The Beethoven of Game Music
Music in video games has evolved exponentially over the last several years. The limits of early technology and software lead to the creation of simple, repetitive melodies that mostly embodied a single concept or motif. I remember the two distinct categories of stage (or level) music and boss battle music. Games were very simple and the fun soundtracks that accompanied gameplay were equally as simplistic.
Video games have grown up, and the emerging prominence of wireless interfaces and virtual reality set ups are forming a romantic era for the globally successful media. The music has grown up as well, and game soundtracks have become just as emotive and romanticized as film scores.
Nobuo Uematsu is described as the Beethoven of video game music. A self taught musician and composer, Uematsu began playing the piano as a child. He went to university and actually attained a degree in English. He began working and considered music a side quest, to make some extra money and had fun playing in bands and writing jingles. He eventually met with Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and the rest, as they say, is history.
Uematsu has worked on score material for the Final Fantasy series as well as cartoons like the Blue Dragon tv series, and Lasagna Cat. He is also credited as the sound supervisor, sound director and sound producer on a number of games. He has made the top ten Classic FM's Hall of Fame poll three years running. He tours with live concert productions of his famed Final Fantasy hits and other compositional works and he will be touring the United Kingdom this summer.
As a fan of music and of the Final Fantasy series, I am inspired and appreciative of Nobuo Uematsu. I have enjoyed his game music for countless hours and I do hope that he continues to create music for as long as he is able to do so.
Aerith's Theme, Sephiroth's Theme and For Those Who Fight are all very popular tracks. My personal favorite, however, is the wonderfully romantic composition of Tifa's Theme, arranged for piano here.