Orchestra

Events, Game Music

GSPO Confirms World Premieres & More ahead of July 15th Show

June 30, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on GSPO Confirms World Premieres & More ahead of July 15th Show Share this

If you missed the news during the flurry of E3 headlines, let’s recap: The Golden State Pops Orchestra is putting on their third Video Game Soundtracks series performance in Los Angeles, California on July 15th. When we posted about the show before there were teases of the games and guests that would make appearances but the GSPO is back with a more concrete listing. Making their “world premiere” live performances will be music from:

Detroit: Become Human (game releases Fall 2017)
Gran Turismo (game releases Fall 2017)
World of Warcraft: Legion
Halo Wars 2
Prince of Persia
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

The show will also feature new arrangements and favorite pieces from the GSPO’s past Video Game Soundtracks shows including:

A Salute to Final Fantasy
World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
Civilization IV & VI
Star Wars Battlefront
Halo
Afrika
and special surprises…

Just after the “special surprises” they list featured composers who have appeared at past shows like Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, John Debney and Richard Sherman so start thinking along those amazing lines to guess at this year’s surprise guests. The GSPO did confirm a handful of special guest composers and performers who will be on hand for the evening and those include:

Russell Brower – Emmy winning sound designer and composer
Jessica Curry – BAFTA winning composer
Gordy Haab – G.A.N.G Awards winning composer
Penka Kouneva – Ovation award winning composer
Christopher Tin – Grammy award winning composer
Christopher Tin – Grammy winning composer
Austin Wintory – BAFTA winning composer
Jack Wall – Award winning composer
Victoria Atkin – co-star of Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate

Finally, the ticket prices have been announced, ranging from $28.50 for the balcony and running up to $70.00 for the main auditorium seats. Tickets are available now from the GSPO’s website.
Events, Game Music

The Golden State Pops Orchestra returns to Games on July 15th

June 16, 2017 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on The Golden State Pops Orchestra returns to Games on July 15th Share this
The Golden State Pops Orchestra is turning its focus back to games again with a third installment of their Video Game Soundtracks series, coming to Los Angeles on July 15th. We last covered the orchestra in 2009 when Jayson attended their second performance and in the intervening years they’ve polished up their setlist for the new show. The full list is still under wraps but some of the highlights announced so far include music from:
- Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
- World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor
- Chime Sharp
- Prince of Persia
- Civilization IV & VI
- Star Wars Battlefront
- Halo
- Afrika
Some of these are returning titles from past performances but I’m always happy to see AFRIKA getting a spotlight. Chime Sharp will also be an interesting one to see performed live. Speaking of spotlights, the show will feature some new visual presentations to accompany the music and a handful of special guests and performers that will also be announced as the show draws nearer.

The GSPO’s Video Game Soundtracks performance will be held at the Los Angeles Theatre on Saturday, July 15th. Tickets go on sale June 15h and can be purchased through the orchestra’s website here. We’ll be back with more details on the show as they roll out.
Events, Game Music

Live Concert to Celebrate 20 Years of Tomb Raider

July 27, 2016 | Shawn Sackenheim | 2 Comments Share this

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the original Tomb Raider and the birth of the Lara Croft legacy. In that time the series has touched almost every platform imaginable and sprawled across cinema, comic books, toys and even commercials. But one place Lara has seldom appeared is at the theater, specifically with an orchestra in tow. That’s finally changing for the series’ anniversary with Tomb Raider – Live in Concert on December 18th at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo theater in London.

The 70-minute Tomb Raider Suite for orchestra and chorus was composed by Nathan McCree who codified the series sound with its airy and haunting themes. McCree composed the soundtracks for the first three Tomb Raider games and his suite will see new variations and extensions on some of the oldest themes to accompany Lara on her adventures. As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra plays the audience will be treated to an audio/visual presentation featuring game footage, imagery and interviews that cover the whole history of the legendary series. Nathan McCree will also be on hand for a pre-concert discussion of the Tomb Raider Suite and his involvement with the franchise.

Those who purchase VIP tickets will also get to take a little piece of McCree home with them. Along with choice seating, VIP ticketholders receive a concert programme and print of the suite’s sheet music, both signed by McCree himself. Tickets are on sale now from the Eventim Apollo theater starting at roughly $45. Any Tomb Raider fans in the area planning to attend? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the performance later this year.
Game Music

Fantasy Symphony Kickstarter pays Tribute to Skyrim

October 7, 2015 | Shawn Sackenheim | Comments Off on Fantasy Symphony Kickstarter pays Tribute to Skyrim Share this

A lot of people love Bethesda’s 2011 Elder Scrolls RPG, Skyrim, and Julia Okrusko is definitely one of them. A violinist for over twenty years and composer for four years, she’s already kickstarted three original albums and collaborated on several fantasy-themed game and film scores. Her latest effort is Fantasy Symphony No.1, “Dragonborn”, an orchestral symphony of her own design that aims to create a “portrait of [the] Dragonborn and express external and internal realities of being immersed in the world of fantasy”.

The campaign will run until November 1st at which point MP3 copies and pressed CDs will be sent to backers along with other backer rewards including dragon pendants, scrolls featuring the main theme, and signed copies of the album and promotional posters. You can hear a sample of the symphony’s first movement in the video above or check out the official Kickstarter campaign page for more info.
Game Music, Reviews

Super Mario 3D World OST (Review)

March 21, 2014 | Richard McDonald | 3 Comments Share this Super Mario 3D World OST (Review)

Ever since Super Mario Galaxy, Mario music has really pushed the frontier of what game music can be at its best. In my mind, the music from Super Mario Galaxy was on par, no, better than most film music! Mahito Yokota composed a distinctive soundtrack that expertly enhanced the gameplay, while at the same time perfectly working as music in its own right. Super Mario Galaxy 2 continued this tradition and The Legend of Zelda – Skyward Sword is possibly the best game soundtrack ever composed. So; when I sat down to listen to Super Mario 3D World, it was with the expectation of another beautifully performed, expertly recorded and wonderfully composed soundtrack that I have come to expect from Yokota. And to an extent, I was not disappointed.

However, when I started listening to the music, I was initially disappointed. I can tell that the track list follows the appearance of the in-game music, and as a result, the first 2 tracks are short, simple and not very inspiring. The music really gets going with “Super Bell Hill,” track 3, with what will be the main theme of the game, and sets the Big Band/Jazz/Electronic style of the music that is a slight departure from the fully orchestral Super Mario Galaxy. I’m not too sure about the main theme myself. It’s rehashed endlessly throughout the game, and I feel it’s not strong enough to warrant the level of attention it gets. However, the track is pleasant and upbeat, and it is nice to listen to. “Cave” is a cool remix of the “Underground Theme” from the original Super Mario Bros game and I love it when the live brass comes in at the drop, 0:51. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

It Exists and it’s Huge! Kid Icarus Uprising OST (Review)

September 26, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 6 Comments Share this

Everyone knows Nintendo’s been stingy about retail soundtrack releases for the past decade. It’s hard to get anything out of them.

Fortunately, the new soundtrack for Kid Icarus Uprising (in Japanese, Shin Hikari Shinwa Palutena no Kagami or “New Light Myth: Palthena’s Mirror”) proved to be an exception. The three disc soundtrack, published by Yasunori Mitsuda’s “Sleigh Bells” label, is about as “complete” as anyone could want. Three discs, featuring multiple musical cues for each stage in the 3DS title, with music from seven different composers, all of whom boast some name recognition among VGM aficionados. Even more crazy, much of the album features performance from a full orchestra, with album credits as big as (or, slightly bigger than) Final Fantasy XIII. Yeah. That’s huge.

After the jump, I’ll be picking out some of my favorite tracks from each composer and trying to determine how, when or why Kid Icarus earned such a place in Nintendo’s pantheon. (more…)
Featured, Game Music

5 Quick Questions: Final Symphony (Thomas Böcker)

August 24, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 6 Comments Share this

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