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zack

Joined: 15 May 2006

Posts: 315

Location: Monte Rio, California

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 4:28 am — Post subject: Robyn's Music for Myst and Riven

I've long wanted to make this comment about what I've thought for literally years now was the incredible music written for Myst and Riven, but most especially Myst.I know many of us love that music, but the intricacy of how some of it was put together has always amazed and impressed me.
The best example of how clever I think it is (and there are many other examples as well) - from my perspective - is in how Sirrus' theme - which is naturally directed to his special trophy rooms with all the incredible items he has gathered (as did Achenar - though to different areas), and Sirrus' theme does that perfectly but it also goes an amazing step beyond by utilizing that other great discordant background theme (kind of a very musical almost chop sticks gone terrible insane) that is completely and perfectly integrated into the entire theme as a whole. I remember thinking when I suddenly realized that subtle message in the theme itself, that doing that - and doing it with such subtlety was absolute genius.
'I know it's been years since that was written, but I've never tired of the music Robyn wrote for both Myst and Riven and, I still listen regularly, especially to the music from Myst - either in my truck (as I've had the CD for uncountable years now Smile or, since I leave music on for Raku - the name of my blue and gold Macaw, who has to stay home in the house when I go to work, I almost always leave Myst as part of the music he hears daily.
I hope this comment is appropriately left in the right location. It didn't belong in any other thread and doesn't have any spoilers,

Miranda2

Joined: 13 Apr 2011

Posts: 145

Location: Mystesota

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:58 pm — Post subject:

I agree about his music as a whole but I must disagree on my favorite. I loved the Myst soundtrack, used the Stoneship telescope ditty as my boot up on my Mac for years. However, the Riven soundtrack was definitely my favorite. It's probably a girl thing, I still get goose bumps when I listen to this day, even after 16 years. And when I do listen, I get all these wonderful visuals. There are a few selections on his Ambo album that harken back to Riven. I love the soothing, spiritual style, makes a wonderful soundtrack for our own lives.


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Rudolfson

Joined: 05 Feb 2008

Posts: 728

Location: Sweden

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Post Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 5:39 pm — Post subject:

Miranda2 wrote:

I agree about his music as a whole but I must disagree on my favorite. I loved the Myst soundtrack, used the Stoneship telescope ditty as my boot up on my Mac for years. However, the Riven soundtrack was definitely my favorite. It's probably a girl thing, I still get goose bumps when I listen to this day, even after 16 years. And when I do listen, I get all these wonderful visuals. There are a few selections on his Ambo album that harken back to Riven. I love the soothing, spiritual style, makes a wonderful soundtrack for our own lives.


-soulmates- sigh


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Rhendalle

Joined: 04 Jun 2009

Posts: 44

Location: Cleveland, OH

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 2:10 am — Post subject: Robyn's Music for Riven

The Riven soundtrack had the ability of being extremely atmospheric and immersive without being obtrusive. The overall soundtrack had a musical coherence to it that wielded the ability of melding one track right into the next without any disruption; yet each track still retained its own unique occurrence in the game. Although Myst's music was very atmospheric as well, the tracks did not flow into one another as closely as did Riven's. I continue to believe Robyn Miller is not given enough credit for his contribution to the immense popularity of Myst and Riven. IMO, if not for the soundtrack, Myst and Riven would have been far less immersive and atmospheric…it’s what gave them their mystery.

zack

Joined: 15 May 2006

Posts: 315

Location: Monte Rio, California

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:26 am — Post subject:

I agree that Robyn's contributions via the music for Myst and Riven deserved even more credit than they were given - though she made many other contributions to Myst and Riven as well and was one of those involved from the outset - after all, she is Rand's sister. That said,I wonder how the public in general perceived any music they heard in any game played when MYST was released.
I totally agree that the music in both Myst and Riven (and in others... certainly URU) has been an extremely important element in the whole experience.That I still listen to the music from MYST on an almost daily basis after that many years amazes me (it isn't the only music I listen to in life ...but I've never tired of it either).
However, the clever way that Robyn used the music she wrote, allowing to carry subtle messages about all sorts of things carries a level of sophistication beyond the way any music was previously used in games and I'm not sure that anyone has duplicated that feat again.
While I love the music in URU, I've always wondered how Robyn would have 'scored' URU and have also always regretted that she didn't write music for any of the later Myst adventures.

Norfren

Joined: 27 Sep 2006

Posts: 716

Location: Hungary

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:04 am — Post subject:

zack wrote:

I agree that Robyn's contributions via the music for Myst and Riven deserved even more credit than they were given - though she made many other contributions to Myst and Riven as well and was one of those involved from the outset - after all, she is Rand's sister.



As far as I know Robyn is he


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Norfren
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Free Bird

Joined: 05 Sep 2006

Posts: 179

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 12:11 pm — Post subject:

Norfren wrote:

As far as I know Robyn is he


He certainly is! They don't call them the Miller brothers for nothing. Wink

dadguy

Joined: 09 May 2006

Posts: 1394

Location: Wilmington, DE KI: 2883

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:55 pm — Post subject:

Yes, not to be confused with Rand's lovely wife, Robin, Robyn is the brother in the pic above. Smile

The other brother is Ryan (whom was role playing the Doug Sharper character in URU).

Really repetitive reuse of random Rs Smile We are surprised it wasn't named "Ryst" heheh

Dadguy


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Trekluver

Joined: 17 Feb 2010

Posts: 1132

Location: US

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Post Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:15 pm — Post subject:

dadguy wrote:

Really repetitive reuse of random Rs Smile We are surprised it wasn't named "Ryst" heheh



That would be an interesting name for a game. It rhymes with "Wrist" the same way Myst rhymes with "Mist."


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alswaiter

Joined: 26 Mar 2011

Posts: 86

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Post Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 5:16 am — Post subject:

Trekluver wrote:

dadguy wrote:

Really repetitive reuse of random Rs Smile We are surprised it wasn't named "Ryst" heheh



That would be an interesting name for a game. It rhymes with "Wrist" the same way Myst rhymes with "Mist."




Or Wryst?

Everything is better with a y.


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