Symphonic Game Music Concert

The "Symphonic Game Music Concerts" (German: "Symphonische Spielemusikkonzerte") are a series of German video game music concerts produced by Thomas Böcker, notable for being the first of their kind out of Japan.Symphonic Game Music Concerts, [http://www.vgmconcerts.com/main.php?section=about&lang=english The Concerts] ] [Symphonic Game Music Concerts, [http://www.vgmconcerts.com/main.php?section=about&subs=the%20team&lang=english The Team] ]

From 2003 to 2007, the first five annual concerts took place at the Gewandhaus zu Leipzig and were held as the official opening ceremonies of the GC - Games Convention, a trade fair for video games in Leipzig. In 2008, the cancellation of the concert by the Leipziger Messe GmbH resulted in a cooperation with the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln.

The concerts

First Symphonic Game Music Concert

Date: August 20, 2003 Venue: Gewandhaus zu Leipzig Conductor: Andy Brick Orchestra: Czech National Symphony Orchestra Guest artist: James Walker (actor, Royal Shakespeare Company)

This was the first orchestral video game music concert outside of Japan. It attracted a sold-out crowd of 2000 people. Unlike subsequent concerts, the music of the first event was performed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

Program:

Fourth Symphonic Game Music Concert

Date: August 23, 2006 Venue: Gewandhaus zu Leipzig Conductor: Andy Brick Orchestra: FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir Guest artists: Daniela Kosinova (piano, pipe organ) and Michiru Yamane (cembalo)

The fourth concert was sold out again.For the first time, it featured a live choir and the pipe organ of the Gewandhaus.

Program:

The concerts from 2003-2006 included various speeches and presentations by German politicians and spokespersons of the industry, such as game designer Will Wright. [Leipziger Messe GmbH, [http://www.leipziger-messe.de/LeMMon/PRESSE.NSF/html_archivebydateeng/E12415AF663576B8C12571B8002EDDB2?OpenDocument GC opening concert completely sold out] ]

After 2007

Cancellation of GC in Concert

On January 3, 2008, a note at the official website of the "Symphonic Game Music Concerts" announced that no future Games Convention opening concerts will take place at the Gewandhaus. [Symphonic Game Music Concerts, [http://www.vgmconcerts.com/main.php?section=news&subs=archive&lang=english The GC Opening Concert has passed] ] Instead, the opening concert in 2008 was replaced by a "Video Games Live" show in the Arena Leipzig. [Video Games Live, [http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?story=137 Video Games Live Teams Up with Leipzig Games Convention!] ]

Tommy Tallarico stated that he had a mail correspondence with Böcker about having both concerts at the beginning and the end of the Games Convention 2007, though both felt that it would have been too confusing for the attendants. [Tommy Tallarico: "Quite frankly, there was even some talk this year at one point about having one show at the beginning/launch of Games Convention 2007 and the other one at the end. Thomas and I spoke about this over e-mail but I think we both felt that it may be a little too confusing to have two shows at the same exact convention... maybe in the future this would work when both shows are a little more established? That may be cool." December 31, 2007] The official reason of the Leipziger Messe GmbH for cancelling the traditional concerts is that, with the "Symphonic Game Music Concerts" they wanted to prove to politics and economy that video games are objects of cultural value. The disconnection of the official opening ceremony with any concerts from 2007 onwards made that requirement feel unnecessary for the Leipziger Messe GmbH. [Square Enix Music Online, [http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/thomasboecker4.shtml Interview with Symphonic Shades Producer] ] According to an earlier comment by Thomas Böcker, the Leipziger Messe GmbH did not inform him about the new collaboration with "Video Games Live" in advance. [Thomas Böcker: "However, that would require that the 'previous people' were informed about the new plans (a long time in advance)." December 12, 2007]

ymphonic Shades

Date: August 23, 2008 Venue: Funkhaus Wallrafplatz, Cologne Conductor: Arnie Roth Orchestra: WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln and FILMharmonic Choir Prague Guest artists: Jari Salmela (pianist) and Rony Barrak (percussionist)

On December 4, 2007, Thomas Böcker announced that he is producing "Symphonic Shades", a concert exclusively dedicated to the music of German game composer Chris Hülsbeck. [Symphonic Game Music Concerts, [http://www.vgmconcerts.com/main.php?section=news&subs=archive&lang=english Chris Huelsbeck in Concert] ] "Symphonic Shades" marked the first live radio broadcast of a video game music concert. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=63 Symphonic Shades live im Radio] ]

Tickets for it were sold out after six days. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=34 Takenobu Mitsuyoshi arrangiert für Symphonic Shades] ] On February 1, 2008, the producers announced a second concert taking place at 11:00 p.m. on the same day of the "Symphonic Shades" world premiere. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=24 Termin für Zusatzkonzert bekanntgegeben] ] Tickets for the additional performance sold out on April 12, 2008. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=45 Symphonic Shades-Konzerte restlos ausverkauft] ]

An album with complete recordings of the "Symphonic Shades" concerts is planned to be released in the fourth quarter of 2008. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=59 Symphonic Shades-Album angekündigt] ]

Program:

ymphonic Game Music Concert in 2009

Thomas Böcker mentioned that there were some considerations about reviving the traditional "Symphonic Game Music Concerts" due to the new trade fair gamescom in Cologne which will take place from September 9 to 13, 2009. [Stereology, [http://www.stereology.de/?site=concerts&sublink=shadesinterview Interview mit Thomas Böcker] ]

Winfried Fechner, manager of the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln, confirmed that on September 12, 2009, a video game music concert will take place in the Kölner Philharmonie. [Symphonic Shades, [http://www.symphonicshades.com/?p=84 Fünf (weitere) Fragen an: Winfried Fechner] ] It will be conducted by Arnie Roth and performed by the WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln and the WDR Rundfunkchor Köln.

References

External links

* [http://www.vgmconcerts.com Symphonic Game Music Concerts]
* [http://www.merregnon-studios.com Personal website of Thomas Böcker]
* [http://www.merregnon.com Merregnon]
* [http://www.symphonicshades.com Symphonic Shades]
* [http://www.gc-germany.de GC - Games Convention]
* [http://www.gamescom.de gamescom]
* [http://www.musa.cz FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir Prague]
* [http://www.wdr.de/radio/orchester/rundfunkorchester WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln]
* [http://www.gewandhaus.de Gewandhaus zu Leipzig]
* [http://www.koelner-philharmonie.de Kölner Philharmonie]