All the beauty of 8-Bit Symphony, but recorded for CD with Rob Hubbard and an 85 piece studio orchestra in Prague.
Kickstarter now open. Click above!
Kickstarter now open. Click above!
8-Bit Symphony Unofficial Bootleg compilation from Jason Moon and others.
Some time in the near or mid-future, we just don't know: 8-Bit Symphony segment on BBC1 "The One Show" featuring Rob Hubbard interviewed live and in the segment, which is presented by the Kate Thornton.
9th August, 09:00: 8-Bit Symphony Pro Kickstarter: fundraising to take Rob Hubbard to Prague to record the 8-Bit symphony tracks and more with the Hollywood-Grade Czech Studio Orchestra. The holy grail CD/album must-back for all 8-bit micro fans.
23 July 2019: Lovely write-up of the Hull concert for the Guardian national newspaper written by Mat Ombler. Click here to read.
5th July 2019: 8-Bit Symphony applies for registered charity status, with the goal of encouraging live performance of 8-bit music, with a special emphasis on the orchestral tracks featured in the first concert, and preserving 8-Bit music through protecting the publishing rights of 8-bit musicians for future generations.
15th June 2019: 8-Bit Symphony's first Concert (hopefully, the first of many) premiered to great acclaim on the 15th June 2019, Hull City Hall, in the presence of BBC's "The One Show".
Presented by Hull College Group, C64Audio.com and the Hull Philharmonic, it was masterfully conducted by Robin Tait.
Showcasing 17 brand new epic orchestrations for full symphony orchestra, it was a world premiere of epic, sweeping arrangements of 8-bit game music played by the HPO with a background of IMMERSIVE 8-bit visuals and game footage, entrancing young and old alike.
With Rob Hubbard as musical director and a stellar guest list including Paul Norman, this was an unmissable one-night-only experience that will moved the audience: and not only the retro fans, it proved unforgettable for young and old alike. .
What is the 8-Bit Symphony collection so far?
Imagine Ocean (Comic Bakery, Ocean Loader, Rambo), Green Beret/Rush 'n' Attack, W.A.R., William Wobbler, Forbidden Forest and Beyond, Kentilla, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Flash Gordon, Barbarillax (Barbarian 2/Parallax High Score)
International Karate, Aztec Challenge, The Last Ninja® Wastelands, Monty on the Run High Score, Firelord, Trap, Monty on the Run, Stifflip and Co., Zoids, Spellbound
9th August, 09:00: 8-Bit Symphony Pro Kickstarter: fundraising to take Rob Hubbard to Prague to record the 8-Bit symphony tracks and more with the Hollywood-Grade Czech Studio Orchestra. The holy grail CD/album must-back for all 8-bit micro fans.
23 July 2019: Lovely write-up of the Hull concert for the Guardian national newspaper written by Mat Ombler. Click here to read.
5th July 2019: 8-Bit Symphony applies for registered charity status, with the goal of encouraging live performance of 8-bit music, with a special emphasis on the orchestral tracks featured in the first concert, and preserving 8-Bit music through protecting the publishing rights of 8-bit musicians for future generations.
15th June 2019: 8-Bit Symphony's first Concert (hopefully, the first of many) premiered to great acclaim on the 15th June 2019, Hull City Hall, in the presence of BBC's "The One Show".
Presented by Hull College Group, C64Audio.com and the Hull Philharmonic, it was masterfully conducted by Robin Tait.
Showcasing 17 brand new epic orchestrations for full symphony orchestra, it was a world premiere of epic, sweeping arrangements of 8-bit game music played by the HPO with a background of IMMERSIVE 8-bit visuals and game footage, entrancing young and old alike.
With Rob Hubbard as musical director and a stellar guest list including Paul Norman, this was an unmissable one-night-only experience that will moved the audience: and not only the retro fans, it proved unforgettable for young and old alike. .
What is the 8-Bit Symphony collection so far?
Imagine Ocean (Comic Bakery, Ocean Loader, Rambo), Green Beret/Rush 'n' Attack, W.A.R., William Wobbler, Forbidden Forest and Beyond, Kentilla, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Flash Gordon, Barbarillax (Barbarian 2/Parallax High Score)
International Karate, Aztec Challenge, The Last Ninja® Wastelands, Monty on the Run High Score, Firelord, Trap, Monty on the Run, Stifflip and Co., Zoids, Spellbound
Mike Richmond
The concert was amazing. It brought many pieces to life in a way that they perhaps always sounded in our
heads and made them accessible to a new audience. I don’t think there was a dry eye on the house when
Rob’s list of music was shown on screen. It was a fitting tribute to his work and I hope to hear more!
Neil Wright
I thought the concert was fantastic. A real treat to hear some old classics performed by a very talented
orchestra. It was a real shame that Ben couldn’t be there to experience it but he was definitely there in
people’s minds. It was a real tribute to the genius of Rob Hubbard and showed how amazing his tunes are,
especially when taken out of the confinements of the 8-bit hardware.
Mark Hellewell
For me, the 8Bit Symphony concert was the Holy Grail. It was an experience quite unlike no other and can
be enjoyed on many levels. Some might call it a "retro-event": I would disagree. This is music I haven't
stopped listening to since it was first released. I'm not having my memory jogged or have feelings of induced
nostalgia - this was a physical realisation of what I heard in my head in 1985,86 and 87. The instruments
have changed..... the music reached its live potential. Magic was made. The music of every other C64-made-
famous musician being part of the concert reminded us of the renaissance in videogame music that started
with and was inspired by Rob and his music. How lucky we are.
Paul Hughes
The concert was electric. I quite literally had goosepimples all night long. When you hear Rob’s
compositions fully orchestrated and played by such a stunning live orchestra its only then that you fully
appreciate what incredible talent he has. He got so much out of three channels you would swear that every
darn instrument that you heard in unison came out of your C64’s speakers! Sometimes taking a SID tune
and turning it into a fully scored piece loses some of the composition’s “soul” and drowns it with extras – not
with Rob’s oeuvre, it’s almost as if he composed it for the orchestra and cut it back for the SID. The man is
called a legend for a reason!
Teasers, trailers and previews
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Refresh your memories with this YouTube playlist!
WORLD CLASS MUSIC
Melody-driven, epic music that you won't believe comes from a humble three-voice sound chip. The secret? The composers. They worked hard to put as much musical quality and imagination into their work as any contemporary composer. And now: it's clear for everyone to hear. These orchestrations are truly world-class, and a great example of the lost and forgotten treasure we're preserving and promoting.
Even better: the most prolific composer and arranger in this concert, Dr. Rob Hubbard, is a Hull native!
Even better: the most prolific composer and arranger in this concert, Dr. Rob Hubbard, is a Hull native!
WHO WAS BEHIND 8-BIT SYMPHONY'S FIRST CONCERT?
C64AUDIO.COM
Formed in 1997 to protect, preserve and promote Commodore 64 music (and later, other chipmusic), we have been instrumental in pushing forward the boundaries of what can be done to celebrate the genius of 8-bit music and bring it to wider audiences. |
HULL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
The Hull Philharmonic Orchestra has been a major feature in the city's cultural landscape for over 130 years. Today the orchestra has more than 80 members drawn from local professional and amateur musicians. |
HULL COLLEGE GROUP
Hull College Group is one of the largest further and higher education colleges in the country, offering over 1000 courses to over 26,000 students every year. Projects such as 8-Bit Symphony represent a chance to keep Hull a creatively vibrant and vital city. |