What Are Your Favourite Classical Video Game Soundtracks?


Limelight is a magazine/website dedicated to classical music, and has just posted an interesting piece highlighting the increasing influence video game soundtracks are having on the classical music community. It’s a really nice piece, accompanied by a selection of some of the best classical soundtracks found in gaming.

There is undoubtedly an influence — so many orchestras now are dedicated to performing renditions of video game soundtracks — but what I found so refreshing about this article in particular is just how accepting the classical community is of video games and the music that accompanies them. It’s a misconception, but I always imagined that the community would be full of stuffed shirts lamenting the demise of proper classical music, but the folks interviewed for this feature were more than just receptive, they seem to be fully enthusiastic.

“I see no real difference between doing this and a recording of film music or ballet music,” said conductor Andrew Skeet. “I treat it as if it is Brahms or Stravinsky or any of the big icons of Western music. It is not always for us to make value judgements about what we play; we must play it with the same conviction as we would play the classics and give new music a chance.”

West Australian Symphony Orchestra principal conductor Paul Daniel agreed, reinforcing the fact that classical music absolutely belongs in video games and vice versa.

“Of course they belong inside the concert hall,” he said, “just as much as symphonies belong outside them: making walls into barriers is the death of any music. I really admire the barrier-busting in this new school of live performance: lighting, sound, real theatre… Wagner would have loved all that, I’m sure!”

You can check out Limelight’s favourite, but what are some of yours? Super Mario Galaxy 2’s main theme is one of mine. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks Melissa!

The best classical music in videogames [Limelight]


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