Johnn Four
Web Monkey
Joined: 12 Jan 2004 |
 Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2004 09:25PM |
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Adding music can have a profound affect on gameplay. Just ask David John, a Canadian composer who was recently contracted to conjure up some exceptional music for the premium Neverwinter Nights modules on sale now at the BioWare Online Store. This week, we chat with David to learn more about his instrumental game craft.
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Lord Niah
Game Owner
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Joined: 19 Jun 2002
From: Chicago |
Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2004 10:20PM |
Some other composers that I think would also make good listening for composers interested in doing sound tracks (especially for fantasy themed games) would include:
Ravel (incredible orchestrator)
Sibelius (very visually evocative style)
Bruckner/Mahler (sums up the late romantic symphonic tradition)
Prokofiev (lots of great film/ballet music that mixes lyricism with hard-edged modernism).
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Ron Lindsay
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Posted: Wednesday, 15 December 2004 11:01PM |
Well, David John managed to rattle off a couple of my favourite composers - Dvorak and Shostakovich. Incidentally, this year is the centenary of Dvorak's death. (Shostakovich died in 1975.)
If you want a war theme, listen to Holst's "Mars - the Bringer of War" from "The Planets" suite. Incidentally, Holst tries to evoke the astrological significance of the planets, not the astronomical.
If you want to evoke chaos and fear, listen to Shostakovich's 11th Symphony. On the other hand, if you just want a stunning and romantic theme, full of longing, listen to the so-called "Moon Song" aria from Dvorak's opera "Rusalka".
I'll be on the look out for David John's own works. A composer's "sound" can be determined by his or her own instrument - violin, piano etc. Working from guitar should prove interesting. I wish David John all the best for his future endeavours.
Cheers.
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Xavier Grimwand
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Joined: 03 Jan 2002
From: Pennsylvania |
Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2004 12:07AM |
Total Annihilation, wooo!!!
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spartacus_22
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From: Ontario, Canada |
Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2004 03:07AM |
Awesom interview.. very interesting. And nice work on the music in the premium mods!
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Dave John
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From: Canada |
Posted: Thursday, 16 December 2004 03:41AM |
I'd have to agree with all of the music suggestions above. Some great listening material there!
I'm glad folks have enjoyed the music in the Premium Modules, and the interview as well.
Cheers,
Dave |
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Jason Attard
Designer
Joined: 22 Jun 2002
From: Austin, TX, USA |
Posted: Friday, 17 December 2004 09:35AM |
Three cheers for Dvorak and Holst! They come right behind Beethoven in my list of favorite composers. Played a lot of their stuff with the band and orchestra back in high school. Especially fond of playing Holst, as he writes the best Euphonium solos on the planet.
Favorite by each of them would be Beethoven's 7th Symphony (the 2nd movement is the best music ever written IMHO), "First Suite in E" by Holst, and "Symphony from the New World" by Dvorak. As a side-note, "Second Suite in F" by Holst has the best Euphoium solo ever written (again, IMHO).
Jason Attard
Technical Designer
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Dave John
Game Owner
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From: Canada |
Posted: Friday, 17 December 2004 04:49PM |
Ah yes. Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" by Dvorak is one of my favorites. Specifically the 2nd (largo) movement, which in my opinion greatly inspired Howard Shores Hobbiton theme from LOTR.
Another of my favorites that I forgot to mention is Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, thats an amazing symphony.
Cheers,
Dave |
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Lord Niah
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Joined: 19 Jun 2002
From: Chicago |
Posted: Friday, 17 December 2004 08:32PM |
You know, now that I think of it, I would love to hear music in games influenced by music from the Renaissance/Middle Ages (especially with more folksy sounding instruments like Dulcimers,recorders, viols, and lutes). Or do something like Orff’s Carmina Burana, where you combine medieval themes with more modern harmonies. You also get that in Durfele’s (spelling ???) Requiem, which combines plain chant with impressionistic harmonies.
Oh, and if you want an intersting modern composer, try the music of the Finnish composer Einojuhanni Rautavara. He's a bit like a cross between Sibelius and something more atonal.
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Stallion-Wsu
Game Owner
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Joined: 24 Aug 2002
From: Pullman-Wa USA |
Posted: Monday, 20 December 2004 10:11AM |
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After completing a Master’s degree in music it is funny how often I hear the same things said over and over again in such a cliché manner about what music should be for a video game… I love it…..the execution of using ‘big’ names that you have heard. Good job. |
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drliebs
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Posted: Monday, 20 December 2004 07:41PM |
David, do you do your own engineering? What type of software do you use? And how would an aspiring composer get started? Do you start sending demo tapes to game companies?
Thanks ,
Doug
Keep up the good work! |
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Dave John
Game Owner
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From: Canada |
Posted: Tuesday, 21 December 2004 04:11PM |
Quote: Posted 12/20/04 19:41:28 (GMT) by drliebs
David, do you do your own engineering? What type of software do you use? And how would an aspiring composer get started? Do you start sending demo tapes to game companies?
Thanks ,
Doug
Keep up the good work!
Hi Doug. Yes, I do all the mixing/engineering on my own. There are many options for software that you could use, but a great entry level starter kit would be something like Garritan Personal Orchestra.
Just sending out demo's to companies won't get you too far, unless you get lucky. Chances are, the demo won't end up in the hands of the person who needs to hear it, or if it does it will be in a box with hundreds of other demos. If your serious it would probably be a good idea for you to look into the Game Audio Network Guild (G.A.N.G). Its a great place to get answers!
Cheers,
Dave |
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drliebs
Game Owner
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Joined: 18 Mar 2003 |
Posted: Thursday, 23 December 2004 05:13PM |
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Thanks! I will definitely check out the G.A.N.G. |
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