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CocoeBiz
06-06-2007, 10:50 AM
Daniel,

I'm sorry Daniel but your post was not backed up when we updated our server and it was lost. I copied as much as I could before we made the changes. I hope it is all here. My apologies to you, Daniel.

Thank you,
CocoeBiz


DeCastro thesis on video game music complete
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Hello all,
I've been on hiatus from these forums, and for good reason. My thesis is finally complete weighing in at 76 pages and a 5 hour long multimedia presentation, both of which are even non-exhaustive. My grades from NYU are in and I am now a Master of Arts in Music Composition. The thesis got an A, and I've yet to consult with any faculty about it. Firstly, I'd like to extend my thanks to those on this forum, and I suppose I can gather why Kahori was not in such a rush to aid me in getting an interview with the composers; it was not needed.
This thesis hopefully means that NYU is now well informed of game music, and hopefully, we will start to see them talking about composers like Sakimoto, Sugiyama, Kanno and others as they do Prokofiev, Penderecki, the Beatles, and others. With Yale University's performance of game music this past March on the 31st, it is high time. If anyone is interested in receiving a copy of my master's thesis absolutely free, please let me know your address via private message and I will gladly make copies of the DVDs and accompanied material. I really do hope it made quite an impact, and if it did not, and this "A" was simply to shut me up, something is seriously wrong, but I doubt it, there is simply too much cooperation from the elite musical community for that to be the case.
Some of you may think, "But game music's status as a giant in music history and quality is old news to me". Yes, as it has been for me since 1986 with the works of Kanno, Sugiyama, Hip Tanaka, and many others. But keep in mind, the stigma that Video Games have had attributed to them by the media makes things far more difficult, especially since those who run academia are of an antiquated/formal mindset with hints of conservative values due to the fact that the parents of many children who go to such an expensive university hold similar values such that they may find it preposterous to subject their children to such blasphemy as video games. I'm trying to put and end to this attitude, and I think rightly so.
In the guide to computer game studies by MIT press, I didn't even see a game audio section in there. It was so focused on the history of games, the psychological effects from the actual gameplay, and no reference to the music at all. I will contact Douglass Rushkoff to see how my thesis can integrate itself into later editions of that book. Otherwise, I'd like to thank you all for your criticisms, your opinions, and your attention. They have all contributed to making my thesis great.
Daniel DeCastro
__________________
M.A. in Music Composition (NYU)
B.A. in Music Composition (NYU, Magna Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Fine Arts (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Technology (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)

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#2 Today, 08:39 AM
gamemusicfreak
Forum Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Roswell,GA U.S.
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Congratulations! Will your work be available to read? I'd love to read it!

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#3 Today, 09:12 AM
Daniel DeCastro
Member Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens N.Y.
Posts: 82

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Thing is, you need to read it with the multimedia files, and they are huge; 2 DVD's. Otherwise, it won't work out too well as the bulk of my paper relies heavily on the work samples.
__________________
M.A. in Music Composition (NYU)
B.A. in Music Composition (NYU, Magna Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Fine Arts (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Technology (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)

Daniel DeCastro
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#4 Today, 10:02 AM
Daniel DeCastro
Member Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens N.Y.
Posts: 82
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CocoeBiz
06-06-2007, 10:51 AM
Part 2.

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http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...p=1&indicate=1
This is the thesis.
__________________
M.A. in Music Composition (NYU)
B.A. in Music Composition (NYU, Magna Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Fine Arts (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Technology (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)

Daniel DeCastro
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#5 Today, 05:12 PM
Daniel DeCastro
Member Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Queens N.Y.
Posts: 82


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Here are the works which were presented to NYU:
From the East!
Ragnarok 2 intro theme.mp3 Yoko Kanno Ragnarok 2
16 Anu Orta Veniya~~.mp3 Hayato Matsuo Panzer Dragoon ORTA Original Sound Track
205 Short Circuit~spectral~.mp3 Go Shiina Tales of Legendia Original Soundtrack (DISC 2)
114 Enemy Attack~.mp3 Go Shiina Tales of Legendia Original Soundtrack (DISC 2)
103 Opening Movie (Theme of FINAL FANTASY XII)~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack (DISC 1)
324 The Mosphoran Highwaste~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
04 Debris~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Radiant Silvergun
125 Giza Plains~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
319 The Phon Coast~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
105 Boss Battle~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
113 The Dalmasca Eastersand~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Final Fantasy XII Original Soundtrack
18 - A Meeting~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Vagrant Story
08 - Catacombs~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Vagrant Story
06 - Awakening~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Vagrant Story
19 - Ifrit~~.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Vagrant Story
29 - Staff Roll~+.mp3 Hitoshi Sakimoto Vagrant Story
01 Chapter 1 ''Iselhaus ~ The Legend of Heroes'' (Opening)~ J.D.K. ELECTRIC ORCHESTRA, Tamiya Terashima Symphonic Poem Dragon Slayer ~The Legend of Heroes~
103_unwavering_resolve~.mp3 Junichi Nakatsuru Soul Calibur II Original Soundtrack (Disc 1)
302 Endless World (II)~.mp3 Koichi Sugiyama London Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Suite "Dragon Quest" Complete CD-BOX (Disc 3) and 8-bit version
611 Brave Fight (VI)~.mp3 Koichi Sugiyama London Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Suite "Dragon Quest" Complete CD-BOX
709 Triumphal Return~Epilogue (VII)~.mp3 Koichi Sugiyama London Philharmonic Orchestra Symphonic Suite "Dragon Quest" Complete CD-BOX
111 Prestissimo~.mp3 Mamoru Samuragouchi Biohazard Symphony Op. 91 - Crime and Punishment (Disc 1)
122 Impetuoso sempre accelerando~.mp3 Mamoru Samuragouchi Biohazard Symphony Op. 91 - Crime and Punishment (Disc 1)
418 Decisive Battle~.mp3 Masashi Hamauzu Final Fantasy X OST
202 Marching Tune~~.mp3 Masashi Hamauzu DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII- Original Soundtrack (DISC-2)
119 Sneaky Cait Sith~.mp3 Masashi Hamauzu DIRGE of CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII- Original Soundtrack
204 Reflected Moon~.mp3 Motoi Sakuraba Star Ocean Till the End of Time Original Soundtrack Vol.1 (Disc 2)
117 March for Glory~.mp3 Motoi Sakuraba Star Ocean Till the End of Time Original Soundtrack Vol.1
207 Mission to the Empty Space~~.mp3 Motoi Sakuraba Star Ocean Till the End of Time Original Soundtrack Vol.1
208 Soul and Sword (Siegfried's Stage)~.mp3 Namco Sound Team(Junichi Nakatsuru) Soul Blade COMPLETE Original Game Audio (DISC 2: ARRANGE TRACKS)
04 Divinity II.mp3 Nobuo Uematsu FINAL FANTASY VII ADVENT CHILDREN Original Soundtrack Disk2
20 Western War Front - Battlefield ~ Western Army~.mp3 Reijiro Koroku Kessen Original Soundtrack
27 War Merits -Battlefield ~ Superior Power~.mp3 Reijiro Koroku Kessen Original Soundtrack
14 The Western Army~.mp3 Reijiro Koroku Kessen Original Soundtrack
104_guided_by_wind~.mp3 Rio Hamamoto Soul Calibur II Original Soundtrack (Disc 1)
24 Offense and Defense~.mp3 Soshiro Hokkai Castlevania Circle of the Moon & Castlevania Concerto of Midnight Sun Original Soundtrack
12 Fifth Chapter Sky, One~~.mp3 Takayuki Aihara Drag-on Dragoon Original Sound Track Vol.1
02 Weapon Select~.mp3 Takayuki Aihara Drag-on Dragoon Original Sound Track Vol.1
316 Vergil Battle 3~.mp3 Tetsuya Shibata Devil May Cry 3 Original Soundtrack (DISC 3)
08 Catalina~~.mp3 Yoko Kanno Uncharted Waters II Special Edition
14 The Chase~+pat metheny influence~.mp3 Yoko Kanno Uncharted Waters II Special Edition
97_05 ÝÑÒ°¤è¤¦×Ó - Clutch~jazz~+.mp3 Yoko Kanno Cowboy Bebop PS2
02 Mid-Air Battle~~.mp3 Yoshie Arakawa, Yoshinori Kawamoto Star Fox Assault Orchestra Sound Track
202_quest_for_glory~orchestral midi~~.mp3 Junichi Nakatsuru Soul Calibur II Original Soundtrack
113_confrontation~orchestral midi~~.mp3 Junichi Nakatsuru Soul Calibur II Original Soundtrack
103_unwavering_resolve~orchestral midi~~.mp3 Junichi Nakatsuru Soul Calibur II Original Soundtrack (Disc 1)
03 Wind that Spans the Earth~~.mp3 Kouhei Tanaka Alundra Original Soundtrack
03 Wide Current ~ Uprising ~ Blue Sky~orchestral~~.mp3 Hungary Phillharmony Orchestra, jun Nagao composer Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV
Capcom - 14 - Soul Asylum - Crimson Palace Stage 2~Rockman X7 Original Soundtrack
From the west!
Ninth Heaven~mexican music~.mp3 Grim Fandango
Tomb Raider 1 - 01 - Title~+great piece~+.mp3
13 After the Storm~.mp3 Bill Brown, Seattle Symphony Orchestra Lineage II The Chaotic Chronicle
Track01 - If You Still Believe -The Legend of Dragoon Main Theme~fade out earlier ~.mp3 Dennis Martin The Legend of Dragoon OST
215 Debriefing~+.mp3 Harry Gregson-Williams METAL GEAR SOLID 3 SNAKE EATER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Disc Two)
102 ''METAL GEAR SOLID'' Main Theme (METAL GEAR SOLID 3 Version)~.mp3 Harry Gregson-Williams METAL GEAR SOLID 3 SNAKE EATER ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Disc Two)
04 CORRIDOR OF DEATH~+.mp3 Howard Drossin Dynamite Deka vs Wing War Original Soundtrack
05 DOE BOY'S DUNGEON~+.mp3 Howard Drossin Dynamite Deka vs Wing War Original Soundtrack
11 FLOOR #13~+.mp3 Howard Drossin Dynamite Deka vs Wing War Original Soundtrack
04 Helron's Castle~+.mp3 Howard Shore Soul of the Ultimate Nation Original Soundtrack
06 The Valley of Dragons~+.mp3 Howard Shore Soul of the Ultimate Nation Original Soundtrack
09 The Epitaph~+.mp3 Howard Shore Soul of the Ultimate Nation Original Soundtrack
12 Immortal Emperor~+.mp3 Howard Shore Soul of the Ultimate Nation Original Soundtrack
13 March to Victory~+.mp3 Howard Shore Soul of the Ultimate Nation Original Soundtrack
jade empire - 30 - torment; the way of the closed fist~.mp3 Jack Wall Jade Empire (Xbox)
03 - Harmonielehre~+.mp3 Jeffrey L. Briggs, Mark Cromer, Michael Curran, Christopher Tin, John Adams Civilization IV
02 - Chairman Dances~+good chords~+.mp3 Jeffrey L. Briggs, Mark Cromer, Michael Curran, Christopher Tin, John Adams Civilization IV
Track 05~~.mp3 Jeremy Soule Giants: Citizen Kabuto
03 Volcano~+.mp3 Jeremy Soule Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War Soundtrack
218 Sim City 4 - Oasis~electroacoustic instrumental world~+.mp3 Jerry Martin Sim City 4
01 Dreamfall Theme~+.mp3 Leon Willett Dreamfall - The Longest Journey Original Soundtrack
03 Casablanca~+.mp3 Leon Willett Dreamfall - The Longest Journey Original Soundtrack
06 Northlands Forest~+.mp3 Leon Willett Dreamfall - The Longest Journey Original Soundtrack
11 - After the glory~+.mp3 London Symphony Orchestra Symphony SEED DESTINY (Whoops this is a Japanese composer)
13 - Demolition Soviet Charge~+.mp3 Mark Ganus Call of Duty 2
20 - Downtown Sniper Soviet Tension~+.mp3 Mark Ganus Call of Duty 2
26 - Duhoc Assault Victory Relief~+.mp3 Mark Ganus Call of Duty 2
13 the last spartan~orchestral~+.mp3 Martin O'Donnell & Michael Salvatori HALO 2 original soundtrack volume one
17 earth city~orchestral~+.mp3 Martin O'Donnell & Michael Salvatori HALO 2 original soundtrack volume one
11 Tombs~electroacoustic orchestral live & midi~+.mp3 Matt Uelmen Diablo II Soundtrack
02 Rogue~electroacoustic orchestral midi & live~+.mp3 Matt Uelmen Diablo II Soundtrack
14 Sturmgeist's Armored Train~~.mp3 Michael Giacchino Medal of Honor Frontline Original Soundtrack Recording
12 The Battle of Monte Cassino~~.mp3 Michael Giacchino Medal of Honor Frontline Original Soundtrack Recording
13 The Motorcycle Chase~~.mp3 Michael Giacchino Medal of Honor Frontline Original Soundtrack Recording
209 Greywolf~.mp3 Richard Jacques, London Session Orchestra HEADHUNTER: REDEMPTION / HEADHUNTER Original Soundtrack Recording (DISC TWO: HEADHUNTER)
205 Jack's Theme~.mp3 Richard Jacques, London Session Orchestra HEADHUNTER: REDEMPTION / HEADHUNTER Original Soundtrack Recording (DISC TWO: HEADHUNTER)
25~Stronghold.mp3 Rob King, John Romero, Steve Baca Heroes of Might and Magic 3
25~Castletown.mp3 Rob King, John Romero, Steve Baca Heroes of Might and Magic 3
10 Crypt~electroacoustic orchestral live & midi world Matt Uelmen Diablo II Soundtrack
14 Mesa~electroacoustic orchestral Matt Uelmen Diablo II Soundtrack
__________________
M.A. in Music Composition (NYU)
B.A. in Music Composition (NYU, Magna Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Fine Arts (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)
A.S. in Music Technology (Queensborough Community College, Cum Laude)

Daniel DeCastro
06-07-2007, 11:42 AM
Kahori,

Thanks much!

It has been noted. I will repost as I've a request from someone to read the thesis.

Regards,

Daniel

Daniel DeCastro
06-17-2007, 10:34 PM
My website is finally up everyone!

www.decastromusic.com

Jun
06-17-2007, 11:37 PM
My website is finally up everyone!

www.decastromusic.com

Nice music section, sounds pretty professional. "Fantasy March" was my favorite. It was also pretty cool to hear Uematsu's work in FF6 music made with better sounds. But I think the plain blue background could use a fix, it kind of makes it have an amateur look to it. Hopefully we'll all be able to hear some of you work in video games or movies someday.

Good luck.

Daniel DeCastro
06-17-2007, 11:47 PM
Hey hey now, blue is my favorite color! Hehe, thanks for your comments, and thank you very much for checking it out ^_^

Daniel

cubed
06-18-2007, 06:33 PM
The complete layout should be redone, I say :P

Great stuff, you're talented. Hope to hear from you in video games someday :)

Daniel DeCastro
06-18-2007, 09:50 PM
Thanks! The page is in it's initial stages. I will make improvements as time passes; I am aware of the issues.

Daniel DeCastro
07-28-2007, 05:15 PM
Update:

www.vgmusic.com has posted my thesis on their web page here http://www.vgmusic.com/information/vgpaper3.html. A big thanks to Michael Newman!

Also, I was recently hired by Gamestop as a manager for one of their stores. This means I get a ride to their conventions to meet with game developers. Hopefully things pick up at this point career-wise. Anyhow, I hope all is well with the Cocoebiz community!