This past Saturday, The Legend of Zelda came alive on the stage at the Citi Wang Theatre in Boston with The Rhode Island Philharmonic and full choir, led by Zelda Symphony leader Jeron Moore. Fans of the long-running video game franchise, some in costume, brought their Nintendo 3DS’s out to play and enjoy the celebration of
Link, The Tri-Force, Zelda, and The Goddesses.
This was truly a unique experience for all involved. The tour came through for its second season, The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, Second Quest. Fans of the game, parents, and those like myself that have fallen out of practice with video games in recent years gathered at The Wang Theatre for pre-recorded gameplay accompanied by a full orchestra and choir in two movements, and four acts.
After the Overture, Producer & Lead Creative Director Jeron Moore introduced himself to the crowd. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening which takes place not on Hyrule but on Koholint Island. This music lead us all into the theme of another handheld Zelda game, Spirit Tracks, a bizarre and underrated game where Link drives a train!
Jeron has re-presented these musical themes, with all new arrangements with the blessing of franchise producer Eiji Aonuma and Nintendo composer and sound director Koji Kondo (Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda).
If you’re head is literally not in the game, it certainly doesn’t matter. Hearing an orchestra play, while watching someone else play through difficult levels of Zelda you may or may not have heard of is at once impressive as it is meditative. And did we mention dynamic? The roar of excitement you feel from the music see Link defeat Ganon might make it seem like a smaller victory at home on your system.
At points, all I could think of, especially while watching a difficult section of Link’s Awakening was, “That looks hard.”
For the Zelda lover in your life though, or for an early holiday gift, make sense of it all with Dark Horse Comics’ The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia.
This is the book that gives you the full history of Hyrule along with an official chronology of the games and behind the scenes info you can’t get anywhere else including never before released concept art.
The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia HC
The first Act of the concert symphony after the interludes takes you through the Creation of Hyrule, Ocarina of Time and ends on The Wind Waker.
The choir adds an illuminating voice to the gameplay, as if you are hearing “Ride of the Valkyries” while facing down the baddest of bads.
The first Act also includes new HD gameplay footage from the Wii U game The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker HD.
The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker HD
After intermission, Act II starts with selections from the GameCube game Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princesses, and then moving to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past from SuperNintendo.
Jeron continues to interact with the audience throughout, wearing three glowing red hearts on his sleeve about how much he enjoys what he is doing, as a fan of Zelda, and orchestral music.
The passion for these arrangements and coming from the players shines through.
Jeron Moore – Zelda Symphony
“[The Legend of Zelda] is like a Western. If Clint Eastwood is The Man With No Name, Link is the Boy With No Voice” – Jeron Moore, Producer & Lead Creative Director.
In true rock and roll form, this particular concert was complete with a faux exit and complete encore, almost as long as an entire Act of the performance. The encore was mostly music from and inspired by the Alice Cooper of Zelda games, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask for Nintendo 64 as well as revisiting Dragon Roost Island.
As the franchise and fandom for Zelda continues to grow and be a part of multiple generations of gamers, mostly in the same house these days, find yourself at Zelda Symphony if the tour comes to your town or returns here to Boston. This is an all ages and affordable ticket exposing your kids to orchestral music and original soundtracks while engaging them on the level that video games can entice children of all ages.
Rhode Island Philharmonic plays Zelda
Follow @ZeldaSymphony #SecondQuest on Twitter!
League of Ordinary Gentlemen Podcast Episode #170: Get Yo’ Hoe Ready!
The Gents talk the Weekend at Bernie’s Reunion at Rhode Island Comic-Con, Orchestral Zelda music, Thor at a hockey game, and Daylight Savings Time!
Direct Download / Mp3 Stream (opens in new window).
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