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Spokane, Washington – November
17th, 2003 – Cyan Worlds, Inc., (www.cyanworlds.com)
developers of the legendary Myst® and Riven™,
today announced the upcoming release of the Uru™: Ages Beyond
MYST® Original Soundtrack, the music accompaniment to the latest
chapter in the multi-million selling MYST® series.
Cyan Music Director/Composer Tim Larkin has created the game’s
original soundtrack now available to pre-order on CD from www.cyanworlds.com/urumusic.
The CD is due for release in December and includes over 50 minutes of
original music including tracks from future updates to Uru™
online. The CD also features a special "Uru™: The
Makers" video and exclusive interviews with Tim Larkin and Rand
Miller, the creator of MYST®, with an introduction by
long-time MYST® celebrity fan David Ogden Stiers of the
renowned hit TV show M*A*S*H who also voices the character of
Zandi in the game.
In creating the musical score for Uru™: Ages Beyond MYST®,
Tim Larkin has composed a unique experience for the listener by
blending a wide range of ethnic as well as Western musical instruments
and styles. Encompassing World music, New Age, Classical, Folk,
Indian, Middle-Eastern and Native American, the score represents a
multitude of musical cultures and is a hybrid of diversity that breaks
new ground for soundtracks in games. Several exotic instruments are
used in partnership to create the otherworldly atmosphere and themes
of Uru™: Ages Beyond MYST® including the cathartic sounds of
the duduk, Indonesian gamelon, African harp, Aboriginal didgeridoo and
the shakahuchi, a Japanese bamboo flute.
"I really lean toward trying to find rare and
exotic sounding instruments and I try to blend palettes of instruments
that you wouldn’t normally hear together", explains Tim,
"With Uru™ I mixed as many diverse instruments as I
could in order to create a new, more distinct palette."
Tim employed live performers as
well as samples recorded with musical talent from around the globe,
including Tuvan throat-singers from the grasslands of central Asia who
lend their voices to produce multiple-pitch effects and harmonies. But
perhaps the most memorable of all Tim’s experiences creating this
soundtrack was working with the Maasai singers. As he recalls,
"That experience was pretty special. I’m not sure you’ll hear
that in any game to date. I do plan to utilize many of
the chants that I have in future episodes."
From this almost limitless repertoire, Larkin weaves together a rich
tapestry of ancient music traditions with modern techniques to create
a contemporary score that is intricately orchestrated and beautifully
performed by expert players and singers to enhance the surreal and
graphically intense world of Uru™: Ages Beyond MYST®.
More information on the game
soundtrack is now available at www.cyanworlds.com/urumusic.
About Tim Larkin
As Music Director at Cyan, Tim Larkin is following up his expert
sound design work on Riven™ with the latest incarnation of
the MYST® series, Uru™: Ages Beyond MYST®, composing
an all new original score for this epic. His previous sound design and
game score credits include Riven™, JRR Tolkien’s Middle
Earth (Sierra Online), Quest for Glory V, and Prince of
Persia III. As well, he was the sound designer for the Academy
Award winning CG animated short The ChubbChubbs!™, developed
and produced by Sony Pictures’ Imageworks. His other cinematic
projects include sound design for Doug Chiang’s (Star Wars Episode
I and II art director) Robota: Reign Of Machines, trumpet for
Martin Scorsese’s Memphis Blues and Lucas’ Industrial Light
and Magic. More information on Tim Larkin is available at www.timlarkin.net.
About Cyan Worlds, Inc.
Cyan Worlds, Inc., located in Spokane,
Washington, is best known for Myst® and Riven™,
which received numerous awards, critical acclaim and broad popularity.
Cyan has been designing and building immersive, interactive worlds
since 1987. They currently employ over 40 designers, programmers and
artists. For more information visit www.cyanworlds.com.
Contact:
Greg O'Connor-Read
Top Dollar PR
423-926-9949
greg@topdollarpr.com
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