There was something I didn't tell anyone else that day. That song we heard there, in the temple...I knew it from my childhood. It was proof that Spira and Zanarkand were connected somehow. At least to me it was.
The "Hymn of the Fayth" (祈りの歌, Inori no Uta?, lit. Song of Prayer), also known as Vespersong in Final Fantasy Record Keeper, is a song composed by Masashi Hamauzu and Nobuo Uematsu, featuring lyrics by scenario writer Kazushige Nojima, for Final Fantasy X.
Composed in Dorian mode, it consists of a single melodic line reminiscent of Gregorian chant. In the game, the hymn serves as a transitional song and an indicator of religious importance or solemnity, though its lyrics don't appear to have any meaning to the game's characters.
Story
Edit
The "Hymn of the Fayth" was originally a Zanarkand song sung in defiance of Bevelle in the Machina War 1000 years ago. Yevon Temple took the song and made it scripture, spreading it and saying it was a holy song of Yevon sung to soothe the souls of the dead.
Both Tidus and Jecht know the tune, a hymn glorifying Yevon and the fayth, while knowledge of these things does not exist in their Zanarkand. As both Tidus and Jecht, as well as their world, are dreams of the fayth, they might have gained knowledge of the tune subconsciously. Another theory is that, considering the song was around before the war, and the original inhabitants of Dream Zanarkand were created from the memories of the fayth, the hymn might have been passed down in Dream Zanarkand.
"Hymn of the Fayth" is used to pacify Sin so the party can attack head on using the airship. Shelinda is instructed to tell Spira to listen for a singing ship in the sky, and the people are to sing along.
VersionsEdit
Each Chamber of the Fayth is filled with a version of the hymn, each one being sung by the fayth of the aeon within the chamber. Only the Magus Sisters do not have their own version.
- Standard
This is the version heard most commonly. It features a high chorus of singers. This version is used for the Magus Sisters, since they do not have their own hymn.
Valefor's fayth is a young girl, though the singer of this version is a far older-sounding woman.
Ifrit's fayth is an operatic male with a tenor voice.
Ixion's fayth is a bass male, though his voice is more subdued.
Shiva's fayth is an operatic female with a soprano voice.
This version is sung by Bahamut's fayth. He is a little boy whose voice has not changed.
Yojimbo's fayth is a somber baritone male.
Anima's fayth is an alto female, and her song sounds far more mournful than the other versions.
- The sending
Plays during the event in Kilika Port where Yuna performs the sending.
Tidus hums the hymn to himself in Dream Zanarkand, seen in a flashback from Bahamut's fayth. It can later be purchased in a package at the Sphere Theater in Luca.
A bittersweet version sung by the Al Bhed, including Brother and Cid, before destroying Home.
- Ronso tribe
The Ronso tribe sings a version of the "Hymn of the Fayth" at Mt. Gagazet. Their version is a deep all-male chorus.
This version appears at the Zanarkand Dome just before the party meets Yunalesca. It is not Yunalesca herself singing, as this is another all-male chorus. Unlike the Ronso version, it uses harmonies, of which sound more ancient and powerful than the other fayth.
All of Spira sings the "Hymn of the Fayth" to subdue Sin during the party's attack upon it. This version uses both male and female singers in a chorus, harmonizing in parts. It is the most dramatic version of the hymn sung in the game.
This is heard just prior to the final battle after Yu Yevon's spirit emerges from Braska's Final Aeon. Although slightly distorted (with Flanging audio effector processed), it is otherwise identical to Yunalesca's hymn. This theme is also used in the battle against Penance.
Dummied versionEdit
The hymn hummed by a female voice exists in the game, but is never used, nor is the player able to play it in the Luca theater, unlike Tidus's hummed version.
LyricsEdit
The lyrics of the song require some deciphering. They are:
- Ieyui
- Nobomeno
- Renmiri
- Yojuyogo
- Hasatekanae
- Kutamae
The words are comprised of Japanese syllables/symbols and are arranged in such a way it is not actually Japanese; however, the composer left a puzzle. To begin translating, one must first arrange the first four words in four columns, going by syllable from the top down. In Japanese, "N" is its own syllable when followed by a consonant.
| I | NO | RE | YO |
| い | の | れ | よ |
| E | BO | N | JU |
| え | ぼ | ん | じゅ |
| YU | ME | MI | YO |
| ゆ | め | み | よ |
| I | NO | RI | GO |
| い | の | り | ご |
Then, one must take the six syllables of the fifth word and arrange them similarly, in a rectangle of two rows and three columns, starting with the first syllable in the top left square and going down and to the right.
| HA | TE | NA |
| は | て | な |
| SA | KA | E |
| さ | か | え |
Finally, one should put the last word in an "L" shape, as shown below.
| KU | ||
| く | ||
| TA | MA | E |
| た | ま | え |
The lyrics can now be put together.
| I | NO | RE | YO | ||
| い | の | れ | よ | ||
| E | BO | N | JU | ||
| え | ぼ | ん | じゅ | ||
| YU | ME | MI | YO | ||
| ゆ | め | み | よ | ||
| I | NO | RI | GO | ||
| い | の | り | ご | ||
| HA | TE | NA | KU | ||
| は | て | な | く | ||
| SA | KA | E | TA | MA | E |
| さ | か | え | た | ま | え |
Reading across, one gets the following:
| Inore yo, Ebon-ju | Pray to Yu Yevon |
| Yume mi yo, inorigo | Dream, Fayth |
| Hatenaku | Forever and ever |
| Sakaetamae | Grant us prosperity |
Arrangement album appearancesEdit
Piano Collections: Final Fantasy XEdit
A piano arrangement of the theme is found on this album arranged by Masashi Hamauzu and performed by Aki Kuroda.
Feel/Go Dream: Yuna & TidusEdit
An arrangement of the "Hymn of the Fayth" is included on this album. It is sung by Mayuko Aoki.
Japanese rōmajiEdit
- Sono te o watashi e to
- Azukete; me o tojite
- Mabuta ni kuchizukete
- Itami o iyashimashou
- Nemurinasai, yukkuri to
- Ushinau kowasa wa dare mo onaji
- Kanashimi, mayoi mo tsutsumikomu
- Chikarazuyosa kanjitai
- Arasou munashisa subete no hito
- Kizukeba kagayaku hi wa noboru
- Sono toki made inoru kara
TranslationEdit
- Give your hand to me
- And close your eyes
- Let me cure your pain
- With a kiss on your eyelids
- Sleep now, be at ease
- Everyone's the same: their lost fears
- Wrapping up sadness and confusion, too
- I want to feel that strength
- If everyone realized
- The pointlessness of dispute, a glittering sun would rise
- Until that time comes, I pray
Distant Worlds III: more music from Final FantasyEdit
A concert recording titled "Hymn of the Fayth – The Sending" from Final Fantasy X appears on this album.
References in other gamesEdit
Final Fantasy X-2Edit
Trema recites lyrics from the "Hymn of the Fayth" before casting Meteor.[1]
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIIIEdit
Song of Prayer is the auto-ability exclusive to the Summoner's Shield. After defending for a certain amount of time against enemy attacks, Lightning is buffed with Protect and Shell.
Final Fantasy Record KeeperEdit
A generic Hymn of the Fayth can be acquired for the Music Hall by way of the event Breaking the Chains of Sadness, as a Mastery Reward for the Macalania Temple stage.
Hymn of the Fayth is also a Soul Break for Yuna, which restores HP and bestows heavy Regen to the party.
Mobius Final FantasyEdit
Should the player invoke the Song of Life from a "Yuna: FFX" card, the opening line of the "Hymn of the Fayth" will play as a sequence of bells. The ability itself restores a moderate amount of HP when drawn.
EtymologyEdit
Vesper means "evening" in Classical Latin.
TriviaEdit
- The Siddham Sanskrit script, which is the basis for the script of Yevon in Final Fantasy X, is used in Japan mostly by the Shingon School of Buddhism that draws on early Hindu traditions. One traditional concept is that deities manifest their thoughts or spiritual energy in the physical world on several different "wavelengths": Sound, Form, and Symbol. The fayth singing the "Hymn of the Fayth" may represent the "Sound" part.
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- A notable fan vocal arrangement of "Hymn of the Fayth" by Kate Covington.
