BBC special BBC Prom celebrating music in video games

[PeterJ]

Interesting mention of the Spectrum in the BBC Gaming Proms which happened on the 1st August, during this episode of BBC Click from around 4:05

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... er-gadgets

You can watch the Gaming Proms here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m ... -the-proms

The Spectrum game music featured is from Chronos.

Note: Some links may not be available outside the UK

YouTube link updated. Thanks to @redballoon

[redballoon]

The Chronos arrangement was a bit out there - they even played the game loading, but it was absolutely fantastic. I happened to channel surf onto it midway through the performance and immediately recognised it. It was nice that it was in there amongst a lot of Japanese have music.

Just a thing, though @PeterJ, that Chronos video doesn’t contain the actual original Chronis music and something that doesn’t even come close to Follin’s.

You’ll want this

[PeterJ]

Thanks @redballoon.

I've updated the OP. Appreciated. Peter

[MtM]

I watched this program come on, and was fairly unimpressed by the presenter's lack of knowledge, clearly scripted questions and answers, but more than anything, the thing I suspected would happen did happen, after Chronos, where they _barely_ name checked the Great Tim Follin as its author, they started talking drivel about Japanese games and in game music, so I voted with my feet and turned over. Can someone please tell me if I missed any Rob Hubbard? And why not get the original tune authors on stage? As I remember Tim Follin left the game scene to make films as he was broke and fed up I think, this might of been a shot in the arm for him. I could be mistaken.

Overall, it went the way of so much BBC broadcasting these days, the short part I saw - over presented and pundited, by people with little real knowledge of 8 bit 80s music, which I do not claim to be an expert on, but I am pretty sure I know more than any of the people on that show, including the conductor.

I didn't think the version of Chronos was much good either tbh. Give me the original any day of the week.

However, thanks Peter J for creating the thread, as it has given me chance to vent!

[AndyC]

Yeah, I think the Chronos was a bit too out there for me, definitely prefer the original. The concert overall was ok though, it skewed a little too modern for my taste but you can't have everything I guess. We're some odd omissions too, felt like the Mario theme ought to be in there or even a bit of Castlevania. Still you can't have everything I guess.

[Matt_B]

Yeah, much of the charm of the Chronos music is that it sounds like it's being played on an angle grinder stuck through a phaser. The melody is certainly recognizable though and I appreciated that they kept a lot of the swells and portamento.

Anyway, here's the audio-only version for those geo-blocked by iPlayer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0019kp1

[Gooeyblob]

Pleasantly surprised to discover that Chronos on a 128 has AY drums!