Choosing the Track Titles for the Recordings?

[gortmertl0]

Not sure if it belongs here (and I think I've asked this before, but I've since forgotten)...

How do you choose the titles for the music tracks that are recorded?

I realize some are blatantly obvious, but for some of the more obscure tracks, do you consult with the composers via Email?  Choose what 'sounds' best (like an element from the area of the game when the music plays)?  Are the titles embedded in the MIDI somehow?  Use your best judgement?

[In particular, I am wondering about the Betrayal At Krondor tracks... I have always wondered about the official reference 'names' to the tracks ever since the CD-ROM version came out, but it's been too long since I've played it to link them myself.]

Just wondering...  :?

Gary

[Tom]

I realize some are blatantly obvious, but for some of the more obscure tracks, do you consult with the composers via Email? Choose what 'sounds' best (like an element from the area of the game when the music plays)? Are the titles embedded in the MIDI somehow? Use your best judgement?

A.  All Of The Above.
B.  None Of The Above.
C.  What Titles?

The vast majority of the song titles I use are based on the character name or scene in the game.  A few games (like LSL6) supply song titles.  Then sometimes, I just use anything I think will relate to the music...if there's nothing else to draw from.  And finally, many of YOU have provided song titles, especially when I've misnamed a song.  

Ari will have to answer the BaK title naming scheme as I've never played it and he's recorded all the music.

[Ari]

Somehow I had a feeling this topic was going to be specifically about BAK titles.  :wink:
I'm a lousy title author. I have no illusion about that.

When I name songs, I try to make them context based. Either based on places or characters.

Some of the song titles in the BAK soundtrack are wrong. I've got a few ideas for better names, like changing the names of chapter introductions to the chapter titles that appear in the game, but some, like 'Revenge', are problematic, since I can't seem to find a more appropriate name for them.

If there was a way I could get in touch with Jan Paul Moorhead and ask him about song titles, it would be nice, but I doubt I could do that.

If anyone has suggestions for better song titles, they're more than welcome to write me.

[Jan]

I tried to hunt down his e-mail address, but unfortunately it is nowhere to be seen . All I got was this:

Jan Paul Moorhead's page at Berklee College of Music

Not very helpful, I know...but maybe someone could get in contact with him through the college? :?

[gortmertl0]

I tried to hunt down his e-mail address, but unfortunately it is nowhere to be seen . All I got was this:

Jan Paul Moorhead's page at Berklee College of Music

Not very helpful, I know...but maybe someone could get in contact with him through the college? :?

Great find!

I Emailed the Webmaster to see if the faculty have Email addresses.

If not, I'll try to call the college, or maybe just write a nice letter to J.P.M. in care of  the college...

Gary

[Ari]

He's a professor, huh? Impressive!

[gortmertl0]

Great find!

I Emailed the Webmaster to see if the faculty have Email addresses.

If not, I'll try to call the college, or maybe just write a nice letter to J.P.M. in care of  the college...

Hey!  Got a reply from the college webmaster for JP Moorhead's personal Email address yesterday afternoon (04/20).

I will Email him sometime this weekend to see if he's still got any info on the BAK score.


I just hope I don't come off as a derranged, sychophantic fan-boy... :oops:

But it's so hard not to!  BAK was just about the most perfect game (or rpg) ever!

Ooop!  Fan-boy coming out.  Must stay calm...  Must stay calm...


Gary

[gortmertl0]

OK, here's the letter I just Emailed JP Moorhead:

        Dear Mr. Moorhead,

        I am a tremendous fan of your score for the computer game, "Betrayal At Krondor", as are many others at a website sanctioned by Sierra/Vivendi-Universal called Quest Studios:

        http://www.queststudios.com

        Its founder, Tom Lewandowski, has been providing fans of classic Sierra games actual recordings of the Sierra scores for over 10 years.  They are designed for various soundcards and in numerous formats: a variety of MIDI tracks and enhanced recordings, and finally branching out into the digital formats of MP3 and OGG with the recent addition of his own personal computer server for storage.

        Someone recently posted 33 tracks from "Betrayal At Krondor" (enhanced DOS MIDI tracks, NOT the 'digital' tracks from the CD-ROM version), and I began to wonder about the track titles for the music.

        I've always enjoyed the soundtrack you scored for the game, and often wondered about the "true" track titles for the music, either for the DOS MIDIs or for the CD-ROM version (all ~62 tracks).

        Do you have any information about your score for BAK, especially in the area of the "official" track titles used in referencing particular pieces of music?  Or perhaps you can peruse the tracks on the website and provide 'corrected' titles where necessary?

        The people contributing the tracks usually name them by using obvious references (some action going on at the same time when the music plays during gameplay or a particular character's theme), but they admit they are not always correct and are forced to use generic or incorrect listings.  Add to that, it's becoming increasingly difficult to play the original game on newer machines.  It's been well over 10 years since I've personally played the game, but I still put the CD-ROM in an audio CD player just to listen to the 'digital' soundtrack.


        Please feel free to drop by the website and sign-up for the discussion forums.  I know you will be warmly welcomed, as most Sierra composers have been in the past.

        Thank you for your time, Mr. Moorhead.

        A fan,  <my name here>

Hopefully we will get a response of some sort in the next few days...

Gary

[Tom]

Nice letter!  I'd certainly write you back after reading it.  

[Ari]

Yay! I was credited as 'someone'!

I hope he writes back.

[Tom]

No doubt, Ari, Jan will (or already has) come here to download your recordings -- and you'll be credited for your work. There's been any number of Sierra musicians and staff who don't register as members here, but still visit from time to time to see what's going on.

[Ari]

I wasn't trying to imply anything, honest!  :oops:

I didn't even credit myself in the BAK digital soundtrack page (Tom did that).

[Tom]

I didn't think you meant anything, really -- I recognized that you were being playfully sarcastic and not expressing anything more.  But it's still not a bad thing to be recognized for the amount of work you put into the BaK project; I certainly appreciate it!  And I know the original musicians appreciate it, too!  That's why I wanted very much to credit your efforts on the BaK digital soundtrack page.  I always feel bad if I incorrectly credit something, or omit proper credit entirely.  Recording, editing, and creating these soundtracks can often be quite a task, even though it's a lobor of love we have for Sierra's game music and enjoy the work.  

[gortmertl0]

Yay! I was credited as 'someone'!

I hope he writes back.

I certainly meant no offense -- not to diminish the tremendous work you did in making great-sounding extended versions of the MIDIs.  I failed to congratulate you on your efforts!

(And I fully appreciate your sarcasm/mock-pride at being anonymously credited as 'someone'...  Heck, I ended the letter with <my name here> myself!)

I just figured if I wrote "Ari recorded / uploaded the tracks...", Jan would say, "(1) Who's this Ari guy that Gary's referring to, and (2) why it this nut Gary writing to me in the first place?"


Gary

[Ari]

It was just a little mock sarcasm actually.
I appreciate being credited. I just don't usually credit myself, that's all.

Anyway, has there been any response?

[gortmertl0]

Anyway, has there been any response?

No, not yet.

For all I know, he might not have even been at the college/school on Friday -- probably hasn't seen it yet.

Or...  MAYBE he's busy digging up ALL the info we desire, and will write back once he's completed it!    :shock:  

Yeah, "not seen it yet" is more likely...  :?

Gary

[gortmertl0]

Hi, all!

Have good news.  On Sunday, I resent the April Email to Jan Paul Moorhead about the track titles for Betrayal At Krondor.  This was on the off-chance it got lost/he never saw it/was on sabbatical/etc.  The original letter is about half-way up this page...

Anyway, here's his reply from today:      

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.  I will check out the web site.   In general there were no names just associated places and locations in the game.  I'll see what I can do however.  I'm flattered that you enjoy the work.

Yours,

Jan Moorhead

So...  Maybe we'll get some info?

Here's hoping!  


Gary

[Ari]

Hey that's great!  

I hope he isn't disappointed by my little changes if and when he listens to them.  :oops:

Hpoefully, he'll be able to come up with other and better names too.