September 7, 2024: 8-Bit Music Theory

One of the first musical genres that caught my attention as a kid was soundtracks/film scores. I've always been fascinated by the way composers work with directors to give a movie an overall feel, as well as adding tension or depth to individual scenes. This interest deepened when I was introduced to Final Fantasy VII, my first RPG of any sort. It has a sweeping score that includes numerous leitmotifs and a surprising amount of depth for a first generation Playstation game. (Yes, I'm old.) 

 

If you also enjoy video game soundtracks, then you'll definitely want to check out the YouTube channel 8-Bit Music Theory. Hosted by a music fan with a deep knowledge of how (and why) music works, this channel is a must-view for people who want to learn more about their favorite gaming tunes. I'm an especially big fan of his videos about Castlevania and the above-mentioned Final Fantasy VII, but fans of the Super Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda franchises will find some great content here as well. There are also some great videos for less well-known scores, such as those of Cuphead, Civilization VI, and Pikmin. Now if only there was a video covering Borislav Slavov's work for Baldur's Gate 3 . . . 

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