Date of Award
Spring 5-5-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Music
First Advisor
Yayoi Uno Everett
Second Advisor
L. Poundie Burstein
Academic Program Adviser
Yayoi Uno Everett
Abstract
The Nintendo Game Boy had a sound chip which allowed for only three pitched voices and one unpitched percussive voice. These limitations affected the music that was written for this video game system. Of the three pitched voices, one voice typically performs the melody, and one voice typically is the bass and harmonic foundation. This thesis analyzes the third voice, typically in the middle of the musical texture, and the various functions that it can hold. As is discussed, the middle voice sometimes pairs in harmony with the melody or the bass. In other cases, however, it forms a musical line that is independent from the other two voices, or else it helps provide musical texture. In cases where a pitched voice is omitted from the musical texture to produce a sound effect, it is almost always the flex voice that is omitted.
Recommended Citation
Dineiro, Matthew, "The Flex Voice in the Soundtracks for the Nintendo Game Boy" (2023). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/1037