Spokane, Washington November 17th, 2003 Cyan Worlds, Inc., (www.cyanworlds.com) developers of the legendary MystŪ and Riven, today announced the upcoming
release of the Uru: Ages Beyond MYSTŪ Original Soundtrack, the music accompaniment to the latest chapter in the multi-million
selling MYSTŪ series.
Cyan Music Director/Composer Tim Larkin has created the games original soundtrack now
available to pre-order on CD from www.cyanworlds.com/urumusic. The CD is due for release in December and includes over 50 minutes of original music including
tracks from future updates to Uru online. The CD also features a special "Uru: The Makers" video and exclusive
interviews with Tim Larkin and Rand Miller, the creator of MYSTŪ, with an introduction by long-time MYSTŪ celebrity
fan David Ogden Stiers of the renowned hit TV show M*A*S*H who also voices the character of Zandi in the game.
In
creating the musical score for Uru: Ages Beyond MYSTŪ, Tim Larkin has composed a unique experience for the listener
by blending a wide range of ethnic as well as Western musical instruments and styles. Encompassing World music, New Age, Classical,
Folk, Indian, Middle-Eastern and Native American, the score represents a multitude of musical cultures and is a hybrid of
diversity that breaks new ground for soundtracks in games. Several exotic instruments are used in partnership to create the
otherworldly atmosphere and themes of Uru: Ages Beyond MYSTŪ including the cathartic sounds of the duduk, Indonesian
gamelon, African harp, Aboriginal didgeridoo and the shakahuchi, a Japanese bamboo flute.
"I really lean toward trying to find rare and exotic sounding instruments and I try to blend
palettes of instruments that you wouldnt normally hear together", explains Tim, "With Uru I mixed as many diverse instruments
as I could in order to create a new, more distinct palette."
Tim employed live performers as well as samples recorded with musical talent from around the
globe, including Tuvan throat-singers from the grasslands of central Asia who lend their voices to produce multiple-pitch
effects and harmonies. But perhaps the most memorable of all Tims experiences creating this soundtrack was working with the
Maasai singers. As he recalls, "That experience was pretty special. Im not sure youll hear that in any game to date. I do
plan to utilize many of the chants
that I have in future episodes."
From this almost limitless repertoire, Larkin weaves together a rich tapestry of ancient
music traditions with modern techniques to create a contemporary score that is intricately orchestrated and beautifully performed
by expert players and singers to enhance the surreal and graphically intense world of Uru: Ages Beyond MYSTŪ.
More information on the game soundtrack is now available at www.cyanworlds.com/urumusic.
About Tim Larkin
As Music Director at Cyan, Tim Larkin is following
up his expert sound design work on Riven with the latest incarnation of the MYSTŪ series, Uru: Ages Beyond
MYSTŪ, composing an all new original score for this epic. His previous sound design and game score credits include Riven,
JRR Tolkiens Middle Earth (Sierra Online), Quest for Glory V, and Prince of Persia III. As well, he
was the sound designer for the Academy Award winning CG animated short The ChubbChubbs!, developed and produced by
Sony Pictures Imageworks. His other cinematic projects include sound design for Doug Chiangs (Star Wars Episode I and
II art director) Robota: Reign Of Machines, trumpet for Martin Scorseses Memphis Blues and
Lucas Industrial Light and Magic. More information on Tim Larkin is available at www.timlarkin.net.
Greg O'Connor-Read
Top Dollar PR
423-926-9949
greg@topdollarpr.com
