Video Games Live Returns to Headline, The 2nd Annual, Dublin International Game Music Festival

For Immediate Release

Video Games Live Returns to Headline, 
The 2nd Annual
Dublin International Game Music Festival
April 29 - May1, 2016
get tickets for 2016

The Plan for 2016:

Days 1 and 2:  Seminars and Smaller Concerts at the RDS

On April 29th and 30th, attendees will gather at the RDS Convention Center for two days of concerts and presentations relating to video game music, video games, and their creation.  

Live Music:  Performances on the RDS auditorium stage will feature talents such as "The Triforce Quartet," "The Spooney Bards," and "The Dublin Chamber Ensemble," among others.

These concerts will also present a special "Link to the Celts" performance by the "DIT Traditional Irish Music Ensemble," debuting excerpts from the upcoming CD "The Celtic Link; featuring themes from The Legend of Zelda."

The impetus to create "The Celtic Link" was born at the 2015 festival, when the audience themselves, so moved by the DIT Ensemble's performance of the great game music themes, insisted the DIT ensemble needed to be recorded and a CD released.  A successful Kickstarter campaign followed.

Seminars:  The musical performances will be interspersed with numerous seminars designed for aspiring game music creators, performers and fans.  Included will be:

• A presentation on new game music technology by Craig Stuart Garfinkle
• Composer Neal Acree will show and discuss his work from many of the stunning Blizzard trailers and cinematics.
• A preview of "Conductrix, A View from the Podium," Eimear Noone's upcoming 3D and VR conducting tutorials.
• A handful of select Irish game developers will show off their latest projects.
• And much more, yet to be announced.

Composer Craig Stuart Garfinkle Demonstrates 

the Technology of the Game Composer

Eimear Noone - "Conductrix, A View from the Podium"

The Demo Derby

get tickets for 2016

One of the highlights from the seminars of 2015 was the composer "Demo Derby."  For the derby, 15 composers had their music played for the audience and our panel of visiting composers.  Our composers then gave advice and critiqued the composer's work.  

In 2015 only an hour was scheduled for this event, but due to the number of composers that wanted to participate but couldn't, this year the Demo Derby will be extended to at least 2 hours.

Demo Derby Sign-up

Must attend festival to present.

The Cosball

Scheduled for the evening of April 30th, we will bring back our "Cosball" (cosplay ball) to a local Dublin nightclub where we will give away prizes for the best costumes and play dance remixes of our favorite game music.

Day 3:  Video Games Live

Video Games Live

get tickets for 2016

Once again, on May 1st, 8:00 PM, at the Convention Center Dublin, Video Games Live will take the auditorium stage for a very special presentation.  

Half orchestral concert, half rock and roll blow out, Video Games Live will perform the great game themes such as Skyrim, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft Montage, Kingdom Hearts, and more, accompanied by synchronized gameplay images and lights.

Watch the iDIG Music Fest 2016 Promo

For this performance, all of our visiting composers will conduct their own works - a rare treat to experience for the game music fan.

World Premier Performances

In year one of the iDIG festival, during the Video Games Live show, there were a number of World Premier performances.  One of these was the first of its kind, "Crowd Created" version of a game music theme.  

Featuring legendary game music performer, "Malukah" (over 60 Million YouTube views), a world wide crowd created orchestra joined forces with Eimear Noone and 134 musicians and singers on stage to perform Eimear Noone's "Malach" from "World of Warcraft, Warlords of Draenor."  The resulting video has since had 76K+ views on YouTube and over 1.5 million views around the world.

Watch "Malach" on YouTube

Crowd Create the Theme from HALO

For 2016, the iDIG Music Festival has an even greater video challenge planned for their Video Games Live show.  The team is currently attempting to set a Guinness Book of World Record for the most number of individuals to ever contribute to a single music video. 

With this goal in mind, for 2016 the festival has chosen to re-create the "Theme from HALO" as their star composition.

On February 3rd, 2016, the approvals came through and now the mad dash has begun to distribute parts and collect videos from musicians around the world.  You can read more about this endeavor, or sign up to participate, at this link:

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

Currently tickets are on sale at Buy iDIG Music Fest Tickets.

A festival ticket gains access to the two day festival on April 29th and 30th, and the Video Games Live show on May 1st.  Festival tickets start at €85.

A limited number of Video Games Live Only tickets are also available.  Video Games Live Tickets start at €40.

Buy iDIG Music Fest Tickets.

The First Dublin International Game Music Festival, April 2015:

In April of 2015, the inaugural Dublin International Game Music Festival (iDIG Music Fest) brought some of the most well respected talent in the video game music industry to Dublin for a three day celebration of the art-form.  

In attendance were Grammy winner Christopher Tin (Civilization), Russell Brower (Audio and Music Director for Blizzard Games; World of Warcraft, et all), Neal Acree (Blizzard Cinematic Composer), Eimear Noone (Blizzard Composer and Conductor) Craig Stuart Garfinkle (Blizzard and Baldur's Gate DA II composer) video game performers Jillian and Andrew Aversa, piano virtuoso J.J. McNamara and many more.

All of the 2015 attendees have pledged to attend in 2016 (subject to availability), along with some soon to be announced additional guests!

Help us "Crowd Create" the Theme from HALO - and Break a Guinness Record.

Attention All Musicians and Game Music Fans!

Help Eimear Noone, The Dublin International 
Video Game Music Festival and Video Games Live

Break a Guinness World Record.

As many of you know, on April 4th, 2015, at the 1st Dublin International Game Music Festival, Eimear Noone combined 134 musicians and singers on stage at the Convention Center Dublin, with 128 videos submitted from musicians around the world - all coming together to "Crowd Create" Eimear's"Malach," theme from the original score to "World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor."  It was one of the great highlights to the festival and the headlining Video Games Live Show.  You can see the result below.

A big thanks to Malukah for her absolutely brilliant performance as the "high priestess" of the piece.

Eimear Noone's "Malach," Crowd Created Version.

As we plan for year 2 of The Dublin International Game Music Festival, (April 29-30 at the RDS, and May 1st at the Convention Center Dublin), everyone is asking us the question, "What epic event will the iDIG Music Fest team pull off this year.

After much consideration, we've decided it wouldn't be enough to just create another crowd created video, but this time, we need to set a Guinness World Record for the most videos of individual players combined to recreate a single piece of music.  

With this goal in mind, we decided that the "Video Games Live" version of the original theme from "HALO," (by Marty O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori, orchestrated by Emmanuel Fratianni, Laurie Robinson, & Benoît Grey) would be the perfect piece to accomplish this task.  

So we reached out to both our friend Tommy Tallarico (of Video Games Live) and our friends at Microsoft to see if they would be on board.  They instantly agreed to the idea - but it's taken a bit to work through the details.  We've been waiting for the approvals...

Which just came through -  so we are off and running.  We are thrilled!

Sign Up Now

Our auto-responder takes up to a day... 

The Process:

Step 1:  

Click on this link.   The link will take you to a sign-up page where you will find the download link to all of the parts and the audio guide track for the "Halo Theme."  You must sign up to download the files.

Step 2:  

Download the parts as well as the audio guide track from the second link.  The guide track is a click track layered upon a mono mix of the arrangement we are recreating.  The zip has parts for the entire orchestra - find your part.

Step 3:  While listening to the guide track on an earbud or headphone, using a cell phone or video camera, video yourself playing your part/parts.  

If you have a way to record with a proper microphone and synchronize your audio to the video, then do so.  If you don't have that capability the audio recorded on the phone will work just fine.

Step 4:  

Make sure you identify the video file(s) with your name in the title so we know who to put in the credits!

Step 5:

Using "Wetransfer.com," send your video(s) to zeldaconductor@gmail.com.  Do not send the video as an attachment to an email as that will crash our email server.

Format:  

TUNING IS A440!

Ideally, your video file should be a 16 X 9, H.2.6.4 QuickTime file with stereo audio.  

Audio should be at 48K.

But if what you just read seems like gobbledygook to you, don't worry;  just send us the video.  We can import just about anything.

Synchronization:  

Below is a snapshot from the score.  You will notice the first bar is in 4/4 and the notation states "4 clicks to bar 1."

On the audio recording, in bar zero(the very top), you will hear a synth pad.  Then in bar 1 you will hear a gong and gran casa roll into bar 2, where the iconic theme is stated in male voices.  That's how you know where you are.

While listening to the click, if you could clap your hands exactly on the downbeat of bar one, that would be ideal.  This is the equivalent of the old "slate" you would see executed in a movie.  We use that clap to line-up your video with all the others.

If your part does not start until much later in the piece:

Clap your hands exactly on the downbeat 2 bars (or so) before you come in.  We'll know where you are and as long as you are accurate with your clap, we can line you up.

Try to do your part in one continuous performance.  This way, once we have the clap exactly lined up on the downbeat, as long as you play in sync with the click and guide track, your entire performance will be in sync when your part is lined up with our master session.

If one continuous take is not possible, that's OK too.  Likewise, if you don't include a clap.  These tools just make lining things up easier.

Click Instructions:

1.  The parts we are using come straight from the Video Games Live library and certain elements are originally designed to be specifically conducted and directed.  We've created a new click for this purpose.

Therefore at the top we have constructed a rubato click for the vocal part that follows the subtlety of the performance.  Likewise, for the tag in measure 139, the click goes momentarily into an 8th note click in order to be able to direct you through the ritard.  A listen or two to the click against the track and you will get it.

We've added these notations in your part (ignore the "Click Out" from the original part in measure 139).

2.  There are two guide tracks uploaded.  The first has the click hard right and the music hard left.  The second version is in mono with the click married to the guide track.

Depending on your method of recording, you might want one or there other, for example, if you record with just one headphone, use the mono version.

ATTIRE OR BACKGROUNDS IN THE VIDEO:

Please avoid clothes with logo's, game images, or anything that might cause us to infringe on a trademark.  Don't worry if you have already sent a video, we'll simply have to blur out logos.  

If you have an iDIG or VIDEO GAMES LIVE T-Shirt, those are OK!  Likewise, if you want to show off your band's T-shirt, that is OK too - as long as it's your brand.  

A million people may see this video - use it to show off your band.

Last Performance Notes:

As much as you might hate the sound of your voice or instrument without reverb, we ask that you send your tracks dry!  If your track is dry, then it's easier to make it blend with the rest of our tracks by giving all of them a matching reverb!  

Two examples follow, excerpts from Malach - just to give you an idea of what is expected of your video:

Mark Scholl, Percussion - we created the montage,

you send all the video individually.

Joe Pignato, Guitar

UPDATE

We just posted this montage from videos from Joe and Mark, created for this year!

It rocks!

Deadline:

THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED.  We would like to have all the videos by March 29, 2016 as we know it will take 6 weeks to compile, synchronize and mix everything.

If you can get your tracks in early, that's even better as every moment counts when undertaking such a complicated adventure.

The video will debut at the Video Games Live Show, May 1st at the Convention Center Dublin, Ireland, during the closing act of the Dublin International Game Music Festival.  We'd love to see you there is you can make it!

INCLUDE YOUR NAME IN THE TITLE OF YOUR VIDEO!

DON'T LET YOUR WORK GET LOST!

Sign Up Now

Our auto-responder takes up to a day...

Hear a live performance of the VGL HALO Theme

Get your tickets to the 2016 iDIG Music Festival.

An overview of The Dublin International Game Music Festival
April 29 - May 1st, 2016

The first video we received:  A truly special story.

Ever wonder what a music producer does? Watch in real time!

Ever wonder what a music producer does?

Last night I let the screen capture roll as I started building the mix for "Kaepora Gaebora" for our "Celtic Link" CD.

You can watch it all evolve in real time in this movie.

The performance features the magnificent violin of Odhrán O Casaide, and the stellar accompaniment on bodhran of Aimée Farrell Courtney.

It also features one of my favorite music production tools, the Vienna MIR Pro reverb.

Would you like to hear the finished mix?  Join out post-Kickstarter

Share with your fellow Zelda fans!

**UPDATE

Imagine you are the producer of a project.  What do you do when you can't decide what to do with a magnificent and perfect performance that doesn't fit into the overall construction of what you have planned for an album, but at the same time is so magnificent that it's not fair to keep the performance to yourself?

It's kind of like having a stolen Rembrandt.  You might enjoy it alone, but you can't show it to anyone nor share in the joy of the experience of viewing it.  That's how I feel about this track.

So here we are, sharing it with the world!  Enjoy!

The Celtic Link Team

Four must have books for the aspiring media composer!
   

Malibu Music Box; Volume 1, Comedy Ain't Pretty

What is Malibu Music Box?

Malibu Music Box is a boutique, quality music licensing library from composers Craig Stuart Garfinkle and Eimear Noone.

We are proud to announce that our first volume, "Comedy Ain't Pretty" has just been released on iTunes.  

A collection of mostly our best comedy and "over the top" tunes, the entire release is 60 tracks - all available for purchase for just $9.99.  

It includes the custom trailer music we created for films such as "Vicki Cristina Barcelona," and "All Good Things" and for comedians such as Dane Cook, Frank Caliendo, Jeffrey Ross and more.

You can preview the tracks and buy the CD through this widget.

Email to zeldaconductor@gmail.com for information about licensing individual tracks.

One of our favorite tracks from the release, 

"Joy in the Moment," 

set to the photography of our friend Carlos Gauna.  

Two Christmas Tunes from Craig

Just for fun, I wanted to share these two tracks for the season:

The first is my interpretation of Jingle Bells as an homage to Bernard Herrmann:

And here's our homage to interfaith love of the Christmas holiday, with lyrics written by Eimear Noone - very appropriate as we spend the holiday in the West of Ireland.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Craig

The Donald Trumps Christmas

I found this "Donald Trump Talking Apprentice Action Figure" the other day and decided to have some fun for the holiday.  What else could I do?  It was just too tempting.

And of course, you can always get your own here!  I can't believe they still make them!

Eimear Noone Presents: "Conductrix: A View from the Podium," Virtual Reality & 3D Conducting Tutorials and Book

Read below for more information.

Eimear Noone Presents:

Muso-VR Phase 1

"Conductrix: "A View from the Podium"

A series of 3D and Virtual Reality Conducting Tutorials

with Accompanying Book.

As many of you know, Eimear Noone and the team from iDIG Music Fest are currently developing an orchestral virtual reality game, experience, and social media platform called, "Muso-VR." 

Our plan for creating the entire video game is to attack each element in phases.  The first phase is to create a series of Virtual Reality and 3D conducting tutorials along with an accompanying book.  These will be called, "Eimear Noone Presents:  A View from the Podium."

About Eimear Noone, as Conducting Instructor:

For years, in between her concert appearances and recording sessions, Eimear Noone has been presenting conducting seminars for a wide variety of institutions such as Columbia College Chicago, The Society of Composer's and Lyricists, ASCAP, UCLA Extension, and many others.  Her private conducting students include, Grammy, Emmy, BAFTA, and Oscar Award Winners and/or Nominees.

Even though her recording and touring schedule no longer permits her to teach regularly, Ms. Noone still wants to be able to share her knowledge and experiences - the impetus behind both Muso-VR, and this first phase,  "Eimear Noone Presents:  A View from the Podium."   

Through these, Maestro Noone wants to capture the content of the seminars and classes she has been presenting, preserve them, and share them with the world. 

A View from the Podium will be the next best possibility to having private conducting lessons with Eimear.

Eimear's conducting seminar at the 2015
Dublin International Game Music Festival (iDIG Music Fest)
Photo by Fran Marshall

Eimear's conducting philosophy and focus for the book and videos.

"I believe that conducting technique is a physical language with a vocabulary that anyone can learn. It's then up to you to use it to write a literature in your own voice." 

I want this book and these virtual reality videos to be about the pure practicalities of conducting on the concert stage AND scoring stage; No maestro myth; no obfuscation; no false elitism; no pomp and circumstance."

The book and videos will be divided into sections such as:

1. Basic beat patterns and gestures.
2. Communicating articulations, dynamics, cuing, tempo changes and other specialty gestures.
3. Eimear conducting a small ensemble, demonstrating how the elements discussed in sections 1 and 2 translate directly to the players.
4. A series of interviews with players, conductors, and composers.
5. Instruction in score preparation, stage presence, studio recording techniques, creating click tracks, and other helpful tips.

About Eimear Noone:  A new breed of conductor.

Eimear Noone, on stage with Electronic Dance Music Legend BT,
conducting "Electronic Opus."

Over the past ten years, Eimear Noone, in addition to being a respected classical conductor, has emerged as a premier conductor for film, multi-media, and video games music, both on the concert stage and in the recording studio.  

In the studio, her conducting credits include some of video games most respected titles including, World of Warcraft, Diablo III, Starcraft II,  Overwatch, Hearthstone, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, and many others.  

YouTube views of Eimear conducting the recording sessions (in 3D) for Nintendo's 25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, number in the millions.

On the concert stage, in addition to standard repertoire, conducting for the hit touring show "Video Games Live" and performing for other video game based concerts, Eimear has conducted music from The Legend of Zelda, Skyrim, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, World of Warcraft, Assassin's Creed, and many others; leading such venerable orchestras such as The Royal Philharmonic, The Sydney Symphony, The Philadelphia Orchestra, The National Symphony Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony, The Skywalker Symphony and more.

She is also an award winning composer, her own music featured in games such as "World of Warcraft, Warlords of Draenor," and in feature films such as "The Donner Party," and "It's Dark Here."

Although best known for these contemporary performances, her background is solidly in classical music.  Recent concerts include her conducting works as varied as Scheherazade (Rimsky-Korsakov), The Firebird (Stravinsky), The New World Symphony (Dvorak), Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto and more.

As another example of her work in the classical field, Eimear had the pleasure of conducting the orchestra for the Los Angeles Ballet in their inaugural production of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" in 2007. The LA Times said of the performance:

"...the score was again given loving care by Eimear Noone and her orchestra"

- L. Segal - The L.A. Times, January 2007

About Eimear's Education:

Eimear Noone has spent a lifetime developing her conducting style.  It is dedicated to being as clear and concise as possible without extraneous "noise" that might confuse the conductor's communication.  

As was said by one observer of a concert performance: "A deaf person could have ‘heard’ the music by just watching her hands." Eimear elaborates, "Especially in the recording studio, there is no room for any possibility of being unclear - each minute is too valuable."

This relationship between her gestures and the music was honed over 8 years of masterclasses and private conducting instruction, most notably with two years of intensive study with the conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Gerhard Markson.  Maestro Markson himself was the protégé of legendary Russian conductor Igor Markevich. 

"I spent years looking for the right teacher" says Eimear, "that could help me create this style. The first time I saw Maestro Markson, I knew he was the perfect mentor."

Formally, Eimear is a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, with degrees in composition and flute performance, with numerous certificates and additional studies including master classes at the Manhattan School of Music, The Royal College of Music, London, (through the Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama), The Ennis IMRO Composition Summer School (youngest ever invited participant), The Victoria College of Music, London, Opera Ireland (conducting masterclass), and the ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop (to name a few).

 

Eimear Noone with Tommy Tallarico, Video Games Live

Just for fun, a series of videos showing Eimear Noone in action:

Eimear Noone's "Malach" from "World of Warcraft; Warlords of Draenor:"  

This performance was at the 2015 Dublin International Game Music Festival with 130+ musicians on the stage synchronized with 128 videos submitted from a world-wide crowd orchestra.

 

BT's Electronic Opus - Conductor GoPro Cam:

A literal "View from the Podium." Eimear Noone wearing a GoPro during the recording of EDM legend BT's, "Electronic Opus."

 

One of the TANZ produced videos from Electronic Opus, Used with a huge thanks to TANZ, BT and Video Games Live creator, Tommy Tallarico.  More on the project here:  http://electronicopus.com

 

Blizzard Entertainment and Video Games Live at Gamescon, 2015:  

Among Eimear Noone's many conducting credits is principle conductor for Blizzard Games including sessions for World of Warcraft, Diablo III, StarCraft II, Overwatch, and many more.  Here's Eimear Noone conducting a special "Blizzard" edition of "Video Games Live," with the legendary Tammy Tallarico.

From her fans and colleagues:

“Eimear Noone is one of the most dynamic conductors I’ve ever known. She brings the music to life with her passion, her skill and her clarity. I have had the pleasure of seeing her teach and she is a true master! With Eimear, all of the mysteries of conducting are laid out one by one so that the student is able to apply it to their own approach. Technique, communication, preparation, problem solving are all broken down and explained. As with everything she does, Eimear brings her unique charm and positive spirit to the experience. She is a true Maestro!”

- Mark Watters

Six-time Emmy Award winning composer and conductor
The Olympics, The Oscars, Star Wars In Concert 

“Eimear is a stunningly vibrant performer, conductor and musical force.  This idea of empowering any end user to experience the thrill of helming an orchestra could not have a better champion. Anyone from student to master would have a pleathora of information to learn from one of the most fiery, seasoned and musical performers I’ve ever met. I can’t wait to try this!”

-BT 

Grammy® Nominated Composer/Technologist

"Eimear is a tremendously talented and respected professional in the business. Her enthusiasm, charisma and confidence keep her in such demand both in live and studio recording settings. She is also a shining standout as an effective communicator with the orchestra as well as a wonderful educator and lecturer within her craft."

-Michael Todd 

Sr. Director of Film/TV & Visual Media, ASCAP

“Eimear is one of the great conductors, teachers, performers and composers.  Her energy is as infectious as her always bright outlook on life.  She's bright light in the world in the world Music, be it studio, stage or classroom.   Anyone would be lucky to learn from her wealth of knowledge and experience, both theoretical and real world”

-Trevor Morris

2 time EMMY award winning composer

"…In one movement the audience rose to its feet in standing ovation reminiscent of Riverdance.  It was magic, the response of he audience…  people left exhilarated and in tears."

- The Irish Independent 

On her 2001 debut concert at Dublin's National Concert Hall

"Muso-VR has great potential in a music education context in providing an interactive environment for students to explore and test their conducting skills in preparation for the live rehearsal.”

- Dr. Clíona Doris

Head of Orchestral Studies

DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama (Dublin, Ireland)

"Eimear runs sessions like an efficient general, but always engenders a calm and collegial atmosphere.  It's a team effort.  When she's running the show, I know we are in good hands."

- John Kurlander

Multi-Grammy® winning orchestral recording engineer

"I have worked with Eimear on many recording and scoring projects. She is a fantastic conductor, and the musicians love playing for her. That makes my job easier."

- Leslie Ann Jones,

Multi-Grammy® Winning Recording Engineer and Music Producer.  

"Eimear, is a profound musical genius, working with her opened up the musical capabilities within me that were frozen. She has an impeccable ear for composition and is by far one of the most versatile arrangers I know. " 

- De'Miyon Hall
Drummer/CEO of Hall Of Music Group LLC

Music Director, Gladys Knight

Eimear Noone with Gladys Knight and the Pacific Symphony