GDUK 98 Competition Entry
                              The Golden Mirage
                                (mirage.mid)
                            Category: Best Audio

                              James Rutherford
                              (The Hex Heroes)
                                August  1998



  This tune was composed using Evolution Audio Lite using a Soundblaster
AWE 32 base-level soundcard - and should be replayed using similar or better.
I think it uses the GM (General MIDI) instrument set [although all channels
except 7 typically default to GS when saved in Evolution Audio Lite]. Please
also note that channel 10 is a MIDI drumkit. This file should be accessible
to all current MIDI-playing utilities.

  The music is best rendered with a very slight echo.



  'The archaeologists knew they were onto something special - The hieroglyphs
were like nothing they'd ever seen before; bold, yet with such intricate
detail.

The group had split up to work at different parts of the cavernous chambers -
Jason surveyed his space, a small room accessible only by edging through a
thin gap in the stonework. Three round rocks, similar in size to cannon-balls
dug into the sandy floor.

Jason was curious to investigate the balls - could they be a part of some
exclusive game, played only by the Emperors? He picked one up.

A ground-shuddering thump sent Jason diving towards the floor. The crack he
had entered through had sealed - another had opened in front of him. Peering
through, his eyes were met by an enormous throne-room - laden with golden
trim. A fierce hand thrust towards him, roughly grabbing Jason's hair and
tugging him into the room. The silver flash of a spear-head shook at him
menacingly.'



  The tune mixes Egyptian themes with the fast-pace and frenetic buildups
characterised in the superb Castlevania soundtracks. It is intended as a
title theme - but could quite conceivably be softened-down to an in-game
tune. It works very well as a MIDI implementation - a full orchestral
version would probably be a bonus for CD systems.

  I believe it's fairly unique in style - an action tune with funk licks,
tribal drums, slight horror intonation yet with a most distinctive
egyptian hue.


            
       Email: hexheroes@writeme.com / j.t.rutherford@sms.ed.ac.uk
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