by William Gibbons

Classical music is everywhere in video games. Works by composers like Bach and Mozart fill the soundtracks of games ranging from arcade classics, to indie titles, to major franchises like BioShock, Civilization, and Fallout. Children can learn about classical works and their histories from interactive iPad games. World-renowned classical orchestras frequently perform concerts of game music to sold-out audiences. But what do such combinations of art and entertainment reveal about the cultural value we place on these media? Can classical music ever be video game music, and can game music ever be classical? Delving into the shifting and often contradictory cultural definitions that emerge when classical music meets video games, Unlimited Replays offers a new perspective on the possibilities and challenges of trying to distinguish between art and pop culture in contemporary society.

Table of Contents:

Introduction: Press Start to Replay

Chapter 1: Terms and Conditions
Chapter 2: Playing with Music History
Chapter 3: A Requiem for Schrödinger's Cat
Chapter 4: Allusions of Grandeur
Chapter 5: A Clockwork Homage
Chapter 6: Remixed Metaphors
Chapter 7: Love in Many Monstrous Forms
Chapter 8: Violent Offenders and Violin Defenders
Chapter 9: Playing Chopin
Chapter 10: Gamifying Classical Music
Chapter 11: Classifying Game Music

Conclusion