How the Zelda Symphony is Orchestrated

Since the debut of Symphony of the Goddesses in 2013, producer Jason Michale Paul and others have been conjuring live performances for Zelda fans all across the globe. A symphonic performance may seem simple enough: nostalgic gameplay is projected up on the big screen, the orchestra brings to life some of our most beloved Zelda melodies, and the audience is left mesmerized. An interview from the recent Kitchener-Waterloo showing in Toronto reveals exactly what goes on behind the scenes, from their hiring process to staying in sync with video. Take the jump for more!

The article from Venture Beat is filled with details explaining the process of constructing their Zelda performance. The interview features insight from several members of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, as well as producer Jason Michale Paul, and conductor Amy Anderson.

For those of you curious about the run-down before the show, they apparently only have a 20 minute rehearsal to polish things up just before the performance. According to cellist Christopher Sharpe:

“The musicians did not see the entire score, but we were given MP3 recordings of each piece to practice with to get a sense of how it all fits together,” cellist Chris Sharpe said. “It’s not typical to get recordings provided, but musicians are resourceful at finding recordings of unfamiliar pieces to practice with.”

“Musicians need to manage their practice time carefully, especially as we’re not only learning the music for this concert but also for a number of upcoming concerts,” Sharpe said. “As I practiced, I identified which pieces I would need to play along with the MP3 recordings — again, as a way to practice most efficiently. Difficult passages required the most time, starting with slow practice and working up to the performance speed.”

If you’ve ever been to a Symphony of the Goddesses performance, you might have wondered how the symphony stays in sync with a video displayed above them. According to Sharpe, musicians in the symphony actually use a click-track system with headphones to stay syncopated:

“This show uses a click-track system to keep the orchestra synced with the video content. That means that many orchestra members have headphones on while they play live onstage. In their headphones, they hear a clicking sound that repeats at the tempo the music is to be played at. This helps to keep the music they play synced with the video content from the game. It would be terrible if Link started playing his ocarina and the orchestra wasn’t right in time with him! It makes the show more challenging, but it’s worth it to ensure it is successful.”

There’s plenty more learn from Venture Beat’s interview, be sure to click here for more! What was your experience like attending a Zelda symphony, and if you have yet to, what do you expect?Ever had the chance to see any behind the scenes for yourself? Tell us in the comments below!

Source: Venture Beat