Paul Arnold (composer)
Encyclopedia
Paul "Bob" Arnold is an English
video game music composer. He works primarily in alliance with fellow composer Andrew Barnabas
, with the duo became known as "Bob & Barn".
, North Walsall
. Here he received his early education, getting A levels in music
, economics
and sociology
, studying at Great Wyrley High School. Later he studied at University of Leicester
, where he received B.A. (Hons) at Music and Computing, and University of York
, where he received M.Sc at Music Technology. At University of York Arnold's course colleague applied for an audio position at Cambridge
-based video game developer Millenium Interactive. When asked to go for an interview, Arnold's course colleague declined as he had bought a house in Surrey
, and asked Arnold to go instead of him.
series. Later, they were tasked with doing the score for 1998's MediEvil
. Based on the words of Arnold, the score was experimental and orchestral, influenced by works of Danny Elfman
. Music for MediEvil was critically acclaimed, along with the score for its sequel, too composed by Barnabas and Arnold.
In June 2001 Arnold and Barnabas resigned from SCE Cambridge and opened their music company Bob & Barn. Their first project was the successful score for SCE Cambridge's Primal
, which launched their joint career. Since Primal's release Bob & Barn composed acclaimed scores for Broken Sword 3, Kung Fu Chaos
and Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
, along with composing music for TV series and films. Currently they had completed doing music for 2011 shooter Brink
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
video game music composer. He works primarily in alliance with fellow composer Andrew Barnabas
Andrew Barnabas
Andrew Barnabas is a video game music composer. He studied at the University of Leeds where he earned a B.A. in Popular Music Studies...
, with the duo became known as "Bob & Barn".
Early life and education
Arnold was born in Great WyrleyGreat Wyrley
Great Wyrley is a parish and town in South Staffordshire, England, with a population of 11,236 at the 2001 census.-Etymology:The word "Wyrley" derives from two Old English words: wir and leah. Wir meant "bog myrtle," and leah meant "woodland clearing," suggesting that Great Wyrley was, at genesis,...
, North Walsall
Metropolitan Borough of Walsall
The Metropolitan Borough of Walsall is a local government district in the Black Country part of the West Midlands, England, with the status of a metropolitan borough. It is named after its largest settlement, Walsall, but covers a larger area which also includes the towns of Aldridge, Brownhills,...
. Here he received his early education, getting A levels in music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
, economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, studying at Great Wyrley High School. Later he studied at University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, where he received B.A. (Hons) at Music and Computing, and University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
, where he received M.Sc at Music Technology. At University of York Arnold's course colleague applied for an audio position at Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
-based video game developer Millenium Interactive. When asked to go for an interview, Arnold's course colleague declined as he had bought a house in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, and asked Arnold to go instead of him.
Career
Arnold successfully took a mentioned audio position at Millenium Interactive (later SCE Cambridge Studio). Here he met his future colleague Andrew Barnabas. Their first effort at the company was music for CreaturesCreatures (artificial life program)
Creatures is an artificial life computer program series, created in the mid-1990s by English computer scientist Steve Grand whilst working for the Cambridge computer games developer Millennium Interactive...
series. Later, they were tasked with doing the score for 1998's MediEvil
MediEvil
MediEvil is a platform game released in October 1, 1998 for the PlayStation in Europe and North America, and in June 1999 in Japan. The game was followed by MediEvil 2 in 2000. Then, in 2005, the original game was remade as MediEvil: Resurrection for the PlayStation Portable...
. Based on the words of Arnold, the score was experimental and orchestral, influenced by works of Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
. Music for MediEvil was critically acclaimed, along with the score for its sequel, too composed by Barnabas and Arnold.
In June 2001 Arnold and Barnabas resigned from SCE Cambridge and opened their music company Bob & Barn. Their first project was the successful score for SCE Cambridge's Primal
Primal (video game)
Primal is an action-adventure video game released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2. It was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe aka SCE Studio Cambridge. It tells the story of Jennifer Tate, a 21-year-old woman searching for her boyfriend through a series of demonic realms...
, which launched their joint career. Since Primal's release Bob & Barn composed acclaimed scores for Broken Sword 3, Kung Fu Chaos
Kung Fu Chaos
Kung Fu Chaos is a 3D third-person platform game developed by Just Add Monsters and published by Microsoft Game Studios. It was released for the Xbox on February 25, 2003 in the U.S.A.- Plot :...
and Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is an expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights 2, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It was released in late 2008 in North America, Europe, and Australia...
, along with composing music for TV series and films. Currently they had completed doing music for 2011 shooter Brink
Brink (video game)
Brink is a first-person shooter video game developed by Splash Damage for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360...
.
External links
- Bob & Barn's site
- Arnold at MobyGames
- IMDB profile
- Paul Arnold at FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...