Bring Mark Seibert on board please!!
Mark Seibert's music is, IMO, a key part to the magic of the Sierra games, especially the KQ games. His simple but beautiful melodies helped define the atmosphere of King's Quests V-VIII, and he's at the height of his talents in King's Quest V and King's Quest VI--arguably two of the most well received games in the series.
I believe a KQ game without Mark Seibert on board would be like a Star Wars film without John Williams, or a Sergio Leone film without Morricone--It just wouldn't be right. There's a beautiful simplicity to Mark's music in the KQ games that really just belies the magic of the series--A beautiful, sweet simplicity.
His songs aren't ten minute epics, but little, atmospheric melodies, and even though they're simple, they lift simple VGA scenes (in V-VII) to emotional heights. I think even some of KQ8's staunchest opponents would be hard pressed to argue that Mark's music in KQ8 wasn't a highlight of that controversial game.
So, please--I know some Telltale people read this--Could you resist the easy path and the temptation to use your own people, and consider giving Mark Seibert a call?
If not Mark Seibert, than at least get any of these guys:
Ken Allen
Chris Brayman
Dan Kehler
Richard Spurgeon
Neil Grandstaff
Jay D. Usher
All of the men listed above helped craft the music of King's Quest V, VI and VII and are just as important to the atmosphere of those games as Mark was. So if Mark isn't available, at least offer the gig to one of those guys.
I think that the addition of Mark or any of those guys to the team would not only would it make TellTale's KQ feel more like the originals, but it would also help recreate that unique King's Quest atmosphere, and most importantly, it would make a lot of KQ fans--even the skeptical ones, I would imagine--happy.
So please consider this.
I believe a KQ game without Mark Seibert on board would be like a Star Wars film without John Williams, or a Sergio Leone film without Morricone--It just wouldn't be right. There's a beautiful simplicity to Mark's music in the KQ games that really just belies the magic of the series--A beautiful, sweet simplicity.
His songs aren't ten minute epics, but little, atmospheric melodies, and even though they're simple, they lift simple VGA scenes (in V-VII) to emotional heights. I think even some of KQ8's staunchest opponents would be hard pressed to argue that Mark's music in KQ8 wasn't a highlight of that controversial game.
So, please--I know some Telltale people read this--Could you resist the easy path and the temptation to use your own people, and consider giving Mark Seibert a call?
If not Mark Seibert, than at least get any of these guys:
Ken Allen
Chris Brayman
Dan Kehler
Richard Spurgeon
Neil Grandstaff
Jay D. Usher
All of the men listed above helped craft the music of King's Quest V, VI and VII and are just as important to the atmosphere of those games as Mark was. So if Mark isn't available, at least offer the gig to one of those guys.
I think that the addition of Mark or any of those guys to the team would not only would it make TellTale's KQ feel more like the originals, but it would also help recreate that unique King's Quest atmosphere, and most importantly, it would make a lot of KQ fans--even the skeptical ones, I would imagine--happy.
So please consider this.
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However, I'm almost convinced that Jarred can do just as good a job to grasp the style.
I hope you're right, because IMO the music was just as important to the atmosphere of the games as anything else. The music really helped turn a bunch of (beautifully done) VGA scenes into cinematic moments.
I personally think Jarred should listen to the KQ5 soundtrack--that soundtrack for me is the best KQ soundtrack and captures the heart of King's Quest, musically speaking.
I don't want like overdone, epic, vocal songs or bland Kingdom Hearts sort of music (looks over at TSL).
I whole-heartedly agree with the idea of getting Mark Seibert involved (I actually created a topic about this way back in February: http://www.telltalegames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23032).
If Mark is not available, my second choices would be Ken Allen or Chris Brayman (for reasons that have already been mentioned).
If you get a chance, head over to Mark Seibert's last.fm page and vote DOWN the slick-haired German guy and vote for the nerdy guy in the litte picture on the left. Click on the pictures to cast your votes!
http://www.last.fm/music/Mark+Seibert
He was the Music Director on SQ4. Not the composer. That's not to say he didn't do any compositions in the game, he might have. But Ken Allen did most of the material as far as we know?
But ya directors and composers are two very different things.
The complete Music and Sound Effects credits are;
Ken Allen, Rob Atesalp, Mark Seibert, Rick Spurgeon, Orpheus Hanley, Aubrey Hodges and Veronica Oldfield
A few composers also direct.
In the cases of games, this may mean they head the music and sound team, and do the final finishing edits and touches. But it rarely is anything as grand as the work of the Composer itself.
By the way Mark Seibert is a nice guy, he answers emails. If you want to know more about his involvement in SQ4 you should ask him yourself! His email is on his site.
Also, another thing to look out for. Ken Williams often gets top billing in many of the Sierra games, as a game producer. But his actual game involvement was pretty slim!
Same goes for Sierra's mid-90's "Creative Director", Bill Davis who often got third highest billing many of the Adventure games of the 90's. Again, his actual role on each game was next to nothing!
http://sierra.wikia.com/wiki/Bill_Davis
So you aren't alone.
There are individual pieces of music that I love more in the later games, but for overall mood and thematic quality of the entire soundtrack, KQ4 is my favorite. Probably followed by KQ6.
It has still 30 minutes or so of music total, and sounded glorious on an MT-32. Probably why it won so many awards for music.
From The Royal Scribe;
But ya most of the music is only short, in that its intended to repeat several times, its got alot of cool ambiant feel to it.
Considering Goldstein composed for films and movies, he certainly would know how to compose for modern games. But since he's a holywood professional he's probably outside of Talltale's league even. That is is even Goldstein hasn't retired. I don't know what his last work was.
Correct. That score was Ken Allen.
In fact, Ken Allen is scoring a new geek / video game movie:
http://chaosngn.com/ken-allen-composer-pwnage-pwned/
Crispin's theme in KQ5
Cassima's theme in KQ5
The underground gnome theme in KQ5
The entire intro theme in KQ6
Girl in the tower in KQ6
The intro theme in Conquest of the Longbow
Oh man, everyone of those are so good at building the emotional connection between the player and the game. They all give me chills. Having these guys come back would be an amazing idea.
BTW, I actually liked the Bountiful Woods theme from KQ7.
Love Ken Allen's work in the murder mystery game Colonel's Bequest! The man is very versatile! He can do mysterious, scary stuff brilliantly and also sweet romantic music and grand adventure themes like in SQ4. And all if his "Jones in the Fast Lane" tunes are so catchy and perfect for their respective scenes.
By the way, those of you who don't visit the general forum might want to check them out, since Ken Allen's just joined up here.