Probably the upcoming Christmas is really making me more 'good point to give you another interesting interview!
After Gianluca "Boka" Gaiba and Bonaventure "BDB" Di Bello here's an interview with Fabio Enrico Cortese, which together with Gianluca Gaiba, realize 'the music of several games of Simulmondo, the software house in Bologna led by Francesco Carla 'that, in the early 90s, gave birth to several titles for PC and Amiga including Diabolik, Dylan Dog, Tex Willer, Simulman e i Time Runners!
I think these interviews are very interesting to be able to understand how "normal" people have managed to enter the world of video games and leave important traces of their passage to the point to be remembered even after almost twenty years!
Now the questions below ...
WOPR: Hello Fabio! Before we begin I would like to thank you for the time you're giving me since you're really busy between work and family! We begin with a curiosity’ I have to meet from time: I think you were born in Lecce (I may be wrong), in the 90s you worked with Simulmondo in Bologna and now live in Florence….
What led you to move from Lecce in Florence? Work, family or other?
FABIO: I'm actually born in Calabria in a small village in the province of Catanzaro (here I was wrong about the place of birth..NdA) I lived in this country only a few years, however, by returning 'often during the summer holidays.
In those days, obviously there was not a culture of music and the final step in Florence, because of my father's work, was certainly an element that has allowed me to cultivate my passion for music.
WOPR: We know you're a great pianist and composer! What were your musical studies?
FABIO: Instinctively until the age of 9 year rudimentary composing melodies on a small electric grinder, then one day my parents gave me a body for the more complex two keyboards with many different musical rhythms and sounds. I began to compose more complex things: I was initially keen on South American music (I made personal arrangements of melodies as Besame Mucho, Tico Tico and other famous Latin melodies) but at the same time I studied a self-taught Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach!
I then became interested in classical music so much that, in time, became my main activity! At the same time I start 'to fascinate even the world of jazz that was basically my first love in music ....
Just for the purpose of perfecting the technique for playing jazz began to take piano lessons; then began the rigmarole of examinations at the Conservatory with the dream of becoming a good performer and I got to graduate from the Conservatory of Ferrara, and to undertake the activities as a concert.
At the same time I graduated in History of Music University of Florence and studied composition with various teachers.
The composition then became my professional reality!
WOPR: As I said earlier in the early '90s you worked in Simulmondo; how did you manage to get in and what was your role Simulmondo?
FABIO: A cigar case ...! I think I read an ad or an article, I called and, since in that time he needed Simulmondo, I made an appointment for a meeting with the leaders.
WOPR: Did you work in practice alongside Gianluca "BOKA" Gaiba (Hello Gian!): as he was working with Gianluca?
FABIO: Gianluca I soon became a person with a musical sensibility and humanity’ extraordinary! I knew from the first meeting that he felt a great esteem for me and had confidence in me.
It 's always been armed with great patience and do not ever prevaricava on artistic choices; we say that Boka was perfect in coordinating the work taking place simultaneously with his great dedication!
There was much enthusiasm and felt ...
WOPR: What exactly will occupavate? There dividevate the same task on several’ securities, or each of you had a specific role in the creation of music tracks for games?
FABIO: Each of us had, for each game, a certain number of episodes per month on which you could freely make their own choice of music by imposing their own style.
WOPR: What programs you used, and as was the process of creating music?
FABIO: The name of the programs can not remember because it was a long time ... but I remember 'that, compared to modern sequencer programs (programs to record the music tracks using real instruments) they were very limited: the notes could only be introduced in numerical format, one by one; the samples of the sounds (some of them personally campionavo) were of a very small because everything had to enter a Floppy Disk!
I did not forget the fatigue and extreme insertion quantization notes that sounded much more "mechanical" ... (The quantization can make perfectly timed notes played ... Extreme quantization, as in this case, however, ', can 'give effect to the listener a "mechanic" that makes it clear that the notes are played by a real musician, but by a machine!NdA)
Nevertheless for me it was a great learning experience, because, having had little opportunity to create a musical world based on simple but effective ideas; and 'as if I were asked to do a soundtrack for a film with only a piano…. Possible but certainly much more complex than creating it by placing a full orchestra!
WOPR: And after you complete the tracks who had to listen to before authorizing entry into their games?
FABIO: If I remember correctly there was a particular authorization; Gaiba coordinated everything, but never had anything to say about my music ... We were very much in tune!
WOPR: Componevi to your home or office Simulmondo?
FABIO: The pieces were made in my house, study where sometimes even custom sounds campionavo.
WOPR: Why, all at once, two (or have) left a job and a software house that had given so much satisfaction?
FABIO: The company later 'in crisis and I was told I could not go on (in a future post we will tell the story of Simulmondo ...NdA).
I would never have left…
WOPR: What you're busy just left Simulmondo? Were you in the world of video games, or you've committed yourself to another?
FABIO: I continued working in music making soundtracks; after Simulmondo did some work for the theater and started working on some short films.
WOPR: Now what do you do exactly?
FABIO: Today I am mostly soundtracks for films but also work and am preparing for the theater and some choreography!
WOPR: What software do you use for your work?
FABIO: I worked on Nuendo for many years. Now I'm starting to work on Sonar But I also know other systems such as Logic Audio and Pro Tools.
WOPR: As you come to work for Mediaset and Rai? Right time right place, luck or talent?
FABIO: The case in our field is always helpful ...
Before you start working for Rai had already done a movie quite important in Germany, simply participating in a festival in Hof with a small film. The producers heard my music and asked me to compose the soundtrack Frau2sughhappyend produced by Canal +. Things do not happen unfortunately in Italy!
However, thanks to the curriculum developed in Germany and to a coincidence I found Rome a director at that time had run out musician; then listened to my music and decided to work with me ...
WOPR: Are you passionate about video games?
FABIO: The game has always fascinated me! Today in particular are witnessing the creation of real Film-Videogames and what makes them even more interesting; I'm not a regular player, but often with my daughters I spend time.
It fascinates me to watch, use them and understand how they are organized and constructed.
WOPR: To play use mainly PC or console?
FABIO: Using everything but especially the console
WOPR: Last game played?
FABIO: In this last period I enjoy spending time with my kids playing with the WII and especially with sports games (very nice FIFA 2010); I like them though’ also all the video games inspired by popular movies.
WOPR: Would you go back to work in the game world with regard to the audio sector?
FABIO: Certainly! Then today we have a tremendous opportunity to achieve than at a time: would be possible to do the same things you do for a film soundtrack ....
WOPR: Can you give some advice to those wishing to pursue a career as a composer of soundtracks for video games?
FABIO: Anyone wishing to become a composer of music for video games of course should be first and foremost a good musician but also very sensitive to sounds overseas, of the great American epic films to be clear! This does not necessarily have to do who wants to be a musician other ....
WOPR: Good advice….
I can only thank you for your time and I have kindly dedicated to sharing with my blog readers and your experience in Simulmondo!
The good Bonaventure Bello states that "The real secret of happiness lies not in what it is from and what you get, but what you share"…
SENTENCE AND NEVER’ WAS MORE’ APPROPRIATE!
The website Fabio Cortese and 'within this address .
Seguimi!