Project Eternity Composer: In-house or External

[Giantevilhead]

Karranthain, that's awesome! I still listen to the old Might & Magic soundtracks every now and again.

 

Paul Anthony Romero is a great composer, another example :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Anoc67QPMaQ&feature=relmfu

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkQyQzzhft0&feature=relmfu

 

Actually, the Might and Magic franchise has two composers, Paul Romero and Rob King. In fact, Rob King's music is used in a lot of different places.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Giantevilhead

[Cantousent]

EDIT: sorry, I didnt' really add anyting the other folks hand't already added. to the topic.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Cantousent

[Cantousent]

EDIT: Double Post.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Cantousent

[Gorth]

I still think the best music in an Obsidian produced (and shipped) game so far is Mark Griskeys scores for Kotor2. Seriously some of the best anywhere IMNSHO. Doesn't mean somebody else can't do better, but I will mentally compare their skills to that particular game.

[kenup]

Skyrim has epic music?

Yes, in that "generic" sort of epic way that you now have to endure every single movie trailer. You know, the generic blaring trumpets and that "heroic" violin. Loathsome.

To be honest they do have one good piece. And that is in the Vale in Dawnguard.

 

I still think the best music in an Obsidian produced (and shipped) game so far is Mark Griskeys scores for Kotor2. Seriously some of the best anywhere IMNSHO. Doesn't mean somebody else can't do better, but I will mentally compare their skills to that particular game.

I on the other hand, found both KotoR games' music to be boring. They seemed like downgraded copies from the NWN series. That's IMHO anyway.

Edited September 29, 2012 by kenup

[metiman]

I was watching the film Mysterious Skin and thinking about how beautiful the soundrack was. Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie (of the Cocteau Twins) collaborated on the project. I realize that Obsidian could never afford these famous guys. What interests me is the spare, ambient style which might work for certain parts of a Torment style game. The second track is actually from the Mysterious Skin soundtrack. It's called Neil's Theme. The youtube uploader did a slide show from the film Let Me In which I figured was more interesting than the usual album cover.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyaq8OTltyQ

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss6HMV6NtWA

[Karranthain]

To be honest they do have one good piece. And that is in the Vale in Dawnguard.

 

I don't particularly like Soule (I find him utterly boring and uncreative most of the time - just to mention the infamous brass synths he overuses), but I agree that he got this piece right (I haven't played this game) :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBGgZ1PUFWU

 

Might've just as well been used in Icewind Dale.

Edited September 29, 2012 by Karranthain

[Dominus]

I would totally go for MATT UELMEN

 

 

[septembervirgin]

Rasputina. String band that plays darkling splendors with humor and grace.

Dame Darcy. Banjo player extraordinaire with lovely folksy fairy songs about ghosts, curses, and murder.

John Zorn. Excellent experimental jazz, metal, and Israeli folk jazz.

Tara van Flower. Good for pretty songs even without music.

 

Also seeking work, these vocalists: Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins, Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance, Diamanda Galas (once she's off tour).

Edited September 29, 2012 by septembervirgin

[Nonek]

Vaughan Williams fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFpyuZUSUPI

[Darkpriest]

I am not sure if any of you knows this TV series, but I loved music theme from this UK series of "Robin of Sherwood". They do not make TV series of this greatness anymore

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-40e_So7c&feature=related

[Karranthain]

And for combat music, something like this, please :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIOjEAgrNrM

 

[diablo169]

Whoever Obsidian choose is fine. Justin do you have any other music or samples of your work we can listen to though? I cant find any on the interwebs.

[Darkpriest]

A Real Life example of late medieval music. The one that was dominating during 14th century (so around the same time when first muskets started to appear) - so around the time of the In Game setting as well

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72382CEwDoM

 

 

You might get some idea of the music themes dominating in music back then to get some of that imported to for example tavern music or court music.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Darkpriest

[Lysen]

I really love VtM: Bloodlines, and especially the soundtrack. This is a great piece by Rik Schaffer:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff1DjBe3LOM

 

Doesn't really fit in the fantasy setting though.

Edited September 30, 2012 by Lysen

[_dagger_]

Michael Hoenig is listed in IMDB as the composer for Baldurs Gate 2 / TOB. Is that true? Was he the mastermind of that exceptionally good music ? It was pure magic, simply legendary, those games would not have been the same without it.

 

If its true, I would ten-fold my pledge just for having him as a composer for PE!

 

In-game music should not be underestimated. It might be the one thing that ultimately decides whether a game is successful or not!

Edited September 30, 2012 by _dagger_

[theseez]

If Mr @JustinBell is viewing this forum, a couple of questions if I may:-

 

1. Will there be (a) signature tune(s) for the game (e.g. Maybe, A Kiss To Build A Dream On for FO1 and 2, Baba Yetu for Civ4, Suteki Da Ne for FFX)? To have a particular strong piece deeply associated with and conjuring up images of the game is I think one of the most powerful things music can do.

2. Will there be usage of leitmotifs for characters and/or locations? PS:T did that very well, not to mention the obvious power it had in Star Wars.

 

Hope to hear from you on this if you have the time, many thanks!

[Justin Bell]

Justin do you have any other music or samples of your work we can listen to though? I cant find any on the interwebs.

 

Thanks for your curiosity everyone, I know you all have questions about the music for PE.

 

As for examples of my music, ask and you shall recieve! http://soundcloud.co...tin-bell-music/

 

This material spans about 6 years of writing. Some of the tracks there are from popular TV shows and award winning Films that I can't really discuss publically unfortunately For those you'll find cryptic names such as "a tv show" etc. Check it out if you're interested!

 

For those of you who are wondering about my background, I can definitely get into that in more depth. I've been studying and playing music for 22 years (I'm 35). I graduated from Los Angeles Valley Community College in 2003 with a AA degree in Music. There I studied music theory, classical guitar performance and recording arts. I was part of the LAVCC Classical Guitar Quartet for four semesters. In 2007 I graduated from UCLA with a BA Degree in Music Composition. There I studied music theory, music history, composition, orchestration and classical guitar performance. I was one of 6 students accepted in my class.

 

Since graduating I've written music for primetime television shows as well as films and documentaries as a ghost writer. I've also written music for several smaller video games available on Wiiware, Wii, and Playstation Network. I made some minor contributions to music for Fallout: New Vegas and Dead Money. For those games I composed all the intro and outro musical transitions that lead into and out of battle music. I also composed the Pimp-Boy theme song, Ede's theme, the Wild Wasteland stinger, the 'Gassed' stinger at the beginning of Dead Money, and wrote the music and set the text for the song Begin Again, also in Dead Money.

 

Most of the music I write now is as a hired gun. In other words, I usually have aggressive deadlines and very specific instructions, so there's not a whole lot of time to think too deeply, or tap into my "inner artist". PE's trailer music was the first time I've been able to do that in a while...

 

As a sound designer, I've worked on about seven game projects including The Sabotuer, Fallout: New Vegas, Dead Money, Dungeon Siege 3, Treasures of the Sun, Project North Carolina, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and a bunch of smaller things. Oh, and I like watching sunsets and taking long walks on the beach...

[Justin Bell]

[awesome questions]

 

Q. Will there be (a) signature tune(s) for the game (e.g. Maybe, A Kiss To Build A Dream On for FO1 and 2, Baba Yetu for Civ4, Suteki Da Ne for FFX)? To have a particular strong piece deeply associated with and conjuring up images of the game is I think one of the most powerful things music can do.

 

A. That's a great idea, but I would need to think about that a bit more. It would have to be done right, and wouldn't be worth doing at all if it didn't fit or wasn't great.

 

Q. Will there be usage of leitmotifs for characters and/or locations? PS:T did that very well, not to mention the obvious power it had in Star Wars.

 

A. Yes indeed! That's how you build memorability into music, and that's very important for us here.

[C2B]

Thanks Justin

[metiman]

That Vtm: Bloodlines track is intensely beautiful and interesting enough to listen to on its own. Anyone know who did that?

[C2B]

That Vtm: Bloodlines track is intensely beautiful and interesting enough to listen to on its own. Anyone know who did that?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rik_Schaffer

[Darkpriest]

@Justin

 

Thx for the link BTW. How would you rate the scale of this thread in 1 to 10? Do you find some music themes new to you and helpful/inspiring or are you familiar with everything due to your education?

[Justin Bell]

Thanks Justin

 

My pleasure.

 

How would you rate the scale of this thread in 1 to 10? Do you find some music themes new to you and helpful/inspiring or are you familiar with everything due to your education?

 

I think this is a great thread! It just goes to show how passionate everyone who has posted is about the music for games. Its great to hear what everyone's tastes are, such a diverse range of music represented here, and there have definitely been some pieces of music that have inspired me.

 

As far as my education, we definitely didn't study video game music at UCLA or LAVCC. Those were focused strictly on traditional european art/concert music (i.e. classical music). I spent much more time studying Bach, Wagner, and Stravinsky (and everything in between) than I did anything related to popular media. Though I've always been a gamer, and so I just put two and two together on my own.

[Karranthain]

Justin, I really liked your "Dawn" piece. In fact I wouldn't mind it being one of the PE's prominent themes.

 

Even if it probably doesn't suit fantasy much.

 

I think you'll enjoy

Especially the later parts. Edited September 30, 2012 by Karranthain