Blizzard and Eminence Symphony Orchestra announce 2-disc set
by Alex Ziebart 
Oct 27th 2008 at 5:00PM
For those of you that enjoy the music of WoW and Blizzard's other games, there's good news from our sister (brother? cousin?) site BigDownload. The Eminence Symphony Orchestra and Blizzard Entertainment have announced a 2-disc album and DVD collection of music from across their franchises. Starcraft II, Diablo III, and Wrath of the Lich King are all accounted for in this 70 minute collection.In addition to the basic two disc package, they're going to be offering a limited-print Legendary Edition (think Collector's Edition) featuring the Echoes of War DVD which features interviews with the composers and behind-the-scenes footage. The Legendary Edition will also include a 32-page "commemorative tome" with lots of pictures and artwork. It will retail for $49.95 on November 1st, while the basic 2-disc set will not be released until November 22nd, at a price tag of $29.95.
Personally, I'm extremely excited, and the quote Music 4 Games used from their interview with Hiroaki Yura only solidifies that excitement: "We wanted music from Blizzard to be featured as a standalone work as to us, it is probably the most under-estimated game music of all time. Blizzard have an uncanny ability to really mold their music to the game, so much so that players are unaware that music creates such a key role in creating the atmosphere of the game. However, that being said, we wanted to make standalone works of music, works of art in its pure form so we approached Blizzard if we can create a Symphonic arrange album of the music from all the games from Blizzard Entertainment."
Their quote and not mine, for the record!
It's fantastic music in the games themselves, and I'm eager to hear what the Eminence Symphony Orchestra can do with it as standalone pieces. I already listen to a lot of the tracks in mp3 form when I'm relaxing at night. I probably won't be jumping on the Legendary Edition, but you bet I'll be buying the basic set as soon as I get a chance.
Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
benicrystal Oct 27th 2008 5:07PM
It'll be 70 minutes of Bliss... but that's pretty expensive. I hope they'll give out soundclips before I buy.
prudychick Oct 27th 2008 5:42PM
Just get the $30 one.
Phil Oct 27th 2008 5:07PM
If it's got a full-on symphony arrangement of the music from The Air Strikes Must Continue, you bet I'll pick it up.
Ah, who am I kidding, I'll get it anyway.
Horde Oct 27th 2008 5:14PM
Any chance they will release an all-WoW background music, including the music from patches (Sunwell, ZA, Naxx, AQ, etc.)?
moonwaves182 Oct 27th 2008 5:23PM
Any chance they might include sheet music? My school band would probably play it, considering that they still play disney music from time to time :)
JustinM Oct 27th 2008 5:25PM
Not for that price. Orchestral scores/parts are expensive.
mora Oct 27th 2008 5:29PM
/milkthatcow
I joke guys. I have always played with the music off. is was just always what I did when playing video games. But one day I turned them back on in WOW. WHOA! the mood the music adds to this game is amazing
prudychick Oct 27th 2008 5:45PM
This is extremely cool. The first and so far only symphony my husband took me to was a Lord of the Rings one (epitome of awesomeness). I told him if VideoGames Live ever comes back to where we live we're going to that one too. This will suffice until that day.
G Oct 27th 2008 5:46PM
I'd pay that much for new & pristine recordings delivered in a surround format. I'll have to think about a couple of stereo CDs with some extra videos on a DVD (maybe wish-list it for Christmas). Anyway, all of the links through all of the blogs finally lead back to a nice web site with samples..
http://www.echoes-of-war.com/
jurandr Oct 27th 2008 5:53PM
WTB sheet music :(
Extravadanza Oct 27th 2008 6:26PM
/agree
Keyra Oct 27th 2008 10:31PM
This latest opening screen piece for WoW is nothing short of perfection, in my opinion. This is the type of thing that you would expect to hear in a major motion picture, not a video game! The music I've been hearing just keeps getting better and better, and it really adds to the game. I know a few people who play with the sound off and listen to their own music. Their loss :-)
RetPallyJil Oct 27th 2008 11:20PM
Shame I don't give a flip about Starcraft and Diablo music.
All WoW music? Sold. As it is, I'll pass.