The Fascinating Story Behind the Video Game Music to Classical Music Pipeline
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Video games have come a long way since their inception in the 1960s. The games today are unrecognizable in comparison, with ultra-realistic graphics, detailed narratives and online multiplayer options.
However, one thing has remained constant throughout the majority of the format’s existence: music. From Pac-Man to Minecraft to Super Mario, music is and has been an undeniably vital part of the overall gaming experience. In recent years, we’ve seen an overlap between video game music and classical music. Let’s examine this phenomenon in more detail.
Why is Video Game Music Important?
When we think of video games, we generally think about things like graphics and gameplay. While these are crucial elements, they often overshadow the music of these games, despite the fact that music is arguably just as important.
At their core, games play into our emotions. Whether you like RPGs, immersive MMORPG open worlds, or prefer to play the latest games at SpinAway, you will be well aware of just how much games can affect us. Horror games will leave us terrified, while adventure games will leave us feeling thrilled and gasping for more. Simple mechanics can keep us entertained for years’ worth of gaming exploits, and complex mechanics can have us dreaming in graphics.
Video game developers use a range of techniques to convey the emotional content present in their games. Things like level and character design, color and narrative all play a part. However, few of these can have an impact as immediate and as significant as music.
Music has a profound effect on our psychological and physiological state. It speaks to something deep in our psyche and our genetic makeup and can do everything from eliciting emotions to actually reducing physical sensations of pain and discomfort.
In video games, music can guide our emotions, telling us what to feel and when. It acts as a support for the plot, driving home the emotional impact and making the entire experience more enjoyable and memorable.
What Does This Have to Do with Classical Music?
Video game music is a broad genre, but above all, it prioritizes emotion and atmosphere. Few other genres can affect us so deeply, except of course for classical music.
Classical music is regarded as sophisticated and refined, with composers from centuries ago still considered among the greatest minds of all time. Classical music’s range is incredible, it can be playful, poignant, foreboding or joyful. Often, it can be all at once.
However, at the end of the day, classical music is all about making the audience feel a certain way. This is where it overlaps with video game music, it’s a genre purely driven by emotion, rather than being made for people to dance to, for example.
Classical Elements in Video Game Music
Early video game scores were as far removed from classical music as you can imagine. While no one denies the genius and success of something like the Super Mario theme tune, it is incomparable in terms of depth and complexity when measured against something written by Beethoven or Mozart.
The simplicity of these early video game scores was purely a result of technological limitations at the time. As technology improved, so did video game music, it could be more complex and began to play a more influential role in the gaming experience.
Now, video game scores can and do contain full orchestral sections. These can make games feel grander and more epic, and for this reason, orchestral sections are now used heavily in adventure and fantasy games.
This has had an unexpected knock-on effect. It has introduced a generation of young listeners to the classical genre. While they won’t necessarily be listening to Verde or Handel, they will be listening to music that has been heavily inspired by these great composers, piquing their interest and encouraging them to explore the genre further.
This is perhaps a reason why we’re seeing more young people listening to classical music and could spell the beginning of a revolution for a genre long criticized as fussy, old-fashioned and uncool.
Orchestral Versions of Video Game Scores
Another phenomenon that has further established the link between classical music and video game music is the practice of orchestras doing video game music concerts.
It’s difficult to pinpoint when exactly these events began, but they have increased in popularity over the years, and the most successful tour the world and attract huge audiences.
Music from games like Final Fantasy and Sonic the Hedgehog have been repurposed by live orchestras, among countless others. The most recent is the music from the hit farming similar Stardew Valley, which will see a chamber orchestra perform music from the game at a number of venues across the world.
Conclusion
In years gone by, few could have predicted that video game music and classical music would be so closely linked. Now, we see famous orchestras perform video game music hits in theaters the world over, and the scores of today’s video games are inspiring a new generation of classical music fans.
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Video games have come a long way since their inception in the 1960s. The games today are unrecognizable in comparison, with ultra-realistic graphics, detailed narratives and online multiplayer options.
However, one thing has remained constant throughout the majority of the format’s existence: music. From Pac-Man to Minecraft to Super Mario, music is and has been an undeniably vital part of the overall gaming experience. In recent years, we’ve seen an overlap between video game music and classical music. Let’s examine this phenomenon in more detail.
Why is Video Game Music Important?
When we think of video games, we generally think about things like graphics and gameplay. While these are crucial elements, they often overshadow the music of these games, despite the fact that music is arguably just as important.
At their core, games play into our emotions. Whether you like RPGs, immersive MMORPG open worlds, or prefer to play the latest games at SpinAway, you will be well aware of just how much games can affect us. Horror games will leave us terrified, while adventure games will leave us feeling thrilled and gasping for more. Simple mechanics can keep us entertained for years’ worth of gaming exploits, and complex mechanics can have us dreaming in graphics.
Video game developers use a range of techniques to convey the emotional content present in their games. Things like level and character design, color and narrative all play a part. However, few of these can have an impact as immediate and as significant as music.
Music has a profound effect on our psychological and physiological state. It speaks to something deep in our psyche and our genetic makeup and can do everything from eliciting emotions to actually reducing physical sensations of pain and discomfort.
In video games, music can guide our emotions, telling us what to feel and when. It acts as a support for the plot, driving home the emotional impact and making the entire experience more enjoyable and memorable.
What Does This Have to Do with Classical Music?
Video game music is a broad genre, but above all, it prioritizes emotion and atmosphere. Few other genres can affect us so deeply, except of course for classical music.
Classical music is regarded as sophisticated and refined, with composers from centuries ago still considered among the greatest minds of all time. Classical music’s range is incredible, it can be playful, poignant, foreboding or joyful. Often, it can be all at once.
However, at the end of the day, classical music is all about making the audience feel a certain way. This is where it overlaps with video game music, it’s a genre purely driven by emotion, rather than being made for people to dance to, for example.
Classical Elements in Video Game Music
Early video game scores were as far removed from classical music as you can imagine. While no one denies the genius and success of something like the Super Mario theme tune, it is incomparable in terms of depth and complexity when measured against something written by Beethoven or Mozart.
The simplicity of these early video game scores was purely a result of technological limitations at the time. As technology improved, so did video game music, it could be more complex and began to play a more influential role in the gaming experience.
Now, video game scores can and do contain full orchestral sections. These can make games feel grander and more epic, and for this reason, orchestral sections are now used heavily in adventure and fantasy games.
This has had an unexpected knock-on effect. It has introduced a generation of young listeners to the classical genre. While they won’t necessarily be listening to Verde or Handel, they will be listening to music that has been heavily inspired by these great composers, piquing their interest and encouraging them to explore the genre further.
This is perhaps a reason why we’re seeing more young people listening to classical music and could spell the beginning of a revolution for a genre long criticized as fussy, old-fashioned and uncool.
Orchestral Versions of Video Game Scores
Another phenomenon that has further established the link between classical music and video game music is the practice of orchestras doing video game music concerts.
It’s difficult to pinpoint when exactly these events began, but they have increased in popularity over the years, and the most successful tour the world and attract huge audiences.
Music from games like Final Fantasy and Sonic the Hedgehog have been repurposed by live orchestras, among countless others. The most recent is the music from the hit farming similar Stardew Valley, which will see a chamber orchestra perform music from the game at a number of venues across the world.
Conclusion
In years gone by, few could have predicted that video game music and classical music would be so closely linked. Now, we see famous orchestras perform video game music hits in theaters the world over, and the scores of today’s video games are inspiring a new generation of classical music fans.