The StarCraft universe contains an eclectic array of musical influences, characters and situations which reach back to the original release in 1998 and its expansion set, Brood War. Most of the music was, at that time, realized on keyboards. Now, the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty orchestra includes live, soaring horns, epic strings, biting synthesizers, a soulful dobro, harmonicas, guitars, choirs and a myriad of sonic colors, light and shade, intimate and loud.
From the space-cowboy terran marines, to the ancient prophecies of the protoss, to the hive-mind of the zerg—as well as the complex persona of marshal Jim Raynor, Sarah Kerrigan (now the Queen of Blades), and the infamous Arcturus Mengsk and the Dominion—each has a story, a mood, a timbre, a vibe to be supported and represented in the musical underscore. If Raynor can seem to pull his revolver a little faster, or if Tychus Findley’s presence can be a bit more imposing due to a theme or flourish in the music, then the composers and musicians have truly called down the thunder.
The music for StarCraft II was recorded in a wide variety of places and styles. Our quest for a classic "film score" sound led us to the legendary Skywalker scoring stage at idyllic Lucasfilm Ranch in Marin County, California. There we recorded 78 incredible musicians film-style, synchronized to picture. The players, who come from the San Francisco Symphony and Opera, are world-class, and definitely have earned the prestigious title of "Skywalker Symphony Orchestra".
Following the orchestral recordings, we journeyed to Seattle, Washington, where a 32-voice choir (triple-tracked to 96 voices) lent their talents to our music. The scoring mixer on both of these sessions was John Kurlander, who not only recorded the soundtrack to all three Lord of the Rings films, he also, as a young London lad, assisted the Beatles in recording "Abbey Road".
Finally, we found ourselves in Woodstock, New York, where several alumni of the Peter Gabriel band reside. There, we captured the Terran Band music in an old church-turned-studio called Dreamland. Band members included bassist Tony Levin, who has also played with John Lennon and countless others, along with drummer Jerry Marotta, who has performed at two of our BlizzCon events, and with Paul McCartney, to name a few.
Some local recording in the Blizzard studios, including Laurence Juber, formerly of Wings, and the legendary Tommy Morgan on harmonica, rounded out the music scope for StarCraft II, which clocks in at just over four hours of new music for the game and the many cinematics. Each composer selected favorite cues which, together comprise this album. We are extremely proud of the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty soundtrack, and hope you enjoy this new addition to Blizzard’s and StarCraft’s musical legacy.
- Russell Brower, Director of Audio & One Of The Composers, Blizzard Entertainment
Composers: Glenn Stafford, Derek Duke, Russell Brower, Neal Acree
Additional Music by:Laurence Juber, Cris Velasco, Sascha Dikiciyan, Inon Zur, "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" by William Whiting and John B. Dykes, 1860
Score Performed by:The Skywalker Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by: Eimear Noone
Contractor: Janet Ketchum
Violins: Laura Albers, Erin Benim, Mariya Borozina, Jeremy Cohen, Joe Edelberg, Connie Gantsweg, Candace Guirao, Robin Hansen, Dawn Harms(Principal), Adrienne Herbert, Maki Ishii, Gloria Justen, Julie Kim, Roy Malan(Concertmaster), Michelle Maruyama, Robin Mayforth, Kayo Miki, Yasushi Ogura, Ellen Pesavento, Deborah Price, Evan Price, Craig Reiss, Barbara Riccardi, Philip Santos, Wenyi Shih, Iris Stone, Marianne Wagner, Heidi Wilcox
Violas: Su Buchignani, Don Ehrlich, Paul Ehrlich, Pam Freund, Marcel Gemperli, Patricia Heller(Principal), Anna Kruger, Polly Malan, Emily Onderdonk, Liz Runnicles, Natalia Vershilova
Celli: Terry Adams, Michelle Djokic, Victoria Ehrlich, Nina Flyer, David Kadarauch(Principal), Emil Miland, Thalia Moore, Miriam Perkoff
Basses: Charles Chandler(Principal), Steve D'Amico(Principal), Shinji Eshima, Jon Lancelle, Patrick McCarthy, Michel Taddei, Richard Worn
Harp: Sarah Voynow, Anna Maria Mendietta
Flutes: Janet Ketchum(Principal), Julie McKenzie
Clarinets: David Neuman(Principal), Jeremy Simas(Principal), Clark Fobes
Oboes: Marilyn Coyne, Laura Griffiths(Principal)
Bassoons: Amy Duxbury(Principal), Rufus Olivier
Horns: Eric Achen, Meredith Brown, Chris Cooper, Keith Green, Larry Ragent, Kevin Rivard, Bruce Roberts(Principal), Glen Swarts(Principal)
Trumpets: Ron Blais, Adam Luftman(Principal), John Pearson
Trombones: Jeff Budin(Principal), Bruce Chrisp, Tom Hornig, Mark Lawrence(Principal), Dave Ridge
Tuba: Peter Wahrhaftig
Piano: Marc Shapiro, Richard Riccardi
Timpani: John Burgardt
Percussion: Victor Avdienko, Scott Bleaken, Galen Lemmon(Principal), Artie Storch(Principal)
Guitar, Dobro: Laurence Juber
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Keys: Russell Brower, Glenn Stafford, Derek Duke
Solo Vocals: Laurie Ann Haus, George DeMott
Additional Guitar, FX: Jonas Laster
StarCraft Terran Band Drums, Production: Jerry Marotta
Bass and Chapman Stick: Tony Levin
Guitars: Jesse Gress, Ben Butler
Piano, B3: Daniel Weiss
Fiddle: Candy Girard
Choral Performance by: Northwest Choirs
Choirmaster: Joseph Crnko
Contracted By: David Sabee, Simon James
Sopranos: Beth Ann Bonnecroy, Catherine Haight, Christina Siemens, Joelle Berry, Lara Papadakis, Linda Strandberg, Lisa Pontén, Maria Johnson, Susan Erickson
Altos: Deborah Stephens, Jennifer Ivester, Kari Frost, Linda Sabee, Mary Jo Dugaw, Melanie Stevens, Melissa Plaggeman, Stacey Sunde
Tenors: Jacob Winkler, Jeff Dubois, Joel Cummings, John Porter, Nathaniel Papadakis, Owen Bennion, Paul Karaitis, Sam Rodarte
Basses: Charles Stephens, Glenn Guhr, Kyle Downs, Loren Ponten, Manard Stewart, Michael Delos, Ron Knoebel, Tommy Adams
Orchestration: Bill Liston, Penka Kouneva, Tim Davies
Additional Orchestration: Danail Getz, Philip Klein
Music Copyists: Dave Wells, Robert Puff
Music Librarian: Robert Puff
Live Sessions and Orchestration Produced By: Edo Guidotti
Scoring Mixer: John Kurlander
Score Recorded at: Skywalker Sound, a Lucasfilm, Ltd. Company, Marin County, CA
Assistant Engineers: Dann Thompson, Judy Kirschner, Robert Gatley
Pro Tools Operator, Editor: Andre Zweers
Terran Band Recorded at: Dreamland, Woodstock, NY and JEL Recording Studios, Newport, CA
Engineer: Dave Cook
Choir Recorded at: Bastyr University Chapel, Seattle, WA
Recordist: Kory Kruckenberg
Stage Manager: Jon Schluckebier
Second Engineers: John Winters, Brian Valentino
Additional Engineering, Assistance: Joseph Gauthier
Production:
Coordination, Planning: Keith Landes, Jay Maguire, Dennis Crabtree, Thomas Pieracci
Talent Relations: Andrea Toyias
Soundtrack Producer: Russell Brower
Special Thanks: Aaron, Ethan, Quinn and Susan Stafford, Yuliya and Jasper Duke, Shyshkin and Duke Families, Savina Ciaramella, Margaret, Tina and Karen Brower, Margarita Kravets, Kevin Crook, Lynda Do, Sylvia Whiteshield, Jamie Crooks, Shelly Guidotti, Tom Brewer, Leslie Ann Jones, Chris Metzen, Nick Carpenter, Jeff Chamberlain, Matt Samia, Frank Pearce, Mike Morhaime, Paul Sams and the entire Blizzard Entertainment Sound Department.
We would especially like to extend our appreciation and love to all in our family of wonderful and cherished musicians--- Thank you!!!