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ABZÛ

by Austin Wintory

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $5 USD  or more

     

  • Full Digital Discography

    Get all 52 Austin Wintory releases available on Bandcamp and save 30%.

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Stray Gods, Strayed Lights, Gundog, Thai Cave Rescue, Innocence, Traveler - A Journey Symphony, A Violent Man, One Shot, and 44 more. , and , .

    Excludes subscriber-only releases.

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      $61.95 USD or more (30% OFF)

     

  • ABZU - Limited signed vinyl
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Very happy to now offer ABZÛ on vinyl, once again courtesy of our dear friends and VGM allies iam8bit. A huge amount of love and work went into this release, and particularly in the commissioning of new art by Nimit Malavia, inspired by Matt Nava's original work.

    Each copy will be signed by me, 50 total. Unsigned copies for $35 are available via iam8bit's site below.

    Shipping is expected in 2017 and updates will be sent when precisely known. Thanks in advance for your patience. Shipping is a bit pricey on this to ensure high quality, insured shipping, with tracking numbers, since I don't have any replacement inventory.

    store.iam8bit.com/products/abzu-vinyl-soundtrack-2xlp

    Includes unlimited streaming of ABZÛ via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

  • Signed ABZU CD
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Pressed beautifully by Varese Sarabande, these are the last remaining copies of ABZU on CD! All will be signed.

    Includes unlimited streaming of ABZÛ via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

    Sold Out

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Architeuthis 00:59
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Enūma Eliš 1. When in the height heaven was not named, 2. And the earth beneath did not yet bear a name, 3. And the primeval Abzu, who begat them, 4. And chaos, Tiamat, the mother of them both,— 5. Their waters were mingled together, 6. And no field was formed, no marsh was to be seen; 7. When of the gods none had been called into being, 8. And none bore a name, and no destinies [were ordained]; 9. Then were created the gods in the midst of [heaven], - - - - - - - - - 1 enūma eliš lā nabû šamāmū 2 šapliš ammatu šuma lā zakrat 3 apsûm-ma rēštû zārûšun 4 mummu tiamat muallidat gimrišun 5 mêšunu ištēniš ihiqqū-ma 6 gipāra lā kiṣṣurū ṣuṣâ lā še'û 7 enūma ilū lā šūpû manāma 8 šuma lā zukkurū šīmatu lā šīmū 9 ibbanû-ma ilū qerebšun

about

On the heels of JOURNEY's release in 2012, thatgamecompany's Art Director Matt Nava showed me some concept art he'd been making for a new game he was dreaming up: Gorgeous underwater landscapes that straddled the line between realism and fantasy. Not long after, the studio Giant Squid was founded and he invited me to join him in the creation of ABZÛ.

The overall progression was not unlike our prior collaboration on JOURNEY. I started with a theme ("To Know, Water") very early in the process and then spent the next 3 years developing that material in tandem with the game. Both game and music went through many iterations and conceptual shapes before arriving in what you hear and see now. As always, that process of discovery was challenging and often filled with self-doubt.

The resulting score is one I can definitely say pushed me into territory I'd never been. The odd combination of large harp ensemble, semi-traditional orchestra and chamber choir, led by a slew of delicate oboe solos by Kristin Naigus, gave me ingredients for experimentation that were simultaneously great fun and deeply intimidating. All the performers brought incredible magic and I'm eternally grateful for their artistry.

credits

released August 2, 2016

Physical CDs now available from Varese Sarabande!
www.varesesarabande.com/products/abzu

Music composed, conducted and produced by Austin Wintory

Performed by the Nashville Scoring Orchestra, London Voices and Abzu Harp Ensemble

Featuring oboe solos by Kristin Naigus
Soprano Solos by Ayana Haviv

Orchestrations - Susie Seiter and Austin Wintory
MIDI transcription - M.R. Miller
Copyist – Steven Juliani Music

NASHVILLE
Recording engineer: Nick Spezia
Concertmaster and contractor: Alan Umstead
Recorded at Oceanway Studios

LONDON
Recording engineer: Jake Jackson
Principal harpist: Skaila Kanga
London Voices conducted by Ben Parry
London Voices directors: Terry Edwards and Ben Parry
Recorded at Air Lyndhurst Studios

Score mixer and album mastering – Steve Kempster
Music editor – Kevin Globerman
Mix assistant – Jeff Gartenbaum

Album Art Direction – Matt Nava
Text derived from the first tablet of the Enūma Eliš.

www.abzugame.com
www.twitter.com/awintory
www.austinwintory.com

Special Thanks: Matt Nava and Giant Squid, The Ink Factory and 505 Games, Sarah Kovacs and the gang at KEM, Jessica Curry and Dan Pinchbeck, Wes Ball, Eric Whitacre, Amin & Claire, my parents and sister, the little mermaid Serena and Meg.

license

all rights reserved

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about

Austin Wintory Los Angeles, California

25% (or more) of the income here is used to support the non-profit Education Through Music - Los Angeles (www.etmla.org).

Thank you for helping me support this extremely important organization!

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