Big Ben

Big Ben is a fairytale story about a curious mechanical town that depends on a being named Big Ben to keep time and peace for all of its residents. My musical palette was expanded as I used many different styles of music to tell this story. From orchestral, to electronic, to ambient, and even to toybox, this OST reaches far and wide while consistently keeping the central theme of time. In the small world of Tempo Town, Big Ben was created by the clockmaker Synchron to perpetually maintain the clock tower which is the heart of the town. The clock tower has a special power that if run continuously and consistently helps keep time moving forward at a steady pace and ensures peace and happiness for all who live there. Synchron, always endeavoring to make new inventions and gadgets to help the town, has recently created his newest timepiece in an effort to help Big Ben in his duties, but all is about to change when the timepiece does not behave as intended. Follow along in this musical novella to hear the story and imagine playing along in the clock-inspired game, Big Ben.

1. Big Ben: The opening scene of the game takes us to the clocktower at the center of Tempo Town. It is in the upper room with all of the mechanics, gears, and dials that Big Ben, the large gentle being resides and performs his duties for the town. Big Ben’s purpose is to ensure that the Tempo Town clock is running properly and continuously in order to ensure that time flows smoothly. Big Ben is a pure and good soul who, even though was designed by Synchron only to maintain the clock, has grown to truly love the people in Tempo Town and seeks ways to ensure their happiness. After observing Big Ben performing some of his clock-work duties, it becomes clear that something is not right and that same bright light in his eyes no longer shines the way it once did. Musically, this song orchestrally describes the immensity of Big Ben himself and the role he plays to the town. The clock sounds set the stage and provide a consistent underscore for the track and give a sense of imagery for the clock tower location. Using a 12/8 time signature (because there are 12 hours on a clock), my goal was to create a feeling of a steady flow and rhythm reminiscent of a ticking clock. The minor sound of this piece conveys the epic nature of Big Ben’s role while simultaneously foreshadowing one of the darkest times in Tempo Town’s history… 
2. Synchron the Clockmaker: After the opening scene, you awaken as the main player, a citizen of Tempo Town who has just accepted a new position as the new apprentice under the greatest clockmaker, Synchron himself. His workshop is a quaint and modest abode with gears and clock pieces strewn about on every surface. You begin by wandering the shop and exploring the various gadgets. You can hear Synchron, a small but energetic old man, feverishly fiddling away in the background, hammering, twisting, and piecing together new clocks for the townspeople. The first task that Synchron has entrusted you with is to fix a small timepiece, which becomes a central aspect of the gameplay as fixing clocks around town helps the other townsfolk solve conflicts. The toy box style was used to show the good and lighthearted intent of the clockmaker and to mimic the miniature mechanics of all of his timepiece creations. 
3. Tempo Town: After finishing your first clock, Synchron sends you out on a few errands and to help a few people around town with their clocks. As you walk outside, you are met with the laid-back and fun energy of Tempo Town. The constant wood block ticking is the rhythm by which the town flourishes. I used metric modulation in this piece to transition from 4/4 swing to a straight 3/4 and back again seamlessly to show how Big Ben is helping allow for freedom and variation all while keeping the tempo going. The townsfolk who inhabit Tempo Town are inherently altruistic and happy people that like to have a good time, as described in this song. You get to jam out to this tune while you explore the vast town and help many people fix their timepieces and gather supplies for Synchron.
4. Time Rifts of the Cuckoo Epoch: The following day, when you arrive at Synchron's workshop, you find him unconscious on the floor with papers and scrap metal strewn everywhere (more so than normal). There is also a hole blown in the ceiling. You find in Synchron’s hand a drawing of a mechanical bird and beside it, it is labeled “Cuckoo”. You can only assume that the cause of this disaster is Synchron’s newest creation and it must have had a flaw to cause such destruction. Synchron is groggy and groaning, but is in no shape to give you any coherent information or help at all. You run outside to find that everyone is in a panic and you see bizarre things such as people running backward and others moving back and forth as if stuck in a loop. The game then cuts to a scene in the clocktower where Big Ben is seen from behind pulling levers and moving at a rapid pace. He then turns and you see his eyes are red and the mechanical bird is on his head and then gives a loud squawking “cuckoo!”. The Cuckoo mechanism has infected Big Ben and now time is all out of sorts. Gameplay resumes and you can help the townsfolk one at a time with a special tool that Synchron gifted you at the end of the previous day. Knowing that Big Ben must be in trouble to cause so many and such catastrophic time rifts. You then make your way to the clocktower with the intent to save Big Ben from the Cuckoo! This piece uses changing time signatures to signify the time rifts occurring in the game. I wanted to subvert the listener’s expectations in multiple ways, but without making it unpleasant to listen to. I gave it a fast-paced feel and fun instrumentation to show the chaos that is occurring around you in Tempo Town.
5. The Perpetual Pendulum of the Moonlit Clocktower: When you reach the clocktower, you pull open the large doors and enter the dark and dusty tower. It is rather empty, and the only movement you detect is that of the enormous pendulum hanging down and swinging from the ceiling far ahead. In order to make your way up the stairs of the clocktower to reach Big Ben, there are gears and various obstacles that are stuck in a time loop that you must repair in order to proceed. You can hear the swoosh of the pendulum throughout this piece keeping time for the ambient droning music that is hauntingly beautiful, showing that while destruction may be occurring, you know that the pure soul of Big Ben is present and needs to be set free with your help. There is a glimmer of hope at 0:50 that is quickly snuffed away that I imagine encapsulates the feeling of Big Ben feeling trapped, but the good timekeeping being is still inside.
6. The Malmechanics of Big Ben: The time has finally come and you reach the clock room at the top of the tower. You are ready to face Big Ben who has been infected by the Cuckoo. As you enter the room, you see that this place has been affected the most by the time warping as everything seems to be moving in reverse. As Big Ben’s large shadow  turns around, all you can see is the glowing red eyes indicating that he isn’t going to give in without a fight. As the epic fight begins, the clock tower seems to dissolve away around you, which you know means that Big Ben has begun to create a time vortex. You better defeat him quickly and remove the cuckoo to return him to his normal self! I used much of the same clock sounds as the title theme, but this time they are in reverse to exemplify the time rift. The sharp electronic music is a stark contrast to the other pieces which further demonstrates the chaos and unreal nature of the time vortex swirling around the entire room. This upbeat epic battle music is the perfect culmination for a climactic end to the Cuckoo once and for all!
7. Goodnight Midnight: When all is said and done, Big Ben slowly looks up from where he is left laying on the floor and you can see that the light in his eyes has returned to normal and that the Cuckoo is gone for good. Synchron comes running up the stairs to find that you have defeated the Cuckoo. He sheepishly shrugs his shoulders with a knowing look indicating that there is no need for any creation to change Big Ben who is kind and does his job well just the way he is. You then share a peaceful night watching the moonlit sky with Big Ben and Synchron while the credits play to this sweet piano melody. The ticking of the clock has returned to normal and you know that Big Ben is grateful and finally at peace again.