Orchestra in front, Rock Band game graphics on screen

by: Tina - posted: 5/4/2010 1:30:00 PM

About 110 years ago Henry Lee Higginson decided to create an organization that would revitalize popular concerts. This organization became known as the Boston Pops, and would eventually be led by viola player Arthur Fieldler who would continue conducting for 49 years thereafter.

This performance-based organization still exists today, and puts on various “popular” performances, the upcoming 125th season of which will feature The Beatles. So what exactly does this have to do with video games?

Tonight, when the concert opens at the Symphony Hall in Boston, conductor Keith Lockhart will lead the Boston Pops in a commemoration of Arthur Fieldler and The Beatles music accompanied by game graphics from The Beatles: Rock Band. Harmonix employees are planning to lead a sing-along with the audience to some of the popular tracks from this Rock Band iteration with a 44 ft. screen adorned with said graphics.

Tracks include “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Twist & Shout” and “Yellow Submarine.”

Cambridge, Mass. – May 4, 2010 – Apple Corps, Ltd., MTV Games and Harmonix, the world’s leading developer of music-based games, today announced that a medley of some of The Beatles’ most iconic songs, set to visuals from The Beatles: Rock Band, will be featured as a sing-along to close each Boston Pops concert of the orchestra’s 125th season.

The Boston Pops’ 125th season kicks off tonight at Symphony Hall in Boston. The Opening Night concert, led by Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, will celebrate the extraordinary career of Arthur Fieldler, revered Pops founder and conductor from 1930 to 1979. The concert ender will extend an interactive opportunity to the entire audience with a fully orchestrated sing-along featuring some of The Beatles’ iconic songs, synched to award-winning game graphics created by Harmonix for The Beatles: Rock Band, projected above the orchestra on the Pops’ 44-foot-wide screen. Tonight will feature a special performance from Harmonix employees, who will lead the audience in the inaugural performance of The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along.

The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along connects the present to the past. Arthur Fiedler was among the first to recognize the incredible musical force The Beatles would become. After returning from a trip to Liverpool in 1964, he began creating popular orchestra arrangements of Beatles songs for the Boston Pops, many of which were recorded for 1969’s Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Play The Beatles.

The Beatles: Rock Band Sing-Along will feature beloved favorites “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band/With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Twist & Shout” and “Yellow Submarine.”

“We are honored to be a part of the Boston Pops historic 125th season,” said Eran Egozy, Harmonix co-founder and CTO. “This effort is bridging the past with the present by setting the iconic music of The Beatles, orchestrated by the Pops, to The Beatles: Rock Band visuals in one of the most celebrated halls in the world.”

The Beatles: Rock Band, released in September 2009,marked the first time Apple Corps, along with EMI Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Harrisongs Ltd and Startling Music Ltd presented The Beatles’ music in an interactive video game format. The Beatles: Rock Band is published by MTV Games and developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company and creators of the best-selling Rock Band. In addition, Giles Martin, co-producer of The Beatles’ innovative LOVE album project, provided his expertise and served as Music Producer for this groundbreaking Beatles project.