Austin Wintory's Themes are Simple, but Sophisticated
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Austin Wintory has been banging out some of the most acclaimed soundtracks in video games over the last 10 years: Journey, Abzu, and The Banner Saga trilogy just to name a few. I took a look at these and a couple other of Wintory's past soundtracks to try and break down how he constructs what is arguably the most important part of a soundtrack: the main theme.
Austin Wintory's channel: / awintory
'As Noted' series, featuring the scores for a bunch of Wintory's pieces: • As Noted
Other UA-cam videos about Wintory's writing that you might enjoy:
'The Story Hidden in Journey's Soundtrack': • The Story Hidden in Jo...
'Theme Breakdown with Austin Wintory' (about Erica's theme): • Theme Breakdown With A...
Austin Wintory BAFTA interview: • Games composer Austin ...
Crafting the Ocean in the Music of ABZU (ft. Austin Wintory): • Crafting the Ocean in ...
PATREON: / 8bitmusictheory
TWITTER: / 8bitmusictheory
NOTEBOOK: www.themusicia...
DISCORD: / discord
#Composition #videogamemusic #musictheory
Good lord, I am beyond speechless. Been a fan of this channel and your insights for a while and was totally blindsided by this today. At a loss for words on how to respond except to say an effusive THANK YOU for the care and attention you put into this video. It is an honor I hope to even fractionally deserve
The fact that you watched the video at all means so much to me that I don't really know how to process all the kind words on top of that! Thank YOU for the incredible body of work you've put together!
Everyone loves each other in this instance. My internet heart is warmed. (Also, big fan of both of you, I'll quietly let you to it)
Austin, it's good to see you being endlessly gracious with fans, as always!
I've also loved getting to see (or hear) you on Play, Watch, Listen every week! I have a long drive to play organ every weekend and you guys make it much easier to get up on Sunday morning :)
I didn't know you worked on Syndicate, I'm buying it just because of that! I first heard your music in the Banner Saga and went into a very wagnerian dive into brass music, no regrets. I'm glad we have this kind of talent working in videogames!
The Journey soundtrack gives me chills. I played the game a few years ago and was just left sobbing during the credits. I bought the sheet music to “I Was Born for This” in the hopes that my harpist friend and I could do a collab. Stunning!
I can't stop laughing at the notation "still 7 harps going hard"
sometimes you need to make sure those 7 harps always going hard
What's that game with the whales
@@andreshuertas8642 Abzû
His notation jokes are fucking hilarious they just creep up on you
gotta love notation, I have had some fun ones lol
A few years ago, the Ithaca College Gamer Symphony Orchestra was doing music from Journey when I was in the violin section. We reached out to Austin who allowed us to use the official arrangement of Apotheosis in our concert. AND he even visited us, gave a lecture on composing for video games to the music composition majors, and came to our rehearsal to work with us. Nothing but great things to say about the guy. Kind, happy to work with us, and supportive.
Austin Wintory thrives on the _crunch._
Even within the key, he finds a way to have that sense of tension and release, just with the in-context melody. That's incredible.
8BMT: *in-depth breakdown of musical techniques and theory*
Me (crying, listening to Apotheosis): “Yes, I know some of these words.”
ew music theory
Seriously, I haven't played that game and the song still made a tear come up
You don't know what all those words mean? Please tell me that you're a non-native speaker with almost no experience at all in English.
I know and understand music theory in an extent (I'm ok tier). I've clicked on the video to get a bit of theory and I ended up most of the time listening and feeling the music. Apotheosis is a nightmare. I almost never play it 🤣
When I played Journey, the very first thing I did after finishing it, was to look for the composer and buy the soundtrack. It is such an amazing album on its own, and it improves the game experience like no other.
This is my first time hearing any of Wintory's music. He has an insane amount of huge titles in his catalogue. From the pieces I heard in this video, I love how he's able to write music with a strong melodic line, while also maintaing a surreal, other wordly, atmospheric vibe. Definitely going to check out some of these titles in full.
Antonio Ortiz Music You should check out everything by Austin Wintory. I studied Music Composition in college and actually got to meet him in one of my composition seminar classes. He inspired me to develop my craft of composition and I find I write my classical music similarly to him (even though I write more Gothic Metal music). Keep exploring his music for sure. I had it on repeat for a pretty solid two years.
I have been on the Austin Wintery fan train for a couple of weeks now, he has such a fresh style. I also feel like his music is a lot more mature then many other game soundtracks, his music always feels like an extension to the gameplay, not just filling silence
Did you just read my mind? I though, like, two hours ago: “Hey! I’d like to see a new musical analysis of Journey’s OST, especially of “I was born for this”. “
Thank you!
That’s the point. I love his ability too balance out a somewhat sophistication and modernness in his music while writing good and memorable themes.
I can't think of any of my very favorite tracks that aren't great in both a straightforward way and also a more interesting way, that's something I really strive for. It's easy for me to come up with a single section that I like in both of these ways, but I've never written anything to completion while satisfying this.
I recommend you all watch "Crafting the Ocean in the Music of ABZU" by Scruffy. It's a very well produced video that has very few views.
Yes, please watch it!!
it's linked in the description and yes it's an excellent video
Please guys watch EVERYTHING by Scruffy
@@SuperRitz44 scruffffyyyy
Playing Journey for the first time is still one of my favorite gaming moments of all time.
Same. I wasn’t expect to be sobbing on my Birthday but Apotheosis hit like a truck, particularly the ending solo. Gets me to cry every time, and I’ve probably done over 90 play throughs of it! 😂
I met a composer who knew Austin. I know that’s not as cool as meeting him myself, but it was still neat.
LoL i guess the next person gonna say Austin was my uncle
@@karimari974 Then someone will say Austin is my Dad’s friend.
I actually taught Austin everything he knows tbrwy
Fantastic insights (and it doesn't hurt that the Abzû soundtrack is a household favorite)!
A
It's been years since I last played Journey, but as soon as I heard the first phrase, my eyes filled with tears. What a power that man's music has.
No Straight Roads has a LOT of musicality in it! It would be amazing if you could cover it ;-; Cliqtrack is such a good music team!!!
Shared this in Mr. Wintory’s discord server! Excellent content as always :DD
Journey's theme hit me like an emotional truck from the first moment i put the cd in and the game popped up. The game is a masterpiece in design in every single aspect, the music of course is at least half of it.
The end of apotheosis combined with the end of the game itself leaves that overwhelming feeling of "hell yeah" combined with "oh shit i actually feel kinda empty now" which is a feeling only geniuses can achieve in others.
Am I the only one who genuinely weeps at Journey's soundtrack?
Wow, this is the earliest I've ever been to an 8-bit music theory. As an aspiring game programmer, your videos really give me an excellent pause for thought about music and how truly important it is in games and the scene as a whole. It's so true that music can really set an environment.
Also, Journey is one of my favoraite games.
You are too early
@Benedict Francis probably was uploaded early then taken down because the video was not meant for that day but the original commenter already commented, or the time on the comment is glitched or maybe something else happened
Finally Journey! I have never clicked on a video so fast.
Sidenote:
Wintory's unusual phrase lengths (almost never a multiple of 4) and uneven phrase divisions are textbook Brahms.
How they develop their themes are quite different, though, it seems.
Homework:
Do any of you see other Brahmsian influences in his work?
My favourite Austin Wintory soundtracks are Luna and Tooth & Tail (esp. the Tarantella).
No other piece has emotionally struck me so hard when I heard it for the first time as Apotheosis. And then hearing I Was Born For This shortly after gave such reflective sigh of letting go, as reflected in the finale of the game. I'm so glad you covered Apotheosis here. Thank you.
I haven't been able to listen to Apotheosis ever since hearing it for the first time without my eyes leaking for some reason
Big same ahaha
I've never played these games, but now I really want to play them *just* for the music
I cannot recommend Abzu enough. Also check out Scruffy's video about it, it is linked in the description
Abzu and Journey. They are (from what I know) simple, artistic, and totally different to what a "video game" is like to most people.
Well somebody might be buying some games now
Austin Wintory has always been one of my top favorite contemporary composers for every reason outlined above and then some. The soundtrack from Journey alone brings me to tears every time I listen to it, and it's really cool to hear a solid breakdown of just why his music works as well as it does.
Wait I didn't even know he was the composer for abzu that explains a lot
I've played all these games (except Banner Saga) but I forgot how emotional Journey with his work made me. Honestly the game wouldn't be the same without his work. I have goosebumps...
I'm so glad you did an episode on the music of Journey, Nascence and Apotheosis have always been two very special pieces to me. Even after all these years, whenever it feels like I'm going to lose my mind, I listen to Nascence to find peace.
I'd love to see you analyze Gareth Coker's music. He's probably most known for his Ori soundtracks. There are moments of his that also give me Wintory vibes! That, or maybe looking at the music for thatgamecompany, same people behind Journey. Their scores always feel similar yet independent of one another, and I'd love to see them compared all side-by-side!
Bets on how long before Austin slides into the comment section?
@@awintory oh fuck he's here
8-bit,
This is such a fantastic video! I never jumped to watch a video faster. Thank you so much for this, and the shoutouts to the As Noted score series!
Great video! I think your recording of the assassin's creed theme "Bloodline" at 13:37 is a step higher than your transcription. I could be wrong, but I just wanted you to know. Love your stuff! Keep it up!
not sure if genuine mistake, trying to avoid copyright stuff, or a prank on perfect pitch-ers.
It's amazing to me how Apotheosis still brings tears to my eyes after all these years
There’s a lot of desert in Journey... so I’m surprised they went with something so... Wintory...
You know you made a good video when Austin leaves a comment
I do hope you'll do a video on the Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack sometime. It's my all-time favourite
This is an neat channel I just found. If the creator sees this, have you ever considered covering the music from Halo? Halo's music is definately one of the things that made Halo so great. I'd love to see a breakdown for some of its tracks.
Hey 8bit, I was wondering if you could have a look at the outer wilds soundtrack
ooh yes please
I'm being brought to tears both by the incredible examination of Austin Wintory's music and the fact that the Journey soundtrack was taken off of Spotify... 😭😭
There's a reason why Austin Wintory's Journey OST is most notable to me. I remember watching his journey ost video with his text commentary on how they worked on the game. The music went back and forth with the team and kept improving on it multiple multiple times. They could've kept going if it wasn't for the deadline. All that hard work and talent blossomed his soundtracks into the ascended (pun intended) realm. Really amazing stuff.
The Journey soundtrack is one of my favourites to just sit and listen through as a whole. It's beautiful from start to finish.
This analysis really helped to shine some light on why I enjoy the melody so much!
Any chance of doing a video on town themes in jrpgs? Feels like there must be something to unpick there :) (frontier village dali from final fantasy ix is just so relaxing...)
YOU DIDN'T TALK ABOUT FLOW HOW COULD YOU!!!!!!
Seriously, though. I know Journey is the best and all, but...Flow is also the best
I love your videos, but honestly, it's hilarious how "juicy" you find Wintory's themes (not that i don't agree)
Analyze the Startup and Shutdown themes from the Windows and Mac operating systems throughout the years!
To be fair, Austin is the kind of a composer where I will pick a game not for the gameplay or graphics, but because Austin created the score. Journey will always remain as my most emotional gaming experience ever.
When the main melody shifts to the relative major, the waterworks begin. (17:40)
The Cmaj7 chord after Bm is a modal chord from the phrygian mode of B, that's why it doesn't sound messy, and that mode of B is equivalent with Gmajor/Eminor, that are keys related to Bminor/Dmajor.
Incredible insight, and amazing communication as always! Just when you think you fully appreciate a composer's genius, 8-bit comes in and bring us 10 levels deeper into their brilliance. Thank you so much, this was amazing! ✨
I think you would do a tremendous job reviewing some of Gareth Coker's work on the Ori games. He's shares similarities with Wintory in that he's very agile at translating the same theme into multiple atmospheres. Also, the way he writes villain themes is *incredibly* thoughtful (I won't spoil too much, but Coker is very intentional about making sure certain villain themes have a hint of empathy to them in order to facilitate possible character transformations later on).
Anyway love your work, thank you for the great analysis!!
I don't fully understand the theory behind that B flat at 13:11, but good grace does it feel good when that cord hits ! It almost seems like the cord is trying to overstay its welcome as much as it can before the violin releases it as slowly as it can.
This is an amazing video. And I completely agree with the emotional impact of the music of Journey. My husband has played it several times and I am always struck at how wonderful the music is.
This was super interesting. Would love to hear your take on his Monaco soundtrack because it's so different from everything else he's done (using only a piano ... mostly).
YESSSS I WAS WAITING FOR WHEN YOU WOULD COVER HIM!!!!!!
So glad you covered the composer behind the Leisure Suit Larry remake. Probably best you didn’t include that game in your analysis though.
I recommend Wintory’s youtube channel, and the “play watch listen” podcast (: !
What a wonderful video and insight into my favourite game composer! 💖
The only game I've played scored by Austin was Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and the score fits perfectly in every leap, brawl and cart chase
Do you think it's worth playing it just for the music? I only played the Ezio trilogy (was fun) and not really interested in other games from the series, but maybye?
@@annakrawczuk5221 this opinion is unpopular amongst the AC community, but Syndicate was actually one of my favourite games in terms of gameplay, and if anything that's the main reason to play that series. Each new game brings a new protagonist with new abilities unique to the setting. Syndicate let you switch between two siblings that each had their strengths and weaknesses which is great for strategising before you begin a side quest. Not to mention that they both get a grappling hook which makes ziplining around Victorian London a lot of fun. I'd put Black Flag above Syndicate though, because pirates just rule, but if you're going to play any Assassin's Creed games it would be those two
Without his music, ABZU is not ABZU. Every time the music match perfectly with the story, at the same time not being too harsh to steal the show. I also appreciate his use of acoustic instruments.
Man this analysis are a gold mine. Fantastic work 👏👏
To me, Wintory is in a whole other level compared to soundtrack composers (film, videogame, TV or whatever). I think his music will be talked about a century from now as an important step to new things.
Couldn't agree more! I wish he was more known, the sheer amount of innovation with the question-answer and 4 bar theme forms is so refreshing.
3:39 reminds me of Back in the 90s
Thanks for introducing me to his work, I’d never heard it before and it’s so good. Would you ever talk about Brian Tyler?
Apotheosis never fails to give me shivers. It's such a good track.
Ironically, the simplicities of these composer’s music is what makes it so complex. Really showcases their mastery.
Journey was a game that I get to know because of his music, through an UA-cam recomendation. I instantly fell in love and buy the game. A trully masterpiece in every detail. Austin work's is really fascinating! Thanks for this analisys!
The first thing I think when I hear this music is "This is a man that has been steeped in the concert band world."
He's got the Eric Whitacre / Frank Ticheli / Samuel R. Hazo vibe going STRONG.
Not sure about Hazo but Ticheli and Whitacre, yes.
What a treat! So many insightful things here. I’ve been listening to Wintory’s music, particularly Journey and Abzu, for a while, mostly driving and hiking in the mountains. So exquisite! Thanks!
I've gotta say, I haven't listened much of Wintory's work, as far as I heard from the pieces, they look great. I need a time to listen to them for myself
Holy shit I just can't describe how beautiful the Abzu theme sounds. It's been ages since I completed that game. Recommend it for everyone.
This will help me so making epic, calming and mystical music. Thank you!
If it looks good, but doesn’t play well, then it isn’t a good game. Chibi-Robo Zip-Lash
Will you believe that I haven't heard any of these themes before? I've been missing out!
Hope you will cover the soundtrack for the visual novel Dies Irae someday and break down what makes Keishi Yonao's music tick. He is longtime veteran in the industry yet doesn't get anywhere near enough attention.
Now I know that my most favourite musical moment in any video game ever is a Cmaj7. Thanks!
Hey @8-bit Music Theory!
I have a quick request. I know your videos take a while, but if possible, could you analyze the emotion in the music of breath of the Wild? And how the themes of each area/ character invoke feelings? I think that would be an interesting video!
A bit disappointed there's no mention of Monaco: What's Yours is Mine.
The music in that game was also by Austin Wintory, and dare I say it's one of the best soundtracks i've heard.
The Halo theme kinda does the same thing, where is the same tune but it mold's itself to the situation
damn, this is the second video that i saw in this channel (started with hollow knight). Man you do such great work! i want everyone that i know to see this channel i know that this content isnt for everyone but, im here at 1:30 AM wake up my wife trying to explain to my wife why made this kind of videos are a huge deal ajajjaja!
Amazing work....I also get a bit of Celtic sometimes in the melodies and even some of the triplet violin rhythm stuff maybe thats just me coffee brain
Any chance you would ever break away from analyzing video game music only?
I'd really like to see your take on the first resident evil movie soundtrack, you know the bit with Marilyn Manson.
I want to know what makes it so nice to my ears and why is it so damn good after so many repetitions.
Could you do a few videos (or direct me to some) about instrumentation choices when writing music? I find everything I write is only really any good on piano, and I don't know how to take advantage of the strengths other instruments have to offer.
Hey can you make a video about Outer Wilds soundtrack? I would love to see it
Nice vid btw
Just finished playing Abzu today and I see that you uploaded this. The soundtrack gets you so immersed in the world of the game.
Wintory is definitely a modern master on sentence and period composition formulas but always including many personal and effective twists.
I was able to play various selections from Journey in my college symphony last year! He's a Colorado local and loved to endorse our performance. Wonderful music!
My favorite alive composer alongside Matoi Sakuraba.
The man knows how to portray depression but also resilience at the same time. It very much embodies the tone of Banner Saga's ability to constantly kick you down, never letting you rest, fraying you constantly but also that you continue to face the world and putting on foot in front of the other.
Welcome back to "8-bit Music Theory fanboys about composers"!
Mr 8-bit, you are very generous to share your musical expertise and video-making prowess with us.
Fantastic analysis! I really enjoy the way that you break down the music, showcasing the characteristics of Wintery's style.
Would love to see you do this for Jesper Kyd someday!
Tag yourself I'm "7 harps going hard"
so glad you focused on some modal use and such great music. loads of insight excellent info.
I feel educated and inspired, but I know I’ll forget this in 2 days and never get around to writing anything.
If you're gonna write out the viola part, at least use our clef! Not enough people use alto clef!!
Abzu song sounds incredible similar to something from skyrim
Finally I’ve been waiting for this one! Such good quality music
I had the amazing chance to see the Journey soundtrack performed live while someone else was playing the game in front of us. It was amazing to see how easily the transitions were made from one section of the game to another!
man the Monaco theme hits different tho
0:12 I see you have some 'composer essentials' there on the left Austin...