MUSIC REVIEW: RNCM Young Explorers present The Manchester Video Games Orchestra - The RNCM, Manchester.

Have you ever wondered about the music that is played to accompany video / computer games? I bet not; I would imagine that the vast majority of us just take it for granted and not give it a second thought. However, somebody has to compose that music, and somebody or bodies then have to perform and record it. 

RNCM Young Explorers, a series of concerts held regularly to enthuse and teach primary-aged children in music and music performance, hosted a public concert this afternoon inviting The Manchester Video Games Orchestra to come along and play some of the more iconic and some of the lesser known music that accompanies the video games we play. 

The Manchester Video Games Orchestra (who knew there would even be such a thing?) is actually a real orchestra and yes, they are based in Manchester. Headed and conducted by Tom Hillary, the ensemble aims to introduce people to the world of video games through live performances of the orchestral music which accompanies them - or introduce people to live music through the video games which accompany them, whichever of the two sides of the same coin you arrive at it from. Hillary proved to be a very enigmatic conductor; and since the orchestra configuration and instrumentation was not a conventional symphony orchestra, unconventional conducting techniques were also required, and it was very interesting to watch him on the podium gesticulating and moving along with the music. 

One of the conert programme's composers was also present in the hall this afternoon, coming all the way from the USA to hear his music played. Perhaps that is because composers of gaming music will rarely if ever, get to have their pieces played by conventional orchestras; and so it was both edifying and fascinating to have such composers being given "air time" and treated the same as one would Beethoven or Brahms. 

Eight pieces were performed in total, and we heard music from James Hannigan, Josh Mancell, Stewart Copeland, Jun Senoue, Grant Kirkhope, and Ari Pulkkinen. I am not even in the slightest interested in computer games, and never have been. The more famous titles being at the periphery of my consciousness and so none of the music in the concert today was familiar to me in any way. That did not mean though that I did not enjoy listening to the music; especially when a large video screen had been erected above the orchestra so that sections of the video game in question could be played and relayed to the audience during the music. 

Of all the eight pieces of music performed, my favourite two were undoubtedly the opening piece; a stirring, lively cinematic-styled piece about myths, legends, dragons and medieval knights' adventures, as the orchestra played the main theme from 'Runescape' by James Hannigan. And the other one was Grant Kirkhope's music to 'Banjo Kazooie'. A great tune, mostly on the xylophone, up-tempo and catchy, followed by a tango-esque theme, using atmospheric melodic phrases thoughout, which truly told the story in our mind's eye. A fantasy piece, epic in structure, dramatic in realisation, and hugely fun to listen to.

In between these pieces we heard music from 'Crash Bandicoot', 'Spyro The Dragon', 'Spyro 2: Gateway To Glimmer', 'Crash Team Racing', 'Sonic The Hedgehog: Adventure 2: Escape From The City', and to finish the concert, the orchestra ended with, 'Angry Birds'.

The last piece before the interval required a female soloist, and to sing this was Caitlin Laing-McEvoy; whilst the concert was ably compered (primarily for the young children of the RNCM Young Explorers who were in the audience) by a young man (uncredited in the programme).  

A lively and enjoyable afternoon's concert.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall

on - 13.2.22