Our Wolrd-Wide HALO Orchestra - Deadline Extended to March 29th, 2016

In order to set the Guinness World Record for a crowd created video game performance, and to let more musicians participate in our mad adventure, we've extended the submission deadline for our crowd created HALO THEME until March 29th, 2016.  

Of course, if you can get your video in by the original deadline of March 15th, that would be great too!

As of now we have received videos from Garland Utah, Barcelona, Malaysia, Mexico, Kuala Lumpur, Sardinia, Canada, and more - with pledges from just about every cornier of the globe.  This is truly an exciting time to be a musician - collaborating with such a far reaching orchestra.

Just for fun, two of our "Works in Progress"

First, iDIG repeat offenders Mark Scholl (Drums) and Joe Pignato (Guitar)

And our friend Andrew Overfield from the UK sent us this video.  I'll be posting others as we get closer.  Check it out!

For any of you coming late to the party, here is the instruction blog on how to participate.

http://craigstuartgarfinkle.blogspot.com/2016/02/help-us-crowd-create-theme-from-halo.html

Here is one of our favorite participants!

http://craigstuartgarfinkle.blogspot.com/2016/02/a-special-video-for-our-crowd-created.html

Finally, if you will be in Dublin during our Dublin International Game Music Festival (April 29 - May 1st, 2016) get tickets (and more information) here:

http://www.idigmusicfest.com.

Help us spread the word around!

The Dublin International Game Music Festival - April 3rd Schedule

Schedule of Events:

At the Convention Center Dublin

8:00 AM

Convention center opens to iDIG Staff for pre show setup.

10:00 AM Press Interviews with Guests and attendees.

10:45 AM General admission doors open for first event.

11:00 AM -12:00 PM Small Auditorium

Neal Acree (Multi-award winning composer of World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor, Starcraft II, and Mists of Pandaria and many more) will present some of his favorite game cinematics as well as discuss his composing philosophy, career and more.

World of Warcraft Cataclysm Trailer

11:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space

Push Playground will be holding hourly hands on demonstrations with the tools of the trade, giving attendees the chance to create their own fledgling game scores (no experience necessary).  

11:00 AM (and all day) Expo Space

Check out our Artist Gallery:

12:00 - 1:00 PM Small Auditorium

Classroom Battles go head to head with the iconic blue hedgehog. It's a race to the finish as classic music from the Sonic series is re-imagined remixed and relooped (de-loop) and performed live in a one off Sonic extravaganza. Don't get left in the dust and miss out on what is sure to be Sonic's funkiest interpretation to date.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Small Auditorium

Composer discussion with Blizzard Legend, Russell Brower

Hear Russell conduct his (with Jason Hayes) iconic

"Invincible" from "World of Warcraft."

Performed by Jillian Aversa

As head of audio and music for Blizzard (World of Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more), Russell is responsible for shaping and guiding all the composers that work on their projects.  He's also composed some of the games most iconic themes.  Enjoy this rare chance to meet him, hear his composing philosophy and lear his history.

2:00 - 3:00 PM Small Auditorium

Jillian and Andrew Aversa

Hear Jillian sing Russell's (with Jason Hayes) iconic 

"Invincible" from "World of Warcraft."

Jillian Aversa is an award-winning vocalist, songwriter, and performer whose shimmering voice has appeared in a medley of projects. Her ethereal vocals can be heard in game franchises HALO, GOD OF WAR, CIVILIZATION, and SOULCALIBUR V - and touring as a soloist with VIDEO GAMES LIVE, she is an international sensation in her own right.

3:00 - 4:00 PM Small Auditorium

The Triforce Quartet, second performance.  Straight from sold out performances at PAX and the MAG Fest, they put their unique stamp on game music!  As it seems demand might be highest for this group, and they have the material, they will perform twice.

Hear the Triforce Quartet play the Legend of Zelda Theme

4:00 - 5:00 PM Small Auditorium

Composer round table discussion and "Demo Derby" playoff.  Hosted by Craig Stuart Garfinkle, to be attended by all our VIP's, subject to the concurrent VGL rehearsal schedule.

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 

The DIT Irish Traditional Music Ensemble.

DIT Irish Traditional Music Ensemble

I know we've often thought certain themes sound like a jig, or have definite Irish influence.   This ensemble removes the veil and takes these themes to their roots!

This world renown Traditional Irish ensemble has created custom versions of some of the great video game themes, all with an Irish twist.  What a fitting way to close the expo portion of the Dublin International Game Music Festival.

Get Your Tickets Now!  Only 100 Full Festival Tickets Available!

More info at:  https://www.facebook.com/idigmusicfest

http://www.idigmusicfest.com

The Dublin International Game Music Festival - April 2nd Schedule

Schedule of Events:

At the Convention Center Dublin

(Friday April 3rd will be released shortly.  The schedule for will be similar to this,
but with different speakers and talent)

8:00 AM

Convention center opens to iDIG Staff for pre show setup.

10:00 AM Press Interviews with Guests and attendees.

10:45 AM General admission doors open for first event.

11:00 -12:20 PM Small Auditorium

Craig Stuart Garfinkle (composer, World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor, Baldur's Gate, Dark Alliance II) will demonstrate the tools that game composers use to create video game music, using the actual sessions from some of his most famous scores.

11:00 AM (and all day), Expo Space

Push Playground will be holding hourly hands on demonstrations with the tools of the trade, giving attendees the chance to create their own fledgling game scores (no experience necessary).  

11:00 AM (and all day) Expo Space

Check out our Artist Gallery:

12:30 - 1:00 PM Small Auditorium

JJ McNamara, classical piano genius and avid game fan performs his version of his favorite game themes.  Has to be seen to be believed!

Here's JJ two years ago:

14 year old Irish pianist JJ McNamara plays Wilde Jagd by Franz Liszt

And there he is today.  We just learned that this week, JJ won top honors at the Arklow Music Festival.  This would be impressive enough, but he actually was playing with a broken leg - having taken a bad tackle in a football match on Sunday.  It was Thursday before he finally got the X-ray.

1:00 PM - 2:20 PM Small Auditorium

Conducting Seminar with Composer and Conductor Eimear Noone

You may have seen Eimear conduct for Video Games Live, or The Zelda Symphony, or in the Videos on the 3 DS.  You may also know her for all the great scores she has conducted for Blizzard, Sony and Nintendo such as Skyward Sword, Diablo III, and Starcraft II.

Ever wonder what a conductor really does and how conducting works?

Here's your chance to learn directly from Eimear as she discussed the techniques and tools she employs to conduct these great scores.  Bring your baton - but no experience is necessary.

2:30 PM -3:50 PM Small Auditorium

The Spooney Bards, Straight from Belfast, they bring their rock twist to your favorite game scores.  

4:00 - 5:00 PM Small Auditorium

Grammy winning game composer Christopher Tin (Civilization, Baba Yetu, and more) presents his favorite scores and talks about his career, his musical philosophies and will answer your questions in a moderated discussion.

Hear the iconic Baba Yetu

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM 

The Triforce Quartet.  Straight from sold out performances at PAX and the MAG Fest, they put their unique stamp on game music!

Hear the Triforce Quartet play the Legend of Zelda Theme

8:00 PM - 12:00 PM "Cosball" at the Everleigh Gardens 

Featuring custom dance remixes of your favorite video game themes, here's your opportunity to show off your best cosplay!  

Cosplay is not required, but is encouraged!

Get Your Tickets Now!  Only 100 Full Festival Tickets Available!

More info at:  https://www.facebook.com/idigmusicfest

http://www.idigmusicfest.com

Join our Crowd Created Music Video of "Malach" from "Warlords of Draenor"

Help Us Make Music History 

with Google and YouTube!

Musicians, here's your chance to perform with us at the iDIG Music Fest in Dublin, April 4th, 2015, from anywhere in the world!

The iDIG Music Fest YouTube Orchestra is in full swing! We already have 70+ musicians and ensembles from 3 continents working with us to "Crowd Create" a music video of Eimear Noone's "Malach," from "World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor."

Click to Preview "Malach"

If you are a musician and you want to contribute your performance to our video, email me at zeldaconductor@gmail.com, let me know the instrument you play, and I will send you your part as well as a guide track, and instructions on how to video record yourself performing the part.

Likewise, if you know anyone (especially in Australia, Africa or either Arctic - then we'd have all continents) who might join in, send them our way!

After we have collected all the videos, we will edit them together into one massive montage.

We will debut the montage at the Video Games Live show on April 4th, at the Dublin International Game Music Festival, synchronized with our live orchestra conducted by Eimear Noone!

Check out this awesome example from master percussionist Mark Scholl!

Mark is formerly of the Winnipeg Symphony and music director for Barry Manilow, to name just a few of his 100's of performance and recording credits.  

What you see here is Mark playing in sync to the guide track we supplied. His video is from an iPad, but as he is set to record percussion remotely, his audio is from the microphone (not a requirement to participate).

We've edited out the video where Mark is simply counting bars rest, but know, if you are contributing a video, we need these bars rest to make sure you are in sync. 

Here's where we make history!

For the past few weeks, we have been brainstorming with Google and YouTube to add one more layer to our video:  

Live performances, in real time, by ensembles at each of the YouTube campuses around the world!  

We don't even know if it's possible, but when you are teamed with the guys who created a self driving car and the best map program ever, anything can happen.

So, if you are a musician who wants to perform in our world-wide ensemble, send an email to craig@isigmusicfest.com, let us know what instrument you play, and we will send the guide track and a part.

We will also need contacts at universities and ensembles in the YouTube cities - as soon as we confirm our methodology for the live ensembles.

But hurry!  Our deadline for submissions is March 4th, 2015, so we can make our April 4th show!

And if you are in Dublin and want to catch the fun:  Tickets are available at:

http://www.idigmusicfest.com.

A Sneak Peek at the Festival!

"World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor" comes out today, 11/13/14

Hi All, 

Today (11/13/14) is a big day for our family!

My wife Eimear Noone, and I, were so blessed to be a part of the composition team for the epic World of Warcraft expansion, "Warlords of Draenor."  Our fellow composers are Russell Brower,Clint Bajakian, Sam Cardon, and Edo Guidotti, and between the entire crew over 8 and a half hours of music was created!

The score debuted at #6 on the iTunes soundtrack charts.  Preview and download the score here!

The score has already won the "Hollywood Music in Media Award" for Video Game Score, but we are even more excited by thinking of all the millions of WoW fans who will enjoy the music when they hear it today.

Warlord of Draenor Composers,
Neal Acree, Eimear Noone and Craig Stuart Garfinkle

Eimear and I put together this YouTube playlist, created from fan videos, of our favorite pieces from the game and its our pleasure to share it with all of you. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqtAghaeQA2SwJiDz6eEFOsDybMUYSeWV 

We, along with fellow WoW composers, Russell Brower, Neal Acree, and Jason Hayes, will be in Dublin for the iDIG Music Festival (http://www.idigmusicfest.com) this April 2-4.  As part of the festival we will be discussing the award winning score as well as performing much of our favorites with Video Games Live.  Buy your tickets now!

Wishing you all the best in your own adventures!  Here's a link to the "collector's edition" of the game.  I can't wait to get mine!

World of WarCraft: Warlords of Draenor - An Epic Scoring Quest!

Since January 2014, I've had the amazing privilege of being a part of the composition team for the upcoming World of WarCraft expansion, "Warlords of Draenor."

The rest of the composition team includes some of my favorite humans including, Jason Hayes, Sam Cardon, Clint Bajakian, Derek Duke, Neal Acree, my wife Eimear Noone, and of course our intrepid fearless leader Russell Brower.

If they are really humans, that is…  One never can tell in the World of WarCraft.

This sounds like a large team, but this doesn't even begin to touch on the countless singers, musicians, orchestrators, copyists and support staff needed to produce so much music at such a high level of production.

It's an absolute dream!

Now that the music has started to hit the internet, I can finally answer all of you who have been following my career and have asked to hear it.   With this in mind I created this playlist of my favorites that I composed for the game.  I'll add to it as more of the music hits the internet.

Thanks again to all of you who have reached out to me!

My Warlords of Draenor Compositions - Craig Stuart Garfinkle, Some Fave's

Buy the Warlords of Draenor Score on iTunes:

And of course, click here if you want to get the "Warlords of Draenor Collector's Edition"

Are you a Video Game Music fan?  Join our mailing list us through the box at the very top right, and we will send you a free MP3, a bonus track from my score to "Baldur's Gate, The Dark Alliance II."

Next Up:  A playlist of the music written by Eimear.

And the Heavens exploded!

Finished an Epic piece yesterday for World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. Written by Eímear Noone, the piece holds absolutely nothing back.

While trying to record the final vocal, the Irish sky completely lit up with a firestorm of biblical proportions - killing the power, and threatening to kill anything electrical. After a few hours delay to let the storm pass, we finished the piece, but the electricity was still in the air. 

We hope to share the piece soon with all of you. — in Kilconnell, Ireland.

The Abby, in Kilconnell Ireland

UPDATE:  I am so excited that the piece discussed in this posting was finally released.  It's called "Malach."  It's also the theme at 8:05 in the "Warlords of Draenor" main menu.

You can find a fan posting of the piece at this YouTube page:

And yes, that is Eimear singing the lead female solo at the beginning and at 2:30.

Are you a Video Game Music fan?  Join our mailing list us through the box at the very top right, and we will send you a free MP3.  Just let us know if you'd like a track from "Baldur's Gate, The Dark Alliance II," or the bonus track from Eimear's "Hibernian" Mini EP.  Just let us know which you would like.