Angele Dubeau -- Game for New Music

Game Music
Angele Dubeau & La Pieta
Analekta

Are video games art? The Museum of Modern Art seems to think so -- they're assembling a collection of games to display in the hallowed halls of MoMa. What about video game music? The jury may still be out on that one, but Game Music certainly helps make the case for it.

Canadian violinist Angele Dubeau and the chamber orchestra she founded, La Pieta, present a program of current and classic video game themes arranged for the ensemble. It's an enjoyable collection of light classical music that should appeal to both gamers and those that don't know Ms. Pac Man from Master Chief.

Some of the scores have a cinematic feel. Splinter Cell, for example effectively conjures up the atmosphere of a techno-thriller action movie. Music from Heavy Rain and Chrono Trigger are two other selections that sound like movie soundtracks, befitting the serious nature of these games.

The theme to Assassin's Creed has been transformed into an elegiac miniature, with evocative Middle-Eastern touches. Final Fantasy is the most ambitious work on the album, an eleven-minute orchestral piece that would be at home in any concert program.

Not all video games are serious, though, and neither is their music. La Pieta's version of Angry Birds is just as fun as the original. And who knew that the theme from Tetris would lend itself so well to contrapuntal treatment? 

An enjoyable program from start to finish. Game on!

Time: It’s Good – and Howe

Steve Howe: Time
Warner Classics


Time is a collection of highly personal pieces by former Yes guitarist Steve Howe. As a solo project, it works pretty well.

If the last time you heard Steve Howe's work was when he was with Yes or Asia, then you won't find many similarities here. But if you've been keeping up his twenty+ solo albums Howe's been releasing since 1975, then Time will seem just another step in the growth of this artist.

With this album, Howe keeps his musical focus tight. The pieces are small -- almost miniatures -- with  stripped-down instrumentation. Even when he brings in classical musicians, the sound is transparent, light, and delicate

Personally, I don’t think much of classical crossover material, which colors my reaction to some of the tracks. Howe presents his own  versions of works by Ginastera, Bach and Vivaldi. While I understand the concept behind their inclusion – these are melodies that inspired Howe – I find them little more than pleasant background music.

Of greater interest to me are his original tunes. Howe plays a variety of acoustic guitars (all carefully documented track-by-track in the liner notes). Although there’s a consistent sound throughout the album, there’s also enough variety in the character of the individual tracks to make for a rewarding listening experience.

Don’t expect a lot of blistering guitar solos on Time. Howe displays his virtuosity in a more subtle form – by playing complex music effortlessly. If you’re expecting a return to Yes, you’ll be disappointed. But if you’re interested in some solid guitar artistry, Time might be worth your time.