Editing Final Fantasy IX (section)

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Final Fantasy IX}}
Regular series composer [[Nobuo Uematsu]] wrote the music of ''Final Fantasy IX''. In early discussions about the game, Ito asked him to compose themes for the eight main characters along with "an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten other tracks". Uematsu spent a year composing and producing "around 160" pieces, with 140 appearing in the game.<ref name="fami-interview">{{Cite web |title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu |url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920025801/http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |publisher=[[Famitsu]]}}</ref><ref name="ign-interview">{{Cite web |last=Zdyrko, Dave |date=September 21, 2000 |title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All |url=http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001203212500/http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-date=December 3, 2000 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |website=IGN}}</ref> During writing sessions, Square gave him a travel break in Europe for inspiration, where he spent time admiring ancient architecture in places like Germany. Uematsu cited [[medieval music]] as a significant influence on the score of ''IX''. He aimed for a "simple" and "warm" atmosphere and incorporated uncommon instruments like the [[kazoo]] and [[dulcimer]]. Unlike the stark realism of its predecessors, the high fantasy undertones of ''IX'' allowed for a broader spectrum of musical styles and moods. Uematsu composed with a piano and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the [developers] will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written".<ref name="ign-interview" />

Uematsu incorporated several motifs from older ''Final Fantasy'' games into the score, such as the original battle music intro, a reworked ''Volcano Theme'' from ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' and the Pandemonium theme in ''[[Final Fantasy II]]''.<ref name="fami-interview" /><ref name="ign-interview" /> Tantalus' band plays "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" from ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' near the beginning of the game. Uematsu has stated on several occasions that ''Final Fantasy IX'' is his favorite score.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor, Stu |title="Smile, Please!": Neo Interviews Final Fantasy Composer, Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216201125/http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |website=[[Neo (magazine)|Neo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey, Rob |date=February 2, 2005 |title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829145306/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2007 |publisher=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> "Melodies of Life" is the theme song of ''IX'' and shares its main melody with pieces frequently used in the game itself, such as the [[overworld]] theme and a lullaby that Garnet sings.<ref name="ign">{{Cite web |last=Smith, David |year=2007 |title=Final Fantasy IX 'Melodies of Life' Single |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206021656/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> [[Emiko Shiratori]] performed this piece in both the Japanese and English versions with arrangement by [[Shirō Hamaguchi]].<ref name="ign" />