A few days ago, the game Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was announced. A full -fledged game trailer will be presented only on June 9, but now you can familiarize yourself with the material about the composer of the first part, which many players consider one of the best in the history of Black Ops.
Composer Sean Murray Born in 1965 in the acting family of Don and Betty Murray. At the age of 10, he got to shooting the film "Island of Damien", On whom the young composer worked with his father Brad Fidel. Sean was so impressed by his work that he himself decided to learn how to write music.
My father was an amazing actor. He recently died at the age of 94. Don Murray, who starred with Marilyn Monroe in the film "Bus Stop". So, my father brought cassettes with records of his synthesizer work. And I was just amazed at the sound of the Moog synthesizer, you understand? And so I learned all the topics on the piano and said to myself: "Wow, it’s really cool". I want to write. I told myself that someday I want to write scores for films on synthesizers ". This is how it began. I never managed to meet again with delirium Fidel, but he was part of my father’s life in two films.
Sean Murray, American composer
After graduating from the institute, Sean worked with many directors, including the future director of the Avengers Joss Widon, Jesse Johnson and – of course, Alexander Nevsky. The first game in the composer’s career was True Crime: Streets of La.
The process of recording the soundtrack was like working in a movie – it was necessary to create sound accompaniment for intra -game scenes, which were not much different from real films. However, unlike the cinema, Sean received the material as it was ready, which is why the recording process dragged on from the usual 6 weeks to several months.
Well, it was funny. My Shurin worked on the game in the Kung Fu style, and I worked on the television series "God, the Devil and Bob". I just finished the second season "Buffy – vampire fighters". Chris Okasek, the son of Rick Okazek, the singer of The Cars, was an art director of this video game in Kung Fu style. And I thought it would be something for the portable Game Boy, some little little thing. Therefore, once he invited me to come to Activision and see what they are doing. And of course, I looked at it and was amazed. I mean, it was like a movie. And all the cinematographic personnel were very dramatic, just like in a movie. So they were looking for a composer. The head of Peter was a fan of my work from Buffy Vampire fighters and some other things that I did. "Dragon Police" there … Therefore, they asked if I could voice the scene for them, a cinematic scene. So, I wrote music for one or two scenes and gave it to the guys. So, they had other composers whom they considered, and they also wrote music for some scenes. When the developers received music, they were very democratic. They said: "Let’s all vote for the one we like more". And I was lucky: the whole team, all who worked on the game received the right to vote. And they voted for me to write a soundtrack. So I got into the world of video games.
Sean Murray, American composer
Work on True Crime: New York City was noticeable. In the new game, the melody sounded not only in Katsets, but also during the gameplay. The music was supposed to be suitable for situations in which the player found himself – from adrenaline chase to a calm walk along the street. The transition between the compositions occurs seamlessly – one melody begins where the other ends. For this, the show had to write music with fragments, looking at the record of the early gameplay.
An interesting fact: in one of the scenes True Crime: New York City, there is a shootout in the theater, for which Sean wrote an opera composition. His father, Don Murray, spoke freely in Italian, and it was he who helped write words for this opera – a story about a man who goes on a trip in search of a better life was obtained.
It was a crazy opera play, and it was very funny! I can’t remember exactly what was inspired – it can be a “Seville barber”. I can’t remember what exactly inspired me, but it was really really nice. It was like hip-hop opera, and I started it in a very classic style that resembles a traditional opera. Then I added hip-hop drums that added a crazy element to the play. It was very fun! This was the first time I worked with the wonderful singer Jane Rannells.
Sean Murray, American composer
I met Shona through his neighbor in 2004, when I studied at acting courses. I was primarily a musician and a singer, but they advised me to take acting courses. Los Angeles has many wonderful people with whom you work, both in the cinema and in music. Many parents have directors, producers or composers. I am the first in my family who decided to devote myself to a musical career. When I arrived in Los Angeles, I did not know anyone. After the college was graduated as a musician, I met a girl named Ellie, who was a neighbor of Sean. She asked about my work as a musician. I told her that I am a classic musician and perform a lot of classical music in Italian, French and German. She replied: “Oh God, my neighbor is a composer, and he is looking for an opera singer for a studio game”. I said: “Oh, great!"She asked:“ You have some kind of music that you could perform for him?"I replied:" Of course ". At that time I had a CD with my music. I sent him, and, in my opinion, he listened to the French aria, which was on my disk. He later called me and said: “I like your voice. Could you come to an interview about this video game?"
Jane Ranneles, actress, singer
On the games of the True Crime series, Sean Murray worked with the sound designer Brian Tui, who brought him to Call of Duty: World at War. The action of this game unfolds during the Second World War. In the course of the plot, the player takes the role of both the American infantryman in the Pacific Ocean and the Private Red Army on the Eastern Front.
Yes, I had Jane Ranneles, who sang in German, which was pretty bold from her! The play was called "Brave Soldat", and she sang so that she teased Russian soldiers. The text of the song was: “A brave soldier, a brave soldier of God. Come with me. Come with me. Direct with me, brave soldier ". My father wrote these words in German. I think it was at this time that the Red Army entered Berlin. I think this was part of the plot in Berlin.
Sean Murray, American composer
I like to sing in German, and I was excited when I learn about this possibility. Sean brought me to the project, and we composed this beautiful music. Together we improvised some parts, and it was a truly wonderful experience. I sing in many languages, but I do not speak any of them fluently. For example, I studied Spanish at school. However, I always taught other languages in the context of song or poetry. Therefore, if I needed to sing in French, for example, I always needed help with pronunciation, but I really wanted to do it well. In fact, when Shonu and I worked on Call of Duty 5, we had several questions about German. And it was before all this. I mean, it was 20 years ago. Now you can just get the phone and say: “How to say it?»All these technologies were only in its infancy. Therefore, we actually called the Father of Sean Murray – and he, may the Lord rest, have just died – Don Murray, you know, a very famous actor. Therefore, we called the Don and asked him to clarify some German words that were written to make sure that everything is pronounced correctly.
Sean Murray, American composer
The composer began work on Call of Duty: World Aztec Paradise casino reviews at War by writing American orchestral topics. He believed that the game itself already conveys the atmosphere of World War II, and did not want to fulfill the same task in musical accompaniment. Therefore, in addition to classical tools, heavy guitars and electronics sound in the soundtrack. In the future, this approach will be developed in Call of Duty: Black Ops.
I wanted to create something more modern and not to feel obligated to write in a strict style. Therefore, I used a lot of electronics and processed votes, as well as processed tools. I often used ebow (electronic bow, -. author) on the guitar that vibrates the strings and creates a sound similar to the violin. So I experimented a lot with sounds. I also used many drums and added Eastern European tools. In addition, I quite often used the person and some interesting East European flute.
Sean Murray, American composer
According to the composer, America has never encountered such a brutal war in the jungle as in the Pacific Theater of Military. Sean sought to show the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers through the eyes of the American, immersing the player into the atmosphere of a distant and hostile world. In a campaign for a Soviet soldier, he tried to reflect tension and anxiety, he wanted the player to feel the cold of the destroyed Berlin.
I was a big fan of the movie "Enemy at the Gate". With strong performances of actors, it was an amazing film. I believe that World at War really relied on this film, when creating a suitable atmosphere to attack Berlin.
Sean Murray, American composer
Maybe the “enemy at the gate” with Juda Law does not claim historical reliability, but the picture really inspired the developers of the original Call of Duty. A scene in which the player is given to the game is issued in front of the battle, and his comrade rifle is given.
The scene of the fountain resembles a similar in the film "Enemy at the Gate" (2001)
The fountain scene in the film "Enemy at the Gate" (2001)
Nevertheless, this is not the only reference to this film – in World at War there is a similar scene of the fountain when the heroes pretend to be dead to escape from German soldiers.
Although the characters of the game, like their stories, are completely fictitious, the game shows quite a lot of real events. So the player is invited to hook the flag over the Reichstag during which something remotely similar to the Soviet anthem sounds.
I wrote this part in Los Angeles, and I had to come up with a word to sing under it. I asked Emily to write words for this song. In fact, we did not know the Russian language, so we simply used Latin words. I asked Emily to come up with a whole line of Latin words, and honestly, I did not even know what we were saying. I have no idea what these Latin words meant, but since we had Czech singers, they had a light accent that could go for Russian. This gave the song Soviet flavor.
Sean Murray, American composer
This time, the developers did not limit themselves to the records of the gameplay – the composer was given the opportunity to play in preliminary versions of levels in the "God’s mode". This approach allows you to study the level more deeply, without being distracted by opponents, the number of cartridges and other game conventions. The music was recorded in Prague, where the studio itself, according to the composer, tuned the musicians in the right way.
I liked in Prague, and probably mentioned this in other interviews that it was occupied by the Nazis. The place where I signed up, Smečky Music Studios was an old dance hall. During World War II, the Nazis often used this space as an entertaining and dance hall. It was also a building where Einstein spent a lot of time;I believe that he gave lectures there in this hall. When I climbed a large stone staircase leading to the stage of the dance hall, I could only imagine the sound of the Nazi shoes – their heavy steps, echoing along the stairs. I also noticed some damage to the city from World War II, with buildings that were still destroyed by bombs, and the remnants of the conflict. It was very interesting to observe. I must say that the string musicians in the Czech Republic possessed a deep pathos and an intriguing sensation that I really appreciated. It was well suited for the European part of World at War. String musicians introduced certain emotions into their performances. I also recall some foreign musicians who played for American works, especially those related to the Japanese and Pacific campaigns. Some of the wind musicians were a little difficult to take high notes on the pipes. They blushed a little and were upset because of some parties that I wrote.
Sean Murray, American composer
Good question. This is interesting. I did not go to Prague to recording my part, but I knew that Sean was there, and understood the meaning of the place where they recorded. When I recorded my part … it was about 20 years ago, and I try to remember. I think Sean went to Prague first, and then I recorded all my parties later in his studio in Los Angeles. This is a very good question, because there is a difference, and perhaps this is because I have been doing this for almost 25 years. There is a noticeable difference when you have living musicians recorded in a special studio or concert hall compared to today’s methods. Auditor experience is felt differently;I believe that today the musicians often rely on computer and virtual tools, which sometimes can deprive the melody of a certain spirit and quality. This difference definitely influenced my experience of singing when I was in Sean Studio and listened to musicians.
Jane Ranneles, actress, singer
In Call of Duty: Black Ops, the action takes place during the Cold War. The player takes on the role of the CIA agent Alex Mason, who slowly goes crazy after escaping from the camp in Vorkuta. There he meets Viktor Reznov, a soldier of the Red Army, familiar to World at War players. The soundtrack in this part is more gloomy and severe, which emphasizes the tension of that era.
Well, there is a very interesting film of 1972 or 1973 called The Parallax View, the director of which was Alan J. Pacule. My mother played a very small role in him, so I knew about him from an early age. Warren Bitty starred in it. In the film, the hero is flushing the brain to become one of the sleeping killers. He does not know about this brainwashing, but in the end it turns out that he should become a killer. This concept resembles the CIA program, known as Mkultra, which included the use of psychotropic drugs to flushing the brain and turning them into killers. So the film “The Parallax View” was very similar to what they tried to do in Black Ops. So I used it for inspiration, a kind. And there was a small soundtrack Michael. So, Michael Small had some influence on the music that I wrote for Black Ops. For some of her scenes.
Sean Murray, American composer:
The soundtrack for Black OPS was recorded in the Warner studio with the participation of 80 talented musicians. Despite the change of setting, ideas from World at War have taken root in the soundtrack – orchestral parties and electrihitars are again combined here. This is especially clearly manifested in the tracks "Virus" and "Rooftops". Their fast pace is more than appropriate, because it encourages the player to act decisively. Something similar was in the track “Fight Parliament” from World at War, where the bit resembled an automatic queue. The vocal parties were again performed by Jane Rannells. Her voice can be heard in the track "beheaded".
This is my singer again, Jane Runneles. We just invented words, and she tried to sound as if she was sings in the Eastern European style, possibly under the influence of Bulgarian music. I listened to the Bulgarian Feminine Choir, which gained fame in the USA in the 80s and 90s. We imitated their sound a little, using invented words again. So, in fact, she sang nonsense, but it sounded really cool, though?
Sean Murray, American composer
Perhaps you will consider it funny, but excuse me, we recorded it ten years ago, so sorry if I hardly recall the details. I think that at that time, if I remember correctly, Sean did not speak Russian. There were moments when he said: “This feeling I want to convey. I want to convey fear, tension. Let’s improvise ". Then he came up with a word or two for improvisation. Perhaps I will be ashamed to say this, but for you it should have sounded completely ridiculous. However, at that moment, if there was a feeling of madness, it should have been improvised, and not necessarily literal. You understand what I mean? If I remember correctly, it was this approach that we used at that time.
Jane Ranneles, actress, singer
At the moment, the last game that Sean Murray worked on was Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The composer admits that he himself sometimes spends time in World of Tanks or plays with his daughter in Forza Horizon.
A few years ago, I played this game a lot with my daughter. We liked traveling in Italy and France. There was also the part in which there was Australia. In addition, I spent quite a lot of time playing World of Tanks. I love World of Tanks, but for the past few years I have been playing it not so often. These two games were those in which I played the most. I also have not played Call of Duty since I worked on Black Ops. I like … this is that the T-15 … what is the name of the Russian tank … T-34! I often use it! Sometimes I play on funny little Japanese tanks to die quickly, but I really like the T-34. They were funny! I also like Sherman tanks. In general, it was a funny game. You reminded me how much I loved to play it, so I think I’ll go play tonight!
Sean Murray, American composer
You know, I do not play, and I think this is a big joke, that I have four son who love video games: I have never really been fond of video games. My friend, who has a family playing Call of Duty, said: “You really should see what it is”. So I watched as a friend plays. I thought: “Oh, it’s really cool!"I am interested in history, so the fact that these games were installed in historical times was always very interesting to me. But, you know, I have never been a person playing video games. So many people play, you see. This is true. I watched people play Call of Duty, but did not play.
Jane Ranneles, actress, singer
In 2014, Sean Murray wrote music for Alexander Nevsky’s film “Black Rosa” to this day continues to work on his projects. Among them – “Disassembly in Manila”, “Maximum Blow”, “attack on Rio Bravo” and others. According to Sean, he and Alexander are good friends.
The director liked my film "Crusader", which I did in 2007 and 2008. He liked the music for this film, and he was able to contact me through his executive producer, who had already worked with me before. The producer was a big fan of Black Ops, so he really wanted me to work on the soundtrack for this film.
Sean Murray, American composer
In addition, Murray has been working with director Jesse Johnson for a long time. Among the latest works – “White Elephant” with Bruce Willis and “Budik: Queen of Warriors” with Olga Kurilenko. Sean not only writes music for these films, but also often appears as a cameo or works as a stuntman on the set in the projects of both directors.
I shoot a lot of scenes with shootings. I was in "Budika: the Queen of the Warriors", who came out last year. In one stage I was shot by an arrow, and I had to spit out blood as part of the act. It was intense! I also played a journalist in another film, where I was cut with a katana. In the "One Ranger" I was shot by Thomas Jane. I have a good close -up, blood pours. I love to do this. And the funny thing is that in the film “Ave Maria”, I played the Nazi, whom Soviet soldiers dragged into the forest and executed me in the forest. So I always like to go to the set and worry, watching the execution of tricks and all that.
Sean Murray, American composer
This is this city, Los Angeles. This is a small city. I have been working here for almost 25 years, starting from 18 years old. When you meet one person and work with him several times, people, as a rule, want to work together for many years. I worked with other composers through Sean. Sometimes I forget, because over the years there have been so many things that I have been losing an account where I sang. But yes, it is really exciting that with each project I meet, most often, an actor or director at some point in the film. So yes, without Sean in the film I would not meet him (Alexander – approx. author) and would not have this connection. But in this city, you know, another example is the directors of Clint Eastwood or Martin Scorsese. They work with the same team and the same actors. I mean that they have been doing this for almost 20 years, maybe 30 years. You see this in the musical business where people know who they want to work with. At a certain moment you are not listening. The only time I was listening to Schon was for True Crime: New York City when he heard my cd. He wanted to hear my voice. Every time we collaborated after that, he said: “I want you to do it with me."So again, this is my long answer, but yes, in this city, when you have good working relations with directors and composers, usually, in my experience, you continue these working relations, and you meet everyone on the project.
Jane Ranneles, actress, singer
June 9, an official show is expected Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Xbox Games Showcase. In the previously presented Tiser, you can notice hints of the return of familiar characters, which adds intrigues and expectations to the upcoming release.
