Ragtime Musical: Revival and Revisions

Ragtime and Musical Revisions

• The 2009 Broadway revival of Ragtime revitalized the musical after its initial struggles in 1998.
• The revival was simpler yet grand, featuring a 28-piece orchestra and a 40-member cast at the Neil Simon Theatre.
• Based on E.L. Doctorow’s 1975 novel, the story follows a wealthy white family, Jewish immigrants, and African Americans in Harlem, with appearances by historical figures like Emma Goldman and Harry Houdini.
• Director Marcia Milgrom Dodge ensured smooth pacing, while Quentin Earl Darrington and Christiane Noll delivered strong performances.
• Unlike the original's overly cheerful tone, the revival had a darker, more realistic feel, better suited for 2009 audiences.
• The original production of Ragtime was a financial and critical disappointment, despite its ambitious scale and themes.
• "Wheels of a Dream" was a powerful song overshadowed by the show’s struggles.
• The 2009 revival streamlined the production, emphasizing emotional depth and character development.
• Stronger performances and intimate staging allowed "Wheels of a Dream" to resonate more deeply with audiences.
• The revival benefited from a clearer vision, better pacing, and a cast that brought new energy to the production.

Martin Guerre Revisions

• The original Martin Guerre, in 1994, was criticized for its complex plot and lack of emotional impact.
• "I Will Make You Proud" was a heartfelt song but was overshadowed by the show’s flaws.
• A revised version, featuring songs like “Justice Will Be Done,” simplified the story and strengthened the characters.
• These revisions made the story more accessible and the music more impactful.

Mulan Revisions

• The original song from Disney’s Mulan, "Reflection" (1998), became an iconic ballad, but the film’s soundtrack was limited in scope.
• "Written in Stone" expanded on the themes of identity and family.
• While the remake received mixed reviews, the new songs added depth to the story.
• The new songs complemented the original material, offering fresh perspectives while honoring the legacy of the 1998 film.

Alanis Morissette "Ironic" Revisions

• The original "Ironic" (1995) was a massive hit, but its lyrics were famously criticized for not being truly ironic.
• Morissette re-recorded the song in a stripped-down, acoustic style for the 20th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill in 2015.
• The new version highlighted the song’s emotional core and showcased her growth as an artist.
• The acoustic version offered a fresh take on a beloved song, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners.

K.D. Lang "Surrender" and Sheryl Crow "Tomorrow Never Dies"

• K.D. Lang’s song "Surrender" (1997) was initially considered for the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies but was rejected.
• Sheryl Crow’s version became the official theme song, blending Bond’s classic style with a modern edge.
• Crow’s version was more commercially successful and widely recognized.
• Crow’s version better captured the Bond aesthetic, with a catchy melody and cinematic production that fit the franchise’s expectations.

Billy Joel "We Didn’t Start the Fire" Revisions

• Billy Joel’s "We Didn’t Start The Fire" (1989) was a chart-topping hit, known for its rapid-fire lyrics chronicling historical events from 1949 to 1989.
• Fall Out Boy updated the song with events from 1989 to 2023, maintaining the original’s structure but adding a modern rock edge in 2023.
• The cover introduced the concept to a new generation.
• The updated lyrics made the song relevant to younger audiences, while the band’s energetic performance gave it a fresh sound.

Science Fiction Music Composition

• To write music with a science fiction flavor, liberally mix major and minor scales and Lydian mode.
• Major Scale: A seven-note scale with a bright, happy, or triumphant sound.
• Minor Scale: A seven-note scale with a darker, sadder, or more dramatic tone.
• Lydian Mode: A major scale with a raised 4th note, creating a dreamy, ethereal, or slightly unresolved sound.
• Tritone: A musical interval spanning three whole tones (six semitones), often called the “devil’s interval” because of its dissonant, unsettling quality.
• Major Chord: A chord built with a root, major third, and perfect fifth.
• Melody: A sequence of single notes that form a recognizable musical phrase or theme and is often the most memorable part of a piece.
• Minor 6th: An interval spanning six notes in a minor scale, and in A Minor, the interval from A to F is a minor 6th.
• Dynamics in the piece is the variation in loudness between notes or phrases.
• Subito: An Italian term meaning “suddenly.”
• fff (fortississimo): Extremely loud.
• ppp (pianississimo): Extremely soft.
• Soaring French Horns: A descriptive term for French horn melodies that are lyrical, expansive, and emotionally uplifting, often used in film scores and orchestral music.
• Acousmetre: A term from film and sound theory referring to a sound or voice whose source is not visible on screen, creating mystery or tension.
• Electroacoustic: A genre of music that combines electronic and acoustic elements, often using technology to manipulate sounds.
• Spooky Sound: A descriptive term for music or sound design that creates an eerie, unsettling, or mysterious atmosphere.
• Counterpoint: A compositional technique where two or more independent melodies are played simultaneously, creating harmony through their interaction.
• Riff: A short, repeated musical phrase or pattern, often used in melody, harmony, or rhythm.

Porter Robinson “A TV Show Called Earth”

• Use a combination of synthetic and glitchy textures, such as robotic vocal chops, metallic percussion, and shimmering pads, when writing songs.
• Pitched-up and distorted vocals can be used.
• Ambiguous tonality and Lydian mode influence create a dreamy, emotionally complex atmosphere.
• Production techniques like wide stereo imaging, reverb, and dense layering immerse the listener in a vast, alien soundscape.
• This combination of sound design, vocal manipulation, and thematic storytelling makes the song feel both hopeful and melancholic.

Tetris Theme Song

• The Tetris theme song was composed by Hirokazu Tanaka and arranged for the Game Boy version of the game in 1989.
• The song is also known as "Korobeiniki".
• The song was originally a poem by Nikolay Nekrasov in 1861 and became a popular Russian folk song.
• It was chosen for the Western release of Tetris to give the game a more immersive, cultural flavor.

Chiptune Music

• Chiptune music emulates the sound of vintage video game consoles and computers and originated in the 1980s.
• It is created by using the sound chips from old gaming systems like the NES, Game Boy, and Commodore 64, or software that replicates these sounds.
• It is characterized by its 8-bit or 16-bit sound, along with basic waveforms and minimal effects.
• It gained a cult following in the 2000s as a nostalgic and creative art form and is associated with gaming culture.

Evolution of Video Game Music

• Initially, video game music was simple due to limited technology.
• The 8-bit era (1983-1990) introduced catchy tunes using basic sound chips in games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.
• The 16-bit era,began in 1987, featured more complex and emotional music in games like Final Fantasy and Sonic the Hedgehog due to improved technology.
• Today, video game music is like movie soundtracks, with full orchestras and professional composers.
• Games like The Last of Us and Halo have cinematic and epic music.
• Video game music is now a big part of culture, listened to outside of games, and celebrated in concerts.

Rhythm Games

• Rhythm games have evolved from simple arcade machines to complex, immersive experiences.
• Early examples like Dance Dance Revolution (1998) and Guitar Hero (2005) popularized the genre, combining music with physical interaction.
• These games require players to match on-screen prompts with precise timing, fostering hand-eye coordination, rhythm, and reflexes.
• Rhythm games expanded to include mobile apps like Beat Saber (VR) and osu! (PC), offering diverse gameplay styles and accessibility.

Therapeutic Potential of Rhythm Games

• Rhythm-based games are potential tools for cognitive and motor rehabilitation.
• They are particularly helpful for individuals with brain damage or neurodevelopmental disorders like Parkinson’s disease, dyslexia, or ADHD.
• Rhythmic training can improve motor performance (e.g., gait) and cognitive/language skills.
• Rhythmic precision is recorded and scored, encouraging rhythmic coordination and timing.
• Rhythmic and vocal coordination is encouraged.
• Developers should improve temporal precision and create games that selectively train rhythmic skills.

Limitations of Current Rhythm Games

• Temporal Precision: Most games lack the precision needed for effective rhythmic training.
• Feedback: Many games do not provide detailed feedback on rhythmic performance, limiting their use for skill development.
• Selective Training: Existing games do not focus exclusively on rhythmic skills, often blending them with other elements.

Potential for Serious Games

• Higher Temporal Precision: Narrower response windows and more accurate recording of timing.
• Detailed Feedback: Real-time feedback on rhythmic performance to guide improvement.
• Adaptive Difficulty: Adjustable challenges to match the player’s skill level.

History of Rhythm Games

• Early Beginnings (1970s–1980s): Rhythm games emerged from simple music-based arcade games like Simon (1978).
• Early music games, such as Dance Aerobics (1987) for the NES, laid the groundwork for interactive music experiences.
• The Arcade Boom (1990s): The genre exploded in popularity with Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) in 1998, which introduced physical interaction.
• Mainstream Success (2000s): Guitar Hero (2005) brought rhythm games to consoles, using a guitar-shaped controller to simulate playing rock music.
• Diversification and Innovation (2010s): Mobile games like Tap Tap Revenge (2008) and osu! (2012) made rhythm gaming more accessible.
• Virtual reality (VR) games like Beat Saber (2018) revolutionized the genre by combining rhythm gameplay with immersive VR environments.
• Modern Era (2020s): Rhythm games continue to evolve, with titles like Fuser (2020) and Rocksmith+ (2022) introducing new mechanics and music integration.

Cultural Impact of Rhythm Games

• Rhythm games have influenced music culture, introducing players to new genres and artists.
• They’ve fostered global communities, with competitive scenes and collaborative platforms like osu!.