ABZÛ by Austin Wintory

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.

Tracklist

1.	To Know, Water	1:58

2.	Heaven was not named	1:28

3.	Seriola lalandi	3:17

4.	And the Earth did not yet bear a name	2:51

5.	Delphinus delphis	4:51

6.	No field was formed	1:51

7.	Caranx ignobilis	2:11

8.	Myliobatis aquila	3:30

9.	No destinies ordained	2:08

10.	Balaenoptera musculus	3:58

11.	Architeuthis	1:00

12.	Chaos, the mother	4:52

13.	Arandaspis prionotolepis	4:20

14.	Elasmosaurus platyurus	3:22

15.	Ichthyosaurus communis	2:02

16.	Osteoglossum bicirrhosum	1:15

17.	Their waters were mingled together	10:14

18.	Then were created the gods in the midst of Heaven	3:49

Videos

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