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
Yes (Game Jams)For game jams only
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