Pigstep (Minecraft) Jazz Arrangement (feat. Lena Raine)

How much gold do I have to give to a Piglin for them to give me another saxophone?

So happy to finally be sharing this video with you! Ever since Minecraft's Nether Update in 2020, Pigstep has been one of my favorite tracks to listen to in all of VGM. It's simple, groovy, and creates such a cool atmosphere. I always thought it sounded a bit like a Snarky Puppy tune, and I so badly wanted to expand it for a larger ensemble, so I finally got around to doing that!

I'm also very pleased to have @LenaRaine, the song's composer (and of other games, like Celeste, Guild Wars 2, Chicory) join me in this video! She's a part of the VGM remix scene herself, and I've recorded saxophone for one of her projects previously, so I thought it would be fun to bring her on. This is a first for the channel, having the composer of a game tune come on and play my arrangement of said tune... feels like a weird full circle moment, but I'm here for it! It was cool being able to write for one of the original instruments used in the song (the lo-fi piano that plays the melody near the beginning).

This arrangement has a LOT of layers in it! For one, I've added trombone to my arsenal of instruments, and am using it as part of a trumpet, tenor sax, and trombone horn section in this mix. The slide is still very new to me, but I'm certain it'll get easier to use as time passes and I use it in different situations! I experimented with some muted piano techniques in this arrangement by placing my palm on the strings of the piano to mute them, so you get a shorter, more pluck-like sound out of the instrument - pretty cool technique (although I think it makes the strings go out of tune a bit quicker haha, I already have to get my piano tuned again...) I'm also really happy with the percussion in this video, in particular, how I used them at the beginning to replicate some of that Nether ambience that's present in the original track. Some of the SFX in the original track to me sounded like jangling bones, and I was really pleased to get a similar sound by using my seed pod shaker!

I could talk about this video even more, haha, but I think I'll leave it at what I've said so far. Hope you all enjoy this arrangement!

♫ "Pigstep" composed by Lena Raine
Mix by @JuliaHenderson

SOCIAL MEDIA:

[classicaltrombone]

Looking good with that horn my friend 😊

[kaouettgame]

Lena Raine is such a talented composer. Everything she does is so good, from Celeste to Minecraft, all through Oneknowing. I'm so glad she could be a part of this awesome cover !

[calebnoerr]

MASSIVE respect for learning all of the acoustic instruments instead of relying on a synth! Also, jazz bass clarinet? HELL YEAH!

[MadMewMew-mueq]

The way Lena sits there is so goofy she's adorable

[WinternetLP]

This song is genuinely the best thing introduced in Minecraft in YEARS and this cover is great too.

[Xenocorpse]

A great cover of a great song. Amazing Lena, the fricking original composer, was able to help with this. It gives it the jazzy and unique style that I know from you whilst perfectly capturing the feeling from the original.

[BlueJayMusic]

Your music is just as amazing as its always been, but dang your video editing has gotten a lot cleaner looking! Great job as always! 😄

[knightartorias]

The legendary Lena!...Raine.

I absolutely adored her work in Celeste and Guild Wars 2, such a pleasure to have her collabing with the jazz arrangement god himself!

[si]

I can imagine somewhere in the future at like a fancy restaurant or somethin they would play pigstep not knowing it was from Lena Raine and someone just shouts “HEY! That’s pigstep from Lena Raine!”

[DorothyOzmaLover]

Oooh love this passionate and intrigue performance that's so unique with the melody and inspires me as a musician since you both bestow such a heartfelt sound that's a magical experience. Cheers!

[casonlamothe]

This is incredible. Good work guys, jeez

[EternalDensity]

*immediately puts one foot up on her gamer chair because Lena is doing it*

[artoriasjidibidijan]

это просто божественно.
Мои уши в экстазе

[a_d_z_y__]

I love how Lena makes her synths sounds, it feels like her signature

[madness_]

I may have accidentally fell in love with her.

[satokux]

Idk why im not subscribed to this channel, also, idk that Lena is the composer of Celeste's music, Pigstep always give me vibes of Celeste no i understand why

[tokutoomuch]

lena raine is my transition goal lmfao

[Ahmadsolehuddinfitribinsahar]

Everytime i hear pigstep, i remember the one who never dies.

[bigfan]

1:15 Wait wait wait, he plays brass too?

[WarjieSamy]

I like it when he tickles the things to make a rattling sound