Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform video game music live

By: Staff –

Whenever you think of major performing arts, one would always assume playing orchestral staples like Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Originals can also be played as composed by modern musical geniuses and practitioners of the arts. However, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra tried something new. They played soundtracks from popular video game franchises. 

Video game music is an unorthodox choice but it’s not entirely daring. You’ll find that they have more similarities with classical music than most music released in pop culture. This decision is a celebration of wonderful composition that cements video games’ cultural significance to the modern audience of art and music. 

Highlight video game tracks of the performance 

The show is titled ‘Game ON!’ and it was scheduled for 24th and 25th May 2024 at the Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto, Canada. It featured a wide range of tracks coming from different video game franchises. Among the highlights of the show are the following:

● World of Warcraft

● Assassin’s Creed II

● Portal 2

● Ori and the Blind Forest

● The Elder Scrolls V Skyrim

● The Witcher 3

● Guild Wars

● Civilisation

● Diablo

● BioShock

Many more were featured in the show and all of them were played with visual performances fitting the track. That includes light shows, practical effects, and in-game footage for a full immersive experience. 

A total of 14 tracks were played at Roy Thomson Hall on those weekends. Each one is practised with consultation from their respective composers that the team can contact. It was a wonderful love letter to the gaming community as well as an acknowledgement of video games as an art form with a strong influence on music and culture. 

How did the Toronto Symphony Orchestra prepare for the event?

There are 14 tracks played at the show, all of which are hand-picked by the music director and principal conductor, Andy Brick. He states that it’s important to choose pieces that lend themselves well to orchestral interpretation. Video games have plenty of them already but Brick also chose some that are not originally symphonic. 

Video games, as a medium, rely heavily on music to add ambient mood control for the player without outright taking away their attention from the challenge ahead. The same discipline can be found in various live casino games you’ll find in Casino Days Ontario. Many of these are added to make even a simple card game feel more dramatic, creating an exciting experience. 

When played in an orchestra, the goal was to maintain the spirit of the original. It’s not enough that they play it by melody and beats. Instead, the orchestral cover should communicate the same mood and sensation that the track was trying to express. This was a challenge that Brick faced when he consulted the original composers. 

One of his anecdotes points to his conversation with Derek Duke, audio director and composer for Overwatch’s ‘Situation Critical’. The track was entirely electronic and Brick’s goal was to convey its essence in a symphony orchestra properly. 

The cultural impact of music in video games

Appreciation for original tracks is one of the biggest conversation pieces among gamers. Many share their thoughts and love for certain scenes specifically because of how the music elevated the emotional stakes. Likewise, certain gamers don’t have an affinity with music but they remember video game tracks because of fond memories they have with the game. 

The event was a massive success in bringing gamers’ interest to major performing arts. Game On! resonated with many modern audiences because the songs played were familiar to them and because the Toronto Symphony Orchestra made faithful covers. It encourages appreciation for video game soundtracks and their effects on gamers’ experience.