5115 research outputs found
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The Wind and The Wisp: Scoring Sentimental Title Themes
No full textGames are amazing. My story and lived experiences are that of an individual who has played video games all his life, someone who loves and appreciates the medium’s narratives, gameplay design, mechanics, and most importantly, music. I will describe in this paper how my experiences as a gamer, musician, and composer influenced the composition and production of the title themes for the indie game The Wind and The Wisp. I will go into detail about particular motific and orchestrational choices to convey a particular effect and/or emotion. I composed two title themes for The Wind and The Wisp, Title A and Title B (later titled on the soundtrack as “Passing” and “Remembrance,” respectively). Title A plays during the menu screen, a quiet, nostalgic theme to introduce the player to the story and atmosphere of The Wind and The Wisp. Title B plays after completion of the game once the player has returned to the menu screen, replacing Title A with a celebratory yet introspective theme. These tracks were recorded at AIR Studios, Lyndhurst Hall, on June 2nd.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1316/thumbnail.jp
Warzone Boss Fight
No full textOne of my biggest inspirations is “symphonic sketch” style writing, like in Distant Worlds and Final Symphony, which reframe the motifs of Final Fantasy through classical orchestration. This project’s vision was to contribute to this tradition—bridging concert and media approaches—by studying varied approaches from composers who each bring a distinctive voice to this space. The final composition is a hybrid score for a warzone style boss fight for a Chinese game company, submitted with temporary footage from the final boss of Horizon Zero Dawn : Burning Shore DLC. This paper documents the research, process, and production in composing this work, including analyzing over 100 media soundtracks across multiple genres, and the development of the thematic material. The final work, recorded in Air Studios, aims to offer one possible avenue for honoring traditional orchestral approaches while blending modern scoring techniques in game music.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1328/thumbnail.jp
Memories
No full textThis thesis explores the creation of the original orchestral score for Memories, a short film by the visual artist TRGNY. The film unfolds as a dreamlike journey through the inner landscape of a character’s past, a world of symbolic figures and green fields transformed into memory-scapes, reflecting on the irreversible nature of memory. The score was composed to mirror this atmosphere: subtle, expressive, and open to interpretation. Through evolving themes, delicate textures, and dynamic pacing, the music supports the film’s emotional undercurrents generally without imposing fixed meaning. This work reflects on the collaborative process and examines how music can give voice to the unspoken in a narrative built on impression rather than plot.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-scoring/1311/thumbnail.jp
Dr. Slepovitch on Musical Treasures from Sofia Magid’s Jewish Collection
No full textJudy Pinnolis, Associate Director, Instruction and Engagement at the Library at Berklee talks with author Dr. D. Zisl Slepovitch (Multi-instrumentalist, Composer, Conductor and Music & Yiddish Educator) about his book: Musical Treasures from Sofia Magid’s Jewish Collection Volume 1: Klezmer tunes from Belarus and Ukraine.https://remix.berklee.edu/library-books-at-berklee/1028/thumbnail.jp
Dr. Pooja K. Agarwal on \u27Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning\u27
No full textJudy Pinnolis, Associate Director, Instruction and Engagement at the Library at Berklee, talks with Dr. Pooja K. Agarwal, Associate Professor, about her book Smart Teaching, Stronger Learning: Practical Tips from 10 Cognitive Scientists.https://remix.berklee.edu/library-books-at-berklee/1031/thumbnail.jp
Episode 93: Coffee Talk: Damien Bracken
No full textBerklee\u27s Dean of Admissions, Damien Bracken, joins Dr. Kim Perlak and Professor Sheryl Bailey on this episode
Discovering My Identity As A Latino Musician
No full textThis thesis by Evan Luna explores the intersection of personal identity and Latin American musical traditions through original composition, performance, and reflective analysis. Raised in Lubbock, Texas, Luna experienced early dissonance between his Mexican American heritage and the predominantly white cultural environment of his upbringing. Music served as both refuge and revelation, guiding him through church drumming, studio experiences, and ultimately to a deepening engagement with Latin genres such as salsa, reggaeton, mariachi, and cumbia. The project employs a hybrid methodology combining case study research and auto-ethnography. Through composing and recording a series of original works, including 7 compositions which integrate Folkloric Afro-Cuban bata rhythms while preserving his innate jazz vocabulary, Luna investigates how traditional elements can be respectfully reinterpreted in a contemporary musical context. This creative process is paired with scholarly analysis, transcription, journaling, and collaboration with other Latin musicians to ensure authenticity and depth. Luna’s culminating experience, a recorded album, serves not only as an artistic portfolio but as a vessel for exploring questions of cultural authenticity, musical hybridity, and the role of the Latino musician in modern contexts. By blending technical growth with emotional introspection, the thesis affirms composition as both research and self-expression. The outcome is a body of work that challenges genre boundaries and affirms the value of cultural complexity in artistic identity.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-contemporary-performance/1333/thumbnail.jp
Harmonizing in Diversity
No full textThis collection of songs represents my personal growth through musical exploration, cultural dialogue, and reflection. Each composition unfolds as a unique story. This research focusses on combining two “main” instruments in telling most of my stories as a musician with two voices, the violin and the physical voice and how to let them become one. The music navigates themes of identity, spirituality, and social critique—most poignantly expressed in the politically engaged spoken word piece Illusions. Navigating through collaboration, cultural exchange, humility and respect for heritage, creative freedom, and emotional authenticity is subjected to the search for my innervoice. My work aims to dissolve the borders in music — to move beyond “binary thinking” , making space for fusion without erasure, for freedom without forgetting. This year, I’ve had the joy of performing on many stages with my band “el Encuentro”, recording 18 of my own compositions— all born from deep listening, shared vision, and the power of working together. In every note, I try to make room for dialogue — about where we come from, and where we want to go. The process culminates in an intentional synthesis of technical skill and artistic expression, revealing a dynamic artist continually evolving within the intersections of sound, histories and identity.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-contemporary-performance/1340/thumbnail.jp
The Developing Drummer
No full textThe purpose of my project is to help intermediate drummers expand their rhythmic vocabulary and feel confident improvising in odd groupings and time signatures. As a drummer who struggled with soloing and timing, I wanted to create the resource I wish I had. The Developing Drummer is a multimedia curriculum combining notated exercises, instructional videos, and real-world examples from my own playing. I researched drum method books and educational theories like constructivism and scaffolding to make sure each concept is clear and accessible. My goal is to guide drummers step by step—from foundational rudiments to advanced groupings—while encouraging creativity and personal expression. By sharing the methods I used to improve my own playing, I hope to inspire other drummers to develop their own voice and approach complex rhythms with confidence.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-contemporary-performance/1316/thumbnail.jp
Pipa Revolution: A Cross-cultural Journey of Sound and Identity
No full textThis project reimagines the role of the pipa and other Chinese traditional instruments in modern music. Working with producers from India, Colombia, and the United States, I created three original compositions—Mask, Fog, and Risky—each blending the pipa with different contemporary styles, including trap, reggae, and hip-hop. These works highlight how the pipa’s traditional techniques can adapt to modern rhythmic and production frameworks. Beyond recording and performance, I also arranged The Godfather Waltz into a hip-hop context, emphasizing how the pipa and ruan can function in melodic, comping, and counter-melodic roles. My composition Eclipse further explored the use of pedals and effects with both Western and Chinese instruments, laying the groundwork for integrating sound design into traditional performance. This work demonstrates the value of cross-genre experimentation and cultural exchange in expanding the artistic possibilities of Chinese instruments. It aims to inspire musicians to see tradition not as a limitation but as a foundation for innovation.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-contemporary-performance/1332/thumbnail.jp