Saved this one for a rainy day (and for when I have a topic to talk about LOL). Today is that day!
I'm gonna yap about Efteling's music.
There are so many different vibes when it comes to Efteling music, but something they all have in common is that they're super immersive and sound good. Yes, even Carnaval Festival - it wouldn't be such an earworm nor get such a chuckle or smile out of people if it wasn't well made, no?
I'm especially impressed that a whole lot of them are by the same composer. Like dang, that's some range, and so immersive and recognisable in every vibe, too? René Merkelbach, you've got some mad skills (and so do the other composers, of course, even if the song wasn't made for the Efteling at first. But I do have a favourite lmao)
The entry/Huis Van De Vijf Zintuigen (House Of The Five Senses) music alone I could write a small essay about. And you know what, I will, this is a yapping session LOL
It's so enchanting, so whimsical, so inviting. No matter how often I go to the Efteling, hearing that music carried by the wind when you walk onto the parking lot and gently getting louder without being too loud is a wonderful experience every time. Nothing quite tells you "You are walking towards a world of fantasy, welcome, enjoy your stay" like that song does. And then in the evening they switch it over to a slower, slightly lower pitched reprise, it works so well. "That was a wonderful day, you've made some great memories, please do come back again sometime".
And the melody of it appears as a leitmotif in all the different realms' themes, all with their own unique vibe to match the realm. While all unique, they're all the different sides of the same park.
Pardoes Promenade's music is whimsical, magical, mischievous and upbeat, like the jester it's named after. The Grand Hotel/Aquanura's music is magical, calm yet theatrical and grand. The music in the Droomvlucht/Flight Of Dreams is so magical, distinct and different, it brings each area of the 'dream' to life so well, uniquely yet all fitting together. The musical mushrooms throughout the Fairytale Forest add such a sense of wonder and whimsy, iconic but never too dominant. I could go on and on there's so many amazing pieces.
And I LOVE that the music is so well adjusted that you almost never hear two songs at the same time in one spot (excluding special events like for example the Summer Efteling... oof the stage and Tiesto Aquanura are SO LOUD you hear them throughout half the park and it's such a shame). That must be a science of trial and error to balance and they tend to do it very well. It feels as seamless as walking between areas in a video game with its soundtrack changing to subtly you hardly notice until you pay attention and are like "Hey! New song!". Even Between the Pardoes Promenade and Symbolica, it really feels like the music surrounds the palace and nothing else and that's so cool!
All and all, it's no mystery where Parodie came from, huh?
