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Video games are saving symphony orchestras

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Battlefield-has-gone-downhill

How often do you notice the music in your games? That pluck of a violin string, the blast of a trumpet or the clang of a cymbal. A video game needs more than just tight gameplay and beautiful visuals to stand out. It needs a soundtrack in the background, a musical addition that you don’t immediately notice, yet it adds to the atmosphere.

And some of the best video game soundtracks, are classics in more than one way. I’m talking proper symphony orchestras, with dozens of musicians working in harmony to deliver a beat to go along with your kill-spree in your favourite shooter. And its thanks to gaming, that orchestras are even in business today.

That’s according to the Wall Street Journal, as they revealed that video game performances were responsible for keeping orchestras afloat, especially ones that held live shows dedicated to the music of various iconic titles.

“You can no longer just sit there and play Beethoven,” music director of the Colorado Symphony and the New York City Ballet Orchestra Andrew Litton said to the WSJ.

Videogame performances offer a full orchestra—trumpets, harps and other classical instruments—plus choirs and jumbo video screens that synchronize gameplay footage to the music. Costumed attendees—dressed as dragons, wizards, princesses, fairies, knights and sorcerers—often engage in mock battles.

Marriage proposals mid-show aren’t unusual; some end with fireworks. The growing popularity has helped offset a decline in U.S. orchestra ticket sales.

Over the past decade, such sales have declined at an average annual rate of 2.8%, according to a soon-to-be-published report commissioned by the League of American Orchestras, an advocacy group.

Videogame shows have been instrumental in helping keep the Nashville Symphony afloat as it struggled with the recession and a flood in 2010, said Larry Tucker, vice president of artistic administration: “I would not want to go through a season without it.”

That’s actually some fantastic news. There’s nothing wrong with classical music when it takes the time to meld something new into that genre. I know it sounds like a paradox, but if a New York stop for “The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses” tour can draw in more than 5000 people with a  single show, you know that there might be something to all of this.

As usual, there’s at least one person who isn’t down with all of these damn kids ruining his classical musical experience, as the WSJ discovered:

Not every concertgoer is convinced. “From a business-strategy perspective, it completely devalues the brand,” said Roderick Branch, a 39-year-old lawyer in Chicago who attends symphony-orchestra performances about once a week. The very idea, he said, is “akin to Mouton Rothschild using its wine to make and sell sangria.”

I’m a fan of orchestras. They’re big, brassy and bold. Everything that I’m not, essentially. Now to see if I can organise a Skyrim orchestra locally.

Last Updated: October 14, 2015

28 Comments

  1. Orchestral soundtracks are often part of KS stretch goals.

    Reply

    • Skoobaz

      October 14, 2015 at 16:12

      Sshh. Chris Roberts may be listening…

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        October 15, 2015 at 07:12

        You’re too late, that was one of the $6 mil stretch goals. ;P

        Reply

  2. (Umar) Must be Cipher

    October 14, 2015 at 13:35

    Man would love to attend one of these…Really, I’m afraid that one day I’ll die without having attended the Final Fantasy Distant Worlds Concert….

    Reply

  3. Milesh Bhana

    October 14, 2015 at 13:43

    >> Now to see if I can organise a Skyrim orchestra locally.

    i’d go to this.

    Reply

  4. oVg

    October 14, 2015 at 13:59

    Tell me about it, that Skywalker Sound studio is so cool in Uncharted, especially the Arab soundtrack that goes with 3.

    Reply

    • Mistake Not...

      October 14, 2015 at 14:09

      I enjoyed Graves’s Dead Space scores and Tomb Raider. Too bad he isn’t back for the new TR. But my all time favourite I think is Beyond: Two Souls.

      Reply

      • oVg

        October 14, 2015 at 14:23

        I was surprised he was not doing the TR sequel. Maybe they wanted to totally divorce the music from the sounds of the Island.

        There is a rumor going around that Beyond Two Souls is getting a remaster. I hope so, I love narrative driven games. Even if Ellen Page stole her likeness from Ellie 😛

        Reply

        • Mistake Not...

          October 14, 2015 at 14:52

          Lol. But the new TR guy worked on Game of Thrones. I’m not a massive fan of the GoT music, but it can be good. So I’ll look forward to it.

          If the BTS Remaster comes with a physical music CD I may be tempted to pick it up, even though I’m not a fan of remasters.

          Reply

  5. Kromas untamed

    October 14, 2015 at 14:16

    Blizzard soundtracks always turn me on.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 14, 2015 at 14:22

      O_o

      Reply

    • WitWolfy

      October 14, 2015 at 14:23

      Same for me with Uncharted 2’s OST and MGS 2’s main theme… I can make babies to that music.

      Reply

  6. Brady miaau

    October 14, 2015 at 14:19

    As someone that buy DVD’s and pays money to see classical (Opera sometimes as well) music and other symphony type shows, I certainly hope they can go from strength to strength.

    Star Wars music, for example, was awesome BECAUSE of the symphony score. Loved it, sent chills up. Not mechanical or synthesised.

    Morriccone, Mission Soundtrack as well. Great music, music you can FEEL in your soul. That is what a good symphony score can do.

    Reply

  7. WitWolfy

    October 14, 2015 at 14:19

    ELO would be proud!

    Reply

  8. Hammersteyn

    October 14, 2015 at 14:22

    Games also provides jobs, just ask Anita

    Reply

    • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

      October 14, 2015 at 14:23

      HA!!!

      Reply

  9. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    October 14, 2015 at 14:23

    I love how there’s always some grumpy dude that leaves a comment, like someone covering AC-DC being told they didn’t cover it correctly…

    Reply

  10. Greylingad[CNFRMD]

    October 14, 2015 at 14:28

    This still sends shivers down my spine….

    Reply

    • WitWolfy

      October 14, 2015 at 14:30

      Eww a EA game.. GET IT AWAY!!!

      Reply

      • Greylingad[CNFRMD]

        October 14, 2015 at 14:31

        Hahahaha!!! ok, true!!

        Reply

  11. ZA Ludomusicologist

    October 14, 2015 at 15:00

    The reality: AAA-developers do not release the scores, so orchestra’s cannot play them without the threat of lawsuit. Several indie soundtracks are playable since the copyright are less tricky.

    In SA, there are several orchestras who has asked me for legal help with video games – as well as producing scores. Nothing came from this yet – and I blame AAA-developers.

    Reply

  12. The Sten

    October 14, 2015 at 15:04

    “The very idea, he said, is akin to Mouton Rothschild using its wine to make and sell sangria.”

    OOOOOH SICK BURN BRAH!!!! Gonna need some burn heal fo dat

    Reply

  13. Grand Admiral Chief

    October 14, 2015 at 15:27

    Child of Light soundtrack FTW!

    Reply

  14. Jac7

    October 14, 2015 at 15:51

    I am fond of this…

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief

      October 14, 2015 at 15:52

      I raise:

      Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief

      October 14, 2015 at 15:53

      Or this

      Reply

  15. Skoobaz

    October 14, 2015 at 16:16

  16. Christopher Howard

    October 15, 2015 at 02:41

    OS are great for Halloween mashups, too: Spielberg’s Veteran In A New Field
    https://youtu.be/Eb1s_LECfv8

    Reply

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