Episode 49 of Books and Ideas is an interview with Emily Reese from Minnesota Public Radio. Reese is the host of two podcasts that I enjoy: Top Score and Learning to Listen. In this interview we focus on Top Score, which is a podcast about video game music. Reese interviews the composers and gives listeners an inside look at the challenges that face composers in this new, but growing field. You don't need to be a muscian or a gamer to enjoy Emily's podcasts.

For complete show notes and free episode transcripts go to http://books and ideas.com.

This episode contains a number of short music clips. All are within the 30 second limit allowed by fair use. I am including the times and sources below for listeners who want to hear more.

00: Elder Scrolls: Oblivion from The Greatest Video Game Music recorded by the London Philharmonic and Andrew Skeet.

1:42 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

14:31 Opening Suite from Halo: The Soundtrack by Martin O’Donnell and MIchael Salvatori

16:40 [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

18:49 “An End, Once and For All-Extended Cut” from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Huliick

23:16 Somewhere In Time (Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini-Var. No. 18) from Classics at the Movies

24:43 The Makers Theme from Darksiders II Original Soundtrack by Jasper Kyd

25:32 Ethan Mars' Main Theme from Heavy Rain (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Normand Corbeil

26:14 "Welcome to the Sprawl" from Dead Space 2 (EA Games Soundtrack) by Jason Graves 

26:47 "Nascence" from Journey™ (Original Soundtrack from the Video Game) by Austin Wintory

27:43 "In Case of Trouble" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com

28:06 "Bynn the Breaker" from Bastion Original Soundtrack by Darren Korb available at Visit http://supergiantgames.bandcamp.com

39:16  [Music from Elder Scrolls: Oblivion]

41:23 "I Am Alive And I Am Not Alone" from Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut by Sam Hulick