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Are you kidding? Arrangements from video games are most of what I play. Only recently have I delved into classical music, and that's because I'm using it for sight-reading. Here are some of my videos. (Shameless self-promotion.)
I really need to start remembering to log back in after I've posted something, and not wait a couple of days to do that. o.O
Great responses from everyone, it made me feel better about being so obsessed with video game music lately. I even put down my book of Beethoven sonatas and Chopin waltzes! I'm currently working on some pieces from the Final Fantasy series, but I have played a lot of Zelda and Bioshock pieces as well. Mario Bros. theme is always a must, since that's one most people are familiar with, haha.
Currently working on Chopin's Fantasie Impromptu and Final Fantasy songs ^_^
Music is the breath of my soul; without it I could not live.
I would consider myself a gamer at times. And have heard many decent tunes found in video game sountracks. A lot of them are spectacular, but there seems to be one hump they havent pushed. It still feels a bit emotionally stiff, or all melodrama. Sometimes I wondered if because unlike many movies, for a long time, everything in a game was fantasy. Even voice work and things like that.
I do feel however that the music will continue to get better, and that it is possible that videogame soundtracks will be on par with some film soundtracks.
I myself have played several of the final fantasy piano arrangements. They are really fun.
Video game music always needs to serve a purpose, which is why it can't be developed on its own merit. The tunes are nice but I don't think it'll ever pass film music (which suffers from the same issue). I wish that the composers were also paid to take those themes and develop them into something that's more deeply satisfying. Sure, nostalgia has its uses but it's the emotions associated with the game that colors our idea of the music, not the music itself.
I have often wished that Joe Hisaishi had been able to take the Mononoke theme and develop it into a full symphony as he's shown an ability to score for orchestra, or that the Bioshock composer had been able to develop a piano work longer than a minute and a half. I hear strains of Villa-Lobos and Chopin, and I would love to hear more of it. The Final Fantasy and Zelda series both have been scored for symphony but they're all just fancy transcriptions. Honestly, I don't think the audience would mind if the theme from Final Fantasy was used as a theme for a Final Fantasy Symphony.
Have you guys ever played the game Echochrome? I loved the music so much that I often just sat on the start screen to hear the string quartet.
Video game music always needs to serve a purpose, which is why it can't be developed on its own merit. The tunes are nice but I don't think it'll ever pass film music (which suffers from the same issue). I wish that the composers were also paid to take those themes and develop them into something that's more deeply satisfying. Sure, nostalgia has its uses but it's the emotions associated with the game that colors our idea of the music, not the music itself.
I have often wished that Joe Hisaishi had been able to take the Mononoke theme and develop it into a full symphony as he's shown an ability to score for orchestra, or that the Bioshock composer had been able to develop a piano work longer than a minute and a half. I hear strains of Villa-Lobos and Chopin, and I would love to hear more of it. The Final Fantasy and Zelda series both have been scored for symphony but they're all just fancy transcriptions. Honestly, I don't think the audience would mind if the theme from Final Fantasy was used as a theme for a Final Fantasy Symphony.
Have you guys ever played the game Echochrome? I loved the music so much that I often just sat on the start screen to hear the string quartet.
Because Echochrome is pretty freeform, the composer had the liberty of composing more freely than usual. I like the results.
I believe you just said what I was trying to get at, but you did it so much more eloquently!! Because I was struggling with a good way to describe how I felt on the subject.
On a more random thought, I remember how I felt about videogame music when I was 18. I believed whole heartedly that it was the music that was going to shake the snobby closeminded classical people, this was the future of classical music. In hindsight, I really wasn't listening as much as I do now. Heck, I was going to learn all this video game music, and start programing it Beethoven and the like.
Then I actually started listening to more classical music...
I was really excited upon seeing this thread, and also a little (pleasantly) surprised at the warm responses. I'm not a gamer, but I absolutely adore video game music, even those of games I've never played (which is most games other than Pokemon). Anyway, I was wondering what you guys think of video game remixes. I know the consensus on classical remixes is generally one that's less than enthusiastic, but I think there are some real gems out there, for example music by Doc Nano on Youtube.
It's video game music arranged in an impressionist style, I was really impressed when I first heard it, do give it a listen! I believe this can come close to breaking out of any confines incidental music might have.
I definitely have to add one for Final Fantasy music - particularly the arrangements from the Piano Collections. They really do have a rich sound and require a decent technique to perform successfully. I am happy to attempt to add them to my repertoire.
(As an aside, I think that the Final Fantasy 13 Piano Collections are worth looking at. The new composer Hamazu Masashi has really done a great job!)
