Tim Corpus
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Beginning With Video Game Music

Ever since I was young, I’ve always loved video game music. Starting with playing Super Mario World and Starfox with my siblings, I learned to love that music. I would even sometimes pause the game and just sit to listen to the music.

I used to watch my brother play Earthbound and I would be entranced by the graphics and the music.

I think that the music of video games, often instrumental and using traditional instruments (or sounds like them), tends to be overlooked by many in the classical music industry. The music from video games is very underrated. Just listen to the music to Divide by Chris Tilton. This music is better than a lot of what I hear on movies and TV. Of course, Chris Tilton composed a wonderful score to one of my all-time favorite shows, Fringe.

I’ve always been a bit of a video game nerd. As I grew up and watched my brother work in the film industry, our discussions became much more technical about video games and movies. We dissect the scenes and the production. It shouldn’t be surprising that my favorite video game play experiences have also included some of my favorite video game music. Recent favorites would include Mass Effect (music by Jack Wall), Guild Wars 1 & 2 (music by Jeremy Soule), and of course Skyrim (music also by Jeremy Soule). These games are large in scope and have a terrific sound track. Just listen to this incredible music by Jeremy Soule below.

Since I have always loved this area of music (I don’t know that you can call it a style because it crosses so many genres, it’s just music in a different setting), I have decided to learn more about writing music for video games and sound design. Writing music for scenes or commercial use is an exciting challenge. I love writing music to play with characters and scenes, to add subtext and to create an atmosphere. But now I’m intrigued by the new challenge of non-linear music and sound design. So here in January 2020 I am going to be learning two new tools, Unity and FMOD.

Unity is a cross-platform gaming engine (originally created by Apple) used to create video games. This software is quite robust and operates with C#, a totally new language to me I will be learning…hopefully. Some games made with Unity include Monument Valley, Hearthstone, and one of my favorite games, Cities Skylines.

Tangent: Just a plug for Cities Skylines, this is one of the most relaxing games I’ve ever played. It’s like Sim City, but more elaborate. It’s like playing with digital Legos, I love it.

Cities Skylines

FMOD is an audio engine that can connect to Unity to provide intricate sound design parameters and music for the game. FMOD is kind of an intermediary from the DAW I use, Reaper, to the video game.

So over the next few weeks I’ll be working on a variety of game scenes and adding the sound design and music. I should note that this project is not perfect. I am planning to show off unfinished products and I guarantee there will be mistakes. There are also a lot of different ways to create the sounds and implement them into a game. This is a learning process for me, so I’m sure there are more efficient ways to do this. If you have suggestions, I’m interested in learning! Otherwise, thanks for joining me on this journey.

Tim Corpus is a composer with a genuine lyric impulse. He writes music that is at the same time challenging and appealing - which should be the ideal of any composer. He has a wonderful ear for sound and for shape. This is a composer with a real and important voice.

Henry Fogel Retired Dean of the Chicago College of Performing Arts and CEO/President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

...`{`Three Pieces for Five Timpani`}` is an outstanding addition to the literature for timpani and great for advanced recital programs.

George Frock Professor Emeritus, The University of Texas

Tim Corpus is a wonderfully skilled composer who has important things to say with his music. His debut album, Breath, is extremely impressive. Beautiful and exciting music to be sure!

Larry Alan Smith Composer

Tim Corpus' music is complex, original and steeped in tradition. His Three Pieces for Five Timpani is clearly an extension of the composers, such as Elliott Carter, that came before him. The pieces are challenging but fulfilling to learn and perform. Possibly the most important thing about Tim's timpani writing is that audiences will enjoy listening to his compositions. He is taking solo timpani writing to the next level.

Ed Harrison Timpanist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago

The melodic gestures in Tim Corpus' masterful piece for strings, ``Breath``, are paced so that a listener’s respiration pattern aligns itself instinctively with the slow and even pulse of the piece. Breath creates a powerful performer/listener symbiosis, a remarkable accomplishment on the part of the composer.

Steven Gryc Composer

Tim Corpus’s music is beautifully lyrical, nicely voiced and technically well-realized. In person, he is a pleasure to work with. We very much enjoyed recording his first two string quartets and hope to see more from him in the future.

Jen Leckie Violinist, Grant Street String Quartet

I recently had the pleasure of conducting the premiere of First Flight. It is artfully written, fresh, unique, and best of all – a beautiful piece of music! Tim is a major talent with big things in store for his future. It clearly deserves a permanent place in the repertoire of any serious wind ensemble. I can't wait to program it again!

Stephen Squires Conductor, Chicago College of Performing Arts Wind Ensemble

I have worked with Tim Corpus as a performer, composer and teacher. He brings passion and energy to his craft. He is a young lion who is making his mark on the Chicago music scene.

Kevin Miller Retired Band Director, Schaumburg High School

I've had the pleasure of knowing Tim for years now, and I learned very quickly that his passion and talent as a performer and composer are unquestioned. Everything he does is handled with a rare combination of intensity and care, and his works display such attributes. His lyricism in particular, along with his rich, beautiful harmonies and intricate polyphony set him apart from many of his colleagues. In a world littered with simple, non-intellectual music, Tim is breaking through and creating a new, exciting, accessible, and, most importantly, intelligent style of music that is imperative to the future of our art form.

Matt Bronstein Axiom Brass Quintet

Breath is very professionally produced, and the overall impression is of a lyrical and rhapsodic voice. I think Breath is a great starter, very ample and serene, even ecstatic. The second quartet is lively and engaging throughout.

Dr. Robert Carl Composer
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