Wherein the fire is the blistering Chicagoland sun. 😉
I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with J.A. over at ObsoleteGamer about my music, and I mostly appeared intelligent! You can check it out here:
In addition, I had the opportunity to offer some more nuanced takes on my work on Fossil Echo over at Realm of Gaming:
http://www.realmofgaming.com/interview/JohnRobertMatzInterview/75.html
Hello all!
On this date, February 24th, 1986, a momentous event occurred. I was born.
Since that luminous moment 30 years ago today, I have attempted with all my power to bring art, knowledge, and light to all humanity, but instead just written written music for video games and absurd films.
To that end, and in celebration of my big day, I’ve teamed up with the chaps over at Loudr.fm to offer my complete solo discography (so far) for the paltry price of $1.00 an album. Yes, that’s $1 each for the commanding score for Artemis: The Spaceship Bridge Simulator, the whimsical Bunny Overload, the sinister and madcap Werewolf in a Girl’s Sorority, the epic RODINA, and the magical Almightree: The Last Dreamer.
This being my 30th birthday, the sale runs for 3 days, so please, tell your friends and spread the word!
All of my music (including some collaborations with other fantastic artists) can be found here:
https://loudr.fm/artist/john-robert-matz/HT66k
Thank you all, and I hope you all have a wonderful day!
(Yes, I know it’s not quite as classy when you serenade yourself, but the Hoseaphone needs no excuse to visit it’s dulcet tones upon us.)
Hi everyone!
As some you may know, it’s my birthday today, so I’ve worked with my musical friends over at Loudr to arrange a little birthday sale. From today at noon (12pm CST) until tomorrow at noon, all my music is only $1; grab an album or two, sit back, and enjoy!
(Psst… Feel free to share it with your friends, too!)
https://loudr.fm/artist/john-robert-matz/HT66k
In addition, a new album, my score for the iOS and Android game, “Almightree: The Last Dreamer” has just been released, and will join the $1 sale!
I’m particularly proud of how this one came out; the world and art let me play with such neat sounds to create, I hope, a unique sonic palette as full of danger and mystery as the game’s world.
You can find this score for the spiffy action puzzler here:
https://loudr.fm/release/almightree-the-last-dreamer/cPMfq
And you can grab the game here:
iOS:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/almightree-the-last-dreamer/id895436237?mt=8
Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crescentmoongames.almightree
Hello, all!
I always seem to take far too long between updates for my own taste, but as usual, it’s because quite a bit has been happening!
First, those of you who’ve been reading my blog might remember that a few weeks back I mentioned a piece of concert music I’d written, based on Norse mythology. Well, that one movement piece was such a success that I was commissioned to expand it into a small symphony of sorts, four movements long, each one a portrait of a god or goddess in the Norse pantheon. Writing it was rather frantic, but I’m incredibly pleased with how it turned out, and the audience seemed to enjoy it quite a bit as well. I’ll post the link, as well as the program notes at the end of this entry.
Second, I’ve just had the pleasure of being interviewed by John and Gavin of the Starfleetcomms podcast, a site dedicated to playing and facilitating play of the first game I wrote music for, Artemis: The Spaceship Bridge Simulator. They’re a great team of interviewers, and I got to talk a bit about the influences and experience of writing that score.
Third, I’ve been hard at work on several new projects; all of which I cannot wait to share with you, and one of which we’ve entered into IndieCade. Fingers crossed, and watch this space for more announcements about them in the coming weeks!
Finally, the moment you’ve been waiting for:
Gods of the North, performed, commissioned by, and dedicated to the Elmhurst College Wind Ensemble.
Conducted by the composer.
Gods of the North
1. Odin
Odin, also know as the “Allfather”, is the ruler of Asgard, the realm of the gods. Odin is frequently depicted as a god of war, intellect, and mysticism, and is served by two ravens, Huginn (mind) and Muninn (memory), through which he watches over Midgard (our realm).
Beginning with a more contemplative moment, the piece depicts the ravens’ daily reconnoiter, as Odin’s theme is stated by a solo horn. Unfortunately, his raven companions bear ill tidings that bring Odin’s more warlike qualities into play, and he prepares for bloody conflict, arming himself with his magic spear, Gungnir, and accompanied by the barks of his wolves, Geri and Freki.
2. Frigg
Frigg is Odin’s wife, queen of the gods, and highest-ranked amongst the goddesses in the Norse pantheon. She is the only other individual permitted to sit upon Hlidskjalf, the high seat from which Odin watches over the world. A goddess of considerable power, she is a master of diplomacy, able to convince her husband to that her wishes are his, and goes so far as to obtain oaths of protection from all things to ensure her son, Baldr, is safe from harm. Alas, due to Loki’s trickery, Baldr is killed, sending Frigg into mourning.
Frigg’s theme was written in imitation of the droning cadence of an ancient nordic bowed instrument called the tagelharpa, even as the middle section depicts a funereal chant for her lost son. A brief outburst of anger is leveled towards the subject of the next movement before relaxing into a controlled placidity, befitting the queen of Asgard.
3. Loki
Half-god, half-jötunn (giant), Loki is a mercurial figure in Norse myth, depicted helping as frequently as he is shown hindering the other gods and humanity in their tasks and quests. A trickster, Loki has many magical abilities, including the ability to change form, a talent he uses with aplomb throughout the various Eddas of recorded myth.
Eminently unpredictable, Loki’s theme winds itself around an angular tenor saxophone solo before devolving into a section depicting his dabbling with shapeshifting into some rather familiar aspects.
4. Thor
Odin’s most famed son, Thor, god of thunder, wields the magical hammer, Mjöllnir. He is known for his grand adventures, battles against evil, and his protection of humanity. He brings a rogue Loki to justice after Baldr’s death, and is foretold to finally perish during Ragnarök after winning an epic battle with his longtime nemesis, the giant world-serpent, Jörmungandr.
In this last movement, we hear Thor’s theme rising, as if for one final battle, even as the wind picks up, and the fight is met. As Thor’s fury begins to make itself heard, Mjöllnir’s theme, depicted as the flashing brass of trumpets and trombones, combines with the impact of the lightning and thunder it calls forth. As the tide of battle turns, Thor’s theme takes on a more heroic aspect, even as hints of Loki’s machinations begin to weave their way through the fight. At the climactic moment, our hero must make a decision that will either save or doom us all, as the sun rises once more over Midgard.
Hello, all!
(Apologies for the lack of frequent updates!)
Some big news for you; since last week (yes, I know I’m behind!) and running until Friday the 13th (oooh, scary), you can grab a copy of the 2.0 version of my first game soundtrack, “Artemis: The Spaceship Bridge Simulator” along with 23 other fantastic albums for only $10 from http://www.gamemusicbundle.com!
Like previous bundles, it’s broken down into two tiers (Artemis is on the higher tier).
Pay $1.00-$9.99 and get:
Pay $10+ and get:
It’s an absolute honor to be listed alongside so many prestigious colleagues, and I cannot recommend this bundle strongly enough. (And that’s regardless of my tiny contribution.)
It’s an amazing collection of fantastic music for a stupidly low price, and I hope you’re able to take advantage of it.
Happy Listening, Everbody!
P.S. Keep an eye on http://www.Soundcloud.com/John-Robert-Matz/ this week; some interesting stuff is likely to pop up!
*Yay!
John Robert Matz: Freelance Composer for Media 