TLDR;
This video discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in composing music for video games, focusing on the concept of "indeterminate music." Unlike film, video game music is aleatory, meaning its performance varies with each player's actions. The video explores different types of indeterminate music, such as chance music and aleatory music, and how these concepts apply to video game soundtracks. It highlights techniques composers use to embrace indeterminacy, like horizontal resequencing and vertical re-orchestration, and emphasizes that the player becomes a performer in experiencing the game's unique musical composition.
- Video game music exists in the realm of indeterminate music due to the player's control over timing and actions.
- Indeterminate music includes chance music (indeterminacy of composition) and aleatory music (indeterminacy of performance).
- Video game composers use techniques like horizontal resequencing and vertical re-orchestration to adapt music to player actions.
- The player becomes a performer, making each playthrough a unique musical experience.
The Problem with Video Game Music [0:00]
The core issue in composing music for video games is the composer's lack of control over the player's actions, particularly the timing of pressing the start button. This absence of control means composers cannot precisely synchronize music to specific in-game events or create traditional build-ups and climaxes as seen in film. The player's unpredictable interaction with the game transforms the musical experience into something indeterminate.
Indeterminate Music: Chance and Aleatory [1:11]
Video game scores exist within the realm of indeterminate music, where chance plays a role. There are two types of indeterminate music: chance music and aleatory music. Chance music involves indeterminacy during the composition process, exemplified by John Cage's "Music of Changes," which used the I Ching to dictate musical choices. Aleatory music, on the other hand, involves indeterminacy during performance, where the composer provides a score but leaves aspects of the performance to the performers. An example of this is the musical dice game "Musikalisches Würfelspiel," where dice rolls determine the sequence of musical segments.
Examples of Aleatory Music [3:32]
Terry Riley's "In C" serves as a classic example of aleatory music, featuring 53 segments that performers can repeat or skip, resulting in unique performances depending on the number of players and their choices. Jazz and metal also incorporate aleatory elements through improvisation, where soloists create music on the spot based on chordal guides. Some composers even use graphical techniques to guide aleatory performances, moving beyond traditional musical notation.
The Player as Performer [4:58]
Pressing the start button in a video game is an aleatory action, as the composer cannot control when the player will do it. This means that in every video game, the player becomes both the audience and the performer, as no two playthroughs are exactly the same. The player's actions alter the temporal aspects of the composition, making each experience of the game's score unique.
Techniques for Indeterminate Soundtracks [5:40]
The best video game composers understand the indeterminate nature of video game soundtracks and structure their music accordingly. Techniques like horizontal resequencing (swapping music based on player actions) and vertical re-orchestration (adding or dropping instruments) are used to adapt the music to the player's experience. Altering the tempo can also significantly affect the score and the overall game experience.
The Unique Advantage of Video Game Music [6:26]
Video games have a unique advantage over other forms of synchronized music because they allow players to explore a fleshed-out world of music. It's not enough to have just one looping track; composers must prepare their scores for indeterminacy. Experiencing a game soundtrack within the game's context is different from listening to it on an album, as composers often arrange music unnaturally for album presentation or leave out entire pieces. The only way to fully experience a game soundtrack is by playing the game and performing its composition. As technology develops, video game composers may achieve greater recognition for their contributions to indeterminate music.