Orchestra

Featured, Game Music

Arrangement of the Zelda Goddesses: Chad Seiter Interview

July 9, 2012 | Haroon Piracha | 7 Comments Share this

In the past couple of months, there have been a surge of concerts that have blown audiences away. This concert series is not a mixed bag of video game music like Video Games Live or PLAY! A Video Game Symphony, but focuses on one game series – The Legend of Zelda. Having been to many video game concerts myself, I have not run into an official video game concert where the music director actually arranged the music specifically for a 100+ piece orchestra. Not even the Final Fantasy concerts (“Dear Friends” “More Friends” “Distant Worlds”) hit that mark as they were (mostly) just live performances of arrangements made for previous albums. The music was always there, they just brought together musicians and perform the pieces live. But this is where The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of The Goddesses hits an entirely new realm of concerts for Americans: instead of ripping the music from the video game, or old work being replayed, why not arrange an entirely new piece for the audience?

Recently, I had a chance to talk with the man who arranged the music for these Zelda concerts, Chad Seiter, a man who has put a lot of hard work into the arrangements. I sat down with him at his concert at E3, he was nice enough to share his passion and love for what he called The legend of Zelda: Symphony of The Goddesses.

Read the interview after the Jump. (more…)
Featured, Game Music, Reviews

Returning To Perfection: Symphonic Fantasies Tokyo (Review)

June 22, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 7 Comments Share this

3 years ago, I sat anxiously waiting for the orchestra to appear from the sidelines. With a curious gaze towards the stage and the many surrounding me, the shared excitement was palpable, and whispers echoed in the Philharmonic Hall as the seated audience prepared to experience game music evolved. I was at Symphonic Fantasies in the Cologne Philharmonic Hall on September 12th, 2009, and on that night, with tears in my eyes, I experienced what is the greatest video game music symphony ever produced.

Since that day, many shows have come and gone, many concerts have been set up around the world, but the impact that Symphonic Fantasies had on the industry is undeniable; it changed the playing field entirely. Audiences wanted more, deeper arrangements, pure production designs, greater stories. Simple medleys did no longer suffice; Symphonic Fantasies proved that game music, like any music, can become something much greater by understanding its message, its intentions, its soul. But even with a subsequent CD release, the demand was high from the eager fans to experience the concert for themselves. It was therefore that Thomas Böcker took his production and team to Japan at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, and returned home to the birthplace of the orchestral game music concert and the Square Enix video games, to show that the concept had evolved, and the music which so many hold dear, has grown up to become something much larger. The result was 2 sold out shows in Japan, heralded in the press and by its peers as a true achievement not easily matched. It was due to this success, that the decision was made to once again provide fans around the world the opportunity to hear Symphonic Fantasies in the form of an album release.

But is it worth the purchase a second time around? Find out after the jump! (more…)
Game Music

Presence of Perfection: Symphonic Fantasies Stockholm Report

June 13, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 2 Comments Share this

In 2009, the most beautiful video game symphony was performed in the cultural meeting place of Germany, Cologne. Fans from all over the world rushed to the Cologne Philharmonic Hall in excitement and anticipation of what was touted as the very best orchestrated video game concert of all time, based on the timeless works over the years by Square Enix, showcasing their greatest titles throughout their history in suites of unparalleled beauty and splendor. On September 12th, 2009, the day finally arrived when the world experienced Symphonic Fantasies, the greatest video game symphony of all time.

The legacy that Symphonic Fantasies left behind shook the industry by its core. No longer was the idea of video game music performed by an orchestra enough, the concept evolved and the emotions, the stories and the essence of each game was emphasized to bring the true nature of the game’s soul and heart out for the listener to feel, embrace and cherish. It is now 3 years since the event took place in Cologne, bringing all corners of the world together in a philharmonic hall, and as the concept has kept on growing, so has Symphonic Fantasies in the memories of those who heard it, and the anticipation and demand increasing, with fans eager to experience for themselves what the sell out audience in Cologne spoke so much of after 2009. After the incredible success in Tokyo for their January shows, the team ventured to Stockholm, Sweden in order to showcase just exactly why so many fans from around the world have spoken of its magnificence.

Check out the report from event after the jump. (more…)
Game Music

3 Days Left To Join The Turrican Soundtrack Anthology Kickstarter

May 31, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 2 Comments Share this

It’s been a success story almost unparallelled, a pitch from a video game composer to rearrange, orchestrate and bring back some of the most well beloved music material in video games, and final budget goal at $75,000 for all the backers to receive a triple disc collectors set. What was thought to take months to achieve took merely one week, and Chris Hülsbeck could already see his dream of making the Turrican Soundtrack Anthology a reality for himself and the fans. The support has continued steadily without losing any momentum, and now, the project stands at $150,000+, an incredible 200% of the original intended budget. With this development, the announcement of an extra CD with even more material, a USB drive with the original soundtrack and a vinyl has been announced, along with many other upgrades to the overall presentation. Hülsbeck has always been on the forefront of the industry with his sound and techniques, and with the success of this project, he has yet again proven why he is one of the true legends of video game music.

For those who have yet to jump on board and secure themselves this now 4 disc collectors box, there is officially 3 days left to do so. There are numerous backing choices to choose from at different price point, with $25 landing you a digital copy and pdf booklet, $50 giving you the CD box set numbered and signed, and $75 giving you all the previous awards plus the limited Turrican branded USB stick with the original soundtrack to Turrican recorded right from Hülsbeck’s hardware.

Go on over to the Turrican Soundtrack Anthology Kickstarter and make sure to join before it is too late! For those who already funded, the first completed track has just been released, so make sure to check your email.
Featured, Game Music

Turrican Soundtrack Anthology By Chris Hülsbeck Kickstarter

April 16, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 1 Comment Share this

At the end of the 1980s, the video game world had found itself many new heroes, rising to their iconic place in video game history through the joyous trip of their virtual worlds and stories, gaining love and recognition from all nations and ages. The gaming landscape had become a place filled with the most vibrant of fantasies, a creative haven for young and old minds alike, creating an golden era of video games that would fill gamers with memories of unparalleled interaction, sound and action.

Turrican would in 1989 be the premier showcase of the power a video game could have, taking the breath away from gamers around the world with incredible graphics, vast worlds and an unforgettable soundtrack as the silver donned hero explored the alien world. It is due to the strength of the soundtrack that the game has become a fan favorite that still survives in the hearts of both new and seasoned gamers even today, a soundtrack composed by Chris Hülsbeck. Hülsbeck became a treasured member of the gaming industry across Europe with the unmatched melodic depth and futuristic appeal of his music, and as he continued his long career, he would go on to inspire many fellow musicians to take the step into the daunting world of video game music. Chris Hülsbeck became an icon, and his contributions and support has been celebrated numerous times, from sold out albums to sold out venues, performing his music in symphony with fans attending from around the world.

Now, Hülsbeck will prepare to celebrate the games which truly launched him into stardom with the announcement of the Turrican Soundtrack Anthology Kickstarter, a project that aims to arrange and celebrate the Turrican series. Among the plans, you find one of the finest orchestras in the world, The WDR Radio Orchestra Cologne, the orchestra most known for the award winning Symphonic Fantasies and Symphonic Shades, to be contributing to the project with all new arrangements from the legendary series. To achieve this, Chris Hülsbeck is now asking his fans to support him in a Kickstarter campaign to make the Turrican Soundtrack Anthology become a reality.

“My first Turrican album has sold roughly 10.000 units over the years. I know that the games still have a following, too. This project is a personal dream of mine and I hope that together with all the fans, we can make this happen!” -Chris Hülsbeck

By pledging $25.00 you get the whole album on MP3 + a PDF booklet, while $50.00 gets you a limited edition numbered and signed 3 CD set. + the MP3’s before the album is printed. Aside from the finished CDs, supporters of the project can get their hands on numerous goodies like posters, t-shirts, Turrican ringtones for their mobiles, or even tickets for an orchestral game music concert that will take place in November in Cologne, Germany. Those who are willing to support the project with a larger sum may take an exclusive look behind the scenes and will be personally informed by Chris about the progress during the production. With the orchestra, studio production, premium booklet and packaging prints, the goal is $75,000, and will run until June 3rd.

For many, our youths would not have been filled with the melodic memories that Hülsbeck provided, and for some, without his soundtracks, they would not be here today instilled with the passion and lifelong love for video games, such as yours truly.

Go to the Turrican Soundtrack Anthology Kickstarter and make sure to support this special project!
Game Music

Symphonic Fantasies Returns In Summer Of 2012!

March 27, 2012 | Audun Sorlie | 1 Comment Share this

Symphonic Fantasies set the benchmark for what a symphonic game music concert should be. On September 12th 2009, the audience were not only hearing their most beloved game music pieces performed by an orchestra, but transported into the world in which the games represented, with landscapes built on emotion and the memories in the hearts of the listener being transcended by an all new experience, with the music becoming alive in a way no other concert before it had ever been able to accomplish. Fantasies managed to bridge the world of classical music and video games purely through music, and the production which Team Merregnon carefully crafted has traveled around the world with the award winning CD released in 2010. With the incredible success of concert and the CD recording, Symphonic Fantasies traveled to Tokyo in January of 2012, marking the first time a fully European video game symphony production has taken place in Japan.

Now, Symphonic Fantasies is returning home to Europe for another round, promising again to bring the full beauty of Valtonen and Wanamo’s arrangement to life once again, revisiting the worlds of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger/Cross. The first concerts will take place in Cologne on the 5th and 6th of July, with Niklas Willén conducting the WDR Radio Orchestra and the WDR Radio Choir. On June 9th, Fantasies will for the first time come to Stockholm, Sweden, with Andreas Hanson conducting the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Katarina Choir.

Tickets for the Stockholm show is at sale at Konserthuset.se, while the Cologne show, as expected, is sold out. Be sure to check back on OSV for more news and information on Symphonic Fantasies 2012!
Game Music, Reviews

Is Inon Zur’s Latest His Greatest? LotR: War in the North (Review)

December 7, 2011 | Patrick Gann | Comments Off on Is Inon Zur’s Latest His Greatest? LotR: War in the North (Review) Share this

Editor’s note: Within hours of this post, multiple sources reminded us that the album published by WaterTower music was incomplete; specifically, many of the softer/slower themes for Rivendell were not included on the CD. The below text is a review of the WaterTower album, *not* the full score by Inon Zur. Several key tracks missing from the album are featured on Inon Zur’s website > Music. Other tracks missing from the soundtrack album are also now available here for free download. Additionally, there are three tracks available exclusively with the Collector’s Edition.

Can anyone write about The Lord of the Rings media without mentioning the film score by Howard Shore? It’s tough. But, with the exception of this very introductory sentence, I’m going to try.

So let’s restart this article by talking about Inon Zur. This guy is a powerhouse of composition, usually writing full orchestral scores for two, three, sometimes four high-profile games (often RPGs) each year. This year, he penned the music for Dragon Age II and The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, among others.

WaterTower (Warner Bros) published the soundtrack for War in the North this past November. After the jump, you’ll find out whether or not Inon Zur can trump his past successes. (more…)