USA: Video game musical scores can be as complex as any symphony and Video Games Live aims to showcase the music behind the games

Record ID: 451931

  • Title: USA: Video game musical scores can be as complex as any symphony and Video Games Live aims to showcase the music behind the games
  • Date: 7th August 2008
  • Summary: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 24, 2008) (REUTERS) SAN DIEGO SYMPHONY PERFORMING MUSIC FROM SUPER MARIO BROTHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY TALLARICO, CO-CREATOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AND HOST, SAYING: "We've really seen the evolution from bleeps and bloops to using real orchestras and live music. Our goal in creating Video Games was to show the world how culturally significant and artistic video games have become. So we took the symphony orchestra but combined it with synchronized video and synchronized rock and roll lighting. I like to describe it as the power and emotion of a symphony combined with the energy and excitement of a rock concert mixed together with the technology, interactivity, cutting edge visuals and fun that video games provide." TALLARICO PLAYING WITH ORCHESTRA CLIPS OF FINAL FANTASY WITH ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE WORLD OF WARCRAFT MUSIC AND VIDEO PERFORMANCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY TALLARICO, CO-CREATOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AND HOST, SAYING: "We haven't found it difficult at all to sell the concept to the symphonies. We're helping to usher in a whole new generation of people to come and see symphonies and orchestras. I know that when I was growing up when I heard John Williams, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, that got me in to symphonic music, got me into Beethoven and other things." CHOIR SINGING WITH CONDUCTOR CONDUCTOR INTRODUCING ORCHESTRA (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOMMY TALLARICO, CO-CREATOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AND HOST, SAYING: "I think the same effect you're seeing in video games. People are listening to symphonic music and maybe that's going to expand their cultural horizons and get them into the greats like Mozart and Beethoven. Of course, I've always said that if Beethoven were alive today he would be a video game composer. Maybe?" ORCHESTRA PERFORMING STARCRAFT MUSIC WITH VIDEO
  • Embargoed: 22nd August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAQZ1SI2Q2EGT32TTR2OLFRBJ4
  • Story Text: This is the San Diego Symphony. And yes, that is Mario jumping across the screen. In case you're wondering, you're listening to the music of Nintendo's Mario Brothers franchise.
    The show is called Video Games Live and it travels all over the world performing the scores written for popular video games with local symphonies.
    Tommy Tallarico is the co-creator, executive producer, and host of Video Games Live.

    "We've really seen the evolution from bleeps and bloops to using real orchestras and live music. Our goal in creating Video Games was to show the world how culturally significant and artistic video games have become."
    It's not just gaming fans that attend the performances and it doesn't take long to realize how complex the music behind the gameplay can be.
    The orchestra's playlist comes from a variety of sources including hard core games like the Halo series and World of Warcraft and also arcade games like Pac-Man or Pong.
    Tallarico says selling this idea to symphonies wasn't too hard to do.
    "We haven't found it difficult at all to sell the concept to the symphonies. We're helping to usher in a whole new generation of people to come and see symphonies and orchestras. I know that when I was growing up when I heard John Williams, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, that got me in to symphonic music, got me into Beethoven and other things."
    He also says it's good for the gaming industry. A parent takes their kids to the concert and becomes a fan of the music. Who's to say the next time that parent goes shopping, he or she may just bypass Beethoven's Fifth for a copy of Final Fantasy.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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