Music Style contemporary classical, electronic, ecclesiastical, interactive

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Artist History Ben Houge is a Seattle-based composer active in a variety of genres. Since 1996, Ben has been working for Sierra Entertainment in Bellevue, WA, composing music and designing sound for computer games. He has contributed audio to eight games, including King's Quest: Mask of Eternity and Half-Life: Opposing Force, and numerous promotional projects and trailers. Recently, Ben completed the soundtrack to the role-playing game Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, which was scored for string quartet and performed by members of the Seattle Symphony. Ben has also been active as a composer of choral and liturgical music. In 1998 he completed settings of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and several Psalms on commission from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Excerpts from these settings were published by Augsburg Fortress in 1999. In 1996 Ben earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. Ben is a member of the American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, the Seattle Composers Alliance, and the Washington Composers Forum.

Instruments piano, synthesizer, and voice

Press Reviews Ben's score for Arcanum has been garnering acclaim for its fresh approach to computer game music. RPG Planet states that "the musical score is truly unique. Rather than the typical sweeping orchestral soundtrack as in Baldur's Gate II and Icewind Dale, Arcanum features cellos, violins, and other instruments that are meant to evoke an atmosphere appropriate to the Industrial Revolution that Arcanum is undergoing. The music is pleasantly different from the norm in RPG music these days." Gamerush.com called the music "brilliant, very atmospheric," while IGN PC describes it as "classic" and "mature." BlueSmoke sums it up: "In short, the music of Arcanum is fantastic."

Location Seattle, WA - USA

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