of the fallen stars.
Track 1: Stella's Tale (Title Theme): while writing this track, I wanted to embrace close mic positions for a very intimate studio sound. The wood-block, clave, triangle, shakers, etc. create a relaxing bossa-nova rhythm.
Track 2: A Little Star Flew Over Italy: This is the opening cutscene for the game, playing out in a Mario Galaxy-style storybook setting:
"Do you know why I named you Stella?
Every notte stellata, when I was a little girl like you, I would watch the stars fill the night sky
And I’d wish one of them would fall right through my window for me to keep.
I got very lucky. One notte stellata, when I was older, I met your papa.
And the very next year, like a falling star, you came into our life.
My very own star… my beautiful Stella.”
This track uses a very wide, glossy reverb, meant to contrast the otherwise very intimate mic placement in the other tracks. I used the celesta and glockenspiel, as well as harp harmonics, for this track.
Track 3: Chase to the Docks: as Stella sits by her window, looking out at the empty sky, a star suddenly appears right in front of her. She leaps from her balcony and chases it down to the docks. This track contrasts the glossy reverb (representing the falling star) and the close mic (representing Stella bounding towards the docks.)
I used Studio One, as well as Cinematic Studio Strings, Solo Strings, and Woodwinds, alongside EW Hollywood Orchestra.
Message from the artist:
I was sad not to flesh out this soundtrack more than I did, as I was able to write about 20 tracks for the last competition! Stella's Tale was planned to traverse beaches, caves, busy streets, lighthouses... even the moon(!?) at some point! It was a tale of loss, exploring yourself, and finding peace in what remains. While the entire story isn't quite ready yet, I hope these tracks will inspire your imaginations nonetheless.
NOTE: If you wish to use this, or any, of my soundtracks, PLEASE DM me on Discord and I will be happy to discuss!
Theme:
How does it fit the theme?
Stella's mother met her husband on notte stellata, or the 'starry night', a fictional evening where the night sky is filled with shooting stars-- a night for making wishes. The next year, Stella was born that same night... but years later, it was on that same night that Stella's mother passed away. The stars Stella searches for on her journey represent the various wishes of characters in the towns she explores, and the initial falling star-- which she chases all throughout her journey-- is representative of her wish to see her mother again. This wish is, in fact, keeping her from seeing the beauty in life-- and, to bring back 'notte stellata', she must give up this wish and learn to move on.
The picture, in this case, would represent the end of the game, after Stella and Barcavela (the talkative, magical sailboat) travel to the moon to finally confront the falling star which has evaded them. After letting her wish go, the stars return to the night sky and she sails back to her village to enjoy the night with her father-- and her new friends from her adventure.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/david-caldarella/sets/stellas-tale
Soundtrack use permission
For game jams only
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Comments
This was so beautiful, poetic and relaxing! I felt transported to another dimension with the soundscape you've managed to create using only orchestral instruments (and reverb) which is pretty impressive. This had a really vintage composition to it that reminded me a lot of the Pokemon OST for some reason.
I also wanted to say that the story you've written is so relatable so grounded yet always with little magical spark that makes the whole thing feel a bit less heavy even though the themes discussed are pretty hard. And this goes for most of the jams I've seen you work on. You managed to mix the heavy with the playful in a beautiful way (similarly to what some Pixar movies manage to do) which is not an easy feat. We can really see that in your woodwind writing (which is absolutely fantastic btw) I feel, which is playful but with a touch of melancholy.
It's a shame you didn't have time to do all that you wished for in this Jam but the emotions you've managed to convey with only these 3 tracks is already quite impressive. Can't wait for your next Jam entry. (Stella)r work! 🙂
Stella’s Tale: I like that in your melody writing, you start with longer notes and then by the end of the phrase they are much faster - this made me imagine a little girl who seems to have endless energy. Your selection for instrumentation is great and I appreciate the close mic intimacy. My favorite section is when the guitar takes over the melody.
A Little Star Flew Over Italy: This track definitely feels much more spacey compared to the first. This is a perfect amount of reverb. I think the ritardando at 1:10 is very well placed and leading into the chimes was a great way to create the loop.
Chase to the Docks: The light-hearted staccato’ed articulation in most of the instruments juxtaposed with the held melody lines create imagery of the young girl skipping along next to the smooth gliding of the star. Overall, and as usual, your soundtrack is well-composed and is quite cinematic. Excellent work and thank you for sharing!
Very cool and cinematic!
Very cool and cinematic!
Magical and beautiful. Knocked it out of the park.
I really liked your tracks, they would fit perfectly for the game you described and they really do have an Italian feel to it (saying this as a non-Italian). Amazing work!
Some very beautiful pieces of work. Love the energy of "Chase to the Docks." The other two pieces fit in with your story two. I appreciate the subdued bossa nova sound of Stella's Tale, too. Such pretty songs!
Beautiful composition! Love the chord choices, especially in Chase To The Docks (definitely my favorite track, love the use of Lydian in the intro section, and the brief period in Phrygian dominant later on)! Amazing work!
Amazing work! The production quality is really well done which certainly helps in showing off how lovely the music is. Great job!
Such magical tunes! Nailed the starry/dreamy vibe. I feel I could listen to these for hours. Chase to the Docks is my favorite. What a wonderful bouquet of music. Great work!
These are soooo 💖✨💖✨
Magically and narrative, there's such a pleasant movement with these songs, it feels like a gentle dance. So many lovely layers working together, such a wonderful genre of music you have here
Wow! First time hearing something from you and I'll have to check your others jobs!
First, the fact of having reals instruments is I think a plus. But still you have to know how to record properly, and god the quality's damn good!
I was quickly transported into the universe you build, your writing skills and orchestration are truely professional and amazing. It really helps smoothing the immersion in the narrative of each track.
By the way, it is very inspiring and each listen gives new pictures in mind. Sure it feels short as I wanted more but a few tracks with good quality is better than a lot with average quality.
1st song has a lot of charm, the interplay of woodwinds, guitar and everything let you calmly imagine your own tale before starting the game.
2nd song is the perfect dreamy beginning for a story with the glockenspiel and the glossy reverb!
3rd song with 8/9 tempo or something hoho? Fits perfectly while visualising Stella chasing after the falling star.
Amazing submission! Thank you for sharing!
The composition on this really solid, everything is so pleasant on the ears. Even though you weren't able to get as much done as you were hoping, this is a great entry!
Wow this is very nice ! They do inspire my imagination :)