Play! A Video Game Symphony Thread

[Fatigue]

Following the mild success of the Play! thread in the Yasunori Mitsuda forum, I have created a thread here about all Play! concerts. :)

First up, who here attended the Detroit concert? If so, how was it? Can a tracklist be posted here?

[gamemusicfreak]

I just saw this after I made a thread about it in the Hitoshi Sakimoto topic... I have a couple of pics there from the Detroit show last night.
Here's the track list.
1. Play Opening Fanfare
2. Liberi Fatali
3. Super Mario Bros. Medley
4. Shenmue
5. Battlefield 1942
6. Sonic the Hedgehog Medley (no Aeris' Theme, Arnie Roth said it was due to time)
7. Shadow of the Colossus Opening Theme (I wished for battle music from this awesome game, but hearing the opening was still great.
8. Metal Gear Solid Theme
9. Kingdom Hearts Medley

Intermission

10. Elder Scrolls III
11. Stella Deus (this was awesome, I was sorry I had put off buying any Stella Deus CDs).
12. Swing de Chocobo
13. World of Warcraft (No Chrono this Time)
14. Theme of Laura: Silent Hill 2
15. Halo Medley
16. Zelda Medley
17. One Winged Angel
No Encore!
This concert lasted 2 hours, there just weren't any guest performances like at the premiere. It was still awesome, it's always worth it if you ask me.

[Fatigue]

Was 'Stella Deus' a suite or was it just one piece of music?

[gamemusicfreak]

No, it wasn't a suite, as far as I can tell, since the main melody was repeated a few times, and it didn't really shift too much. It wasn't long enough to be a suite. I could be wrong. This is one series I am disappointed I am not more familiar with. That will change now.

[cubed]

All concerts are way too far from where I live. And it's not like if I can take a week off like that :( I'm sad.

[Fatigue]

No, it wasn't a suite, as far as I can tell, since the main melody was repeated a few times, and it didn't really shift too much. It wasn't long enough to be a suite. I could be wrong. This is one series I am disappointed I am not more familiar with. That will change now.

It was probably the "Alchemist Theme" then. :)

[gamemusicfreak]

You're right! I was able to confirm that after hearing it again.

EDIT: Well, I decided that since I have the chance I will be attending the next three Play! concerts. I will be sure to report after each one.

[Carl]

Thanks for the tracklist, and for providing the nice photo of Saki and Yoko in the other thread.

ahh, so Stella Deus was the chosen Sakimoto contribution...
Very nice to see they added Shadow of the Colossus, that's a real winner.

The next addition to play is supposed to be from Castlevania....

[gamemusicfreak]

Thanks for the tracklist, and for providing the nice photo of Saki and Yoko in the other thread.

ahh, so Stella Deus was the chosen Sakimoto contribution...
Very nice to see they added Shadow of the Colossus, that's a real winner.

The next addition to play is supposed to be from Castlevania....

I certainly hope Castlevania becomes a part of Play. But as of last night they still haven't played it yet. Maybe In Virginia or Toronto.
I just got back from the Philadelphia show. It was great!! There were no guests, but that's ok.

It was at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, which is an outside venue, with a limited roof.

There was a storm, and it really added to the atmosphere. The sound of the thunder with lightning and rain, along with the music was very cool.

Here is the set list:

1. Play Theme
2. Liberi Fatali
3. Mario Medley
4. Shenmue
6. Battlefield 1942
7. Sonic Medley
8. Aeris
9. Metal Gear Solid Theme
10. Kingdom Hearts

Intermission

11. Morowind Suite
12. Premiere of music from "Prey." This was wicked, it really felt like a horror/science fiction score.
13. Swing de Chocobo
14. World of Warcraft
15. Chrono Trigger / Chrono Cross
16. Theme of Laura (Silent Hill 2)
17. Halo
18. Zelda Medley
19. One Winged Angel

Encore
20. Blue Dragon

Arnie Roth Conducted again, there were two taped messages, one from Nobuo Uematsu and one from Koji Kondo, thanking the fans.

The Mann Festival Orchestra and Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia performed the music. Hard to believe they fit it all into two hours.

EDIT: Now I see they will Play Castlevania at Toronto! I can hardly wait for it!
http://play-symphony.com/

[gamemusicfreak]

I just got in from attending last night's Play! concert in Vienna, Virginia.
It was fantastic, even though it was the same set from the Philadelphia show. There was 110% more footage from games, and I'm told nearly 5,000 were in attendance.
Here's a couple pictures.

The Wolf Trap Theatre. where my camera almost got taken away after taking this picture:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gamemusicfreak/wokftrap.jpg

A Couple FFX Cosplayers:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gamemusicfreak/ffcos.jpg

[level99]

EDIT: Now I see they will Play Castlevania at Toronto! I can hardly wait for it!
http://play-symphony.com/
Oh my goodness!

When I was at the Meet and Greet at Chicago's Play!, a couple of important-looking people in suits standing off to the side asked my group of people which music they would most like added to the Play! roster. I said, "If you added Castlevania, people would flock to the show." ........I'm gonna pretend that my comment made a difference!!

[Daniel DeCastro]

I still say to myself, "Why Chicago?". These guys need to perform at Carnegie Hall, they deserve it. Please come to NY!

[gamemusicfreak]

I'm surprised they haven't been further out west as far as the U.S. shows are concerned. New York would be a prime location too I think. Arnie Roth hinted at more international dates after Toronto, but was not specific.

[gamemusicfreak]

Well, I actually made it up to Toronto this weekend for my fifth Play concert. It was quite good and rivaled the premiere show in Chicago in terms of quality. Arnie Roth conducted again and the show took place at the Hummingbird Center in Toronto.

Here is the guest list:

Nobuo Uematsu
Takenobu Mitsuyoshi
Jeremy Soule
Chris Tilton (from the game "Black").
Rony Barrak (percussionist)

Here is the set list (which may be slightly out of order)

1. Play theme
2. Liberi Fatali
3. Mario Medley
4. Shenmue
5. Aeris' Theme
6. Sonic Medley
7. A surprise performance of Sega's "Daytona USA" by Mr. Mitsuyoshi.
He played piano and sang English vocals. This was awesome and his performance stole the show. An unforgetable moment.

After that Mitsuyoshi threw a few stuffed Sonic plush dolls into the crowd.
8. Theme from "Black". I liked this a lot.

9. Metal Gear Solid Theme.
10. Castlevania Medley
This medley had two parts, the first part was basically the title track from the Dracula New Classic CD, the arrangement was exactly the same.
The second I believe was from Curse of Darkness, it was quite good, and featured a Keyboard for the organ and slamming drums. I felt it was a good mix old and new Castlevania.
11. Kingdom Hearts
Intermission
12. Elder Scrolls III Suite
13. Theme from Prey.
14. Swing de Chocobo
15. Chrono Trigger/Cross
16. World of Warcraft Suite
17. Silent Hill 2 Theme of Laura
So far, I feel no one has matched Akira Yamaoka's performance of this in Chicago. The various guitarists for the orchestras have been outstanding, but seeing Mr. Yamaoka do it is more electrifying.
18. Halo Suite
19. Zelda
20. One Winged Angel
21. Encore: Blue Dragon Theme

There was a pre show discussion on game music hosted by the guild of Canadian film composers. Basically the topic was the growing worldwide popularity of game music and how newer games were similar to movies.

It was pretty cool. In attendance were:
1. Paul Hoffert (guild of Canadian Film Composers Chairperson)
2. David Logan (Composer for pitfall 3D, X-Men Mutant Academy).
3. Simon Pressey (audio director for Ubisoft Montreal)

Mr. Hoffert also stated he is writing a book on how to compose music for games.

After the show was the meet and greet event with the composers.
Unfortunately this one seemed very rushed, unlike those I attended previously. I was unable to get a photo with Mr. Uematsu like I had hoped.
I was also unable to get any more of my Uematsu CDs signed, as the staff of the Hummingbird Center enforced a "one item only signed per composer rule".

This left me a little sad, but afterward I felt lucky for having gotten a combined total of over forty items signed at previous Play concerts.

I had drawn a litlle SD style picture of Mr. Uematsu which I was very happy to get autographed by him. Here it is:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gamemusicfreak/NobuoSD.jpg

I hope this was a helpful post!

Keith

[gamemusicfreak]

Big news announced! On Saturday, June 2nd, 2007, the Play! Concert tour will return to Stockholm Sweden for two concerts, one at 3:00pm and one at 7:30pm. Dancing Mad, from FF VI is going to be performed! At this time I plan on attending, I can't miss out on that!
http://play-symphony.com/

[gamemusicfreak]

I just returned from the Stockholm shows, and they were quite good, amazing! If you ask me, Uematsu's "Dancing Mad" stole the show. It was very well done, with the choir, a real pipe organ, the orchestra and the band Machine Supremacy providing rock for the really fast parts. It was certainly a dream come true to see this performed live. I never thought it would happen.

Music from many other different titles was performed this time.
This is not in order:
1. Commodore Amiga medley
(Alienbreed by Allister Brimble
- James Pond 2 by Richard Joseph
- Pinball Fantasies by Olof Gustafsson
- Lionheart by Matthias Steinwachs
- Lemmings by Brian Johnston and Tim Wright
- Turrican 2 by Chris Huelsbeck )
2. Commodore 64 medley
(Last Ninja, others I simply can't remember right now :( )
3. Elder scrolls IV
4. Super Shinobi
5. Castlevania
6. Mario medley
7. Zelda medley
8. Shadow of the Colossus opening theme
9. Play! Theme
10. The Darkness (composed by Gustaf Grefberg, who was also in attendance)
11. Silent Hill 2 (guitar performance by by Mr. Akira Yamaoka)
12. Dancing Mad (Final Piece)
13. Metal Gear Solid
14. Lost Odyssey
15. The first piece performed was from Anno 1701.
16. A classical piece which was stated as having a major influence on modern classical/game composers was played after the intermission.

The NES cover Band power play performed before the show. Here is one video I shot:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LPHtKE4iqT0
I managed to get a photo with Mr. Yamaoka:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/gamemusicfreak/Akiraresize.jpg
All in all, for me it was totally worth making the trip to Stockholm.

[TerraEpon]

16. A classical piece which was stated as having a major influence on classical/game composers was played after the intermission.
\

I'd LOVE to know what that was...

-Joshua

[gamemusicfreak]

Got it! Mars, from "The Planets", by Gustav Holst. 1918.
It wasn't in the regular program, so I'm guessing Mr. Arnie Roth may have selected it. That was where he stated what a big influence the piece had on many other composers.

[datschge]

That makes it a track with an even bigger influence on film music...

[gamemusicfreak]

It was my first time hearing it, and I really liked it. The conductor Arnie Roth said when he hears it he can imagine Storm Troopers running around.